Our Staff
There are five officers responsible for the achievement of the MCofS Strategic and Operational Plans. They are the Chief Officer, Mountaineering Development Officer, Access and Conservation Officer, Mountain Safety Adviser and Membership Development Officer. We are also pleased to work with the Scottish Student's Mountain Safety Officer, a post funded by The Catherine Smith Memorial Trust.
Our administration staff handle enquiries from members and the public. In addition, our paid staff are supported by volunteers who provide a much-valued contribution to our work.
Chief Officer:
David Gibson
tel: 01738 493947
Dave joined the MCofS in 1999 and is a member of two mountaineering clubs based in Dundee. As a volunteer he first joined the MCofS Executive at the 2005 AGM as an elected member, and worked as a volunteer on the Finance & Administration Committee, prior to taking up the post of Chief Officer in July 2006.
Before joining the MCofS David worked in general management in the automotive industry, and for economic development agencies in Scotland and England. He has also run his own business, and has a MBA and marketing degree. He has a few Munros left to complete for his first round which he hopes to finish in 2009, work permitting! (This used to say 2008. I didn't compleat in 2009 and it looks like it may now be 2011!).
He welcomes your views and suggestions about the MCofS.
Mountaineering Development Officer and Magazine Editor:
Kevin Howett
tel 01738 493946
Kevin has been climbing for over 23 years. He is author of 'Rock Climbing in Scotland' the selected climbs guide published by Constable and is co-ordinating author of the 'Central Highland Outcrops' rock climbing guide published by the SMC. He has climbed over 500 new routes in Scotland up to E7 and grade V, and has been responsible for pioneering climbing in new areas such as The Southern Barra Islands of Mingulay, Pabbay, Berneray and Sandray, Dirc Mhor, Mull of Kintyre, Eigg and Loch Maree as well as the previously neglected Sma' Glen in Perthshire. His pen and ink diagrams used in many guidebooks form the basis of a small business named "Rockart"; he has written and illustrated many articles for the outdoor magazines, was a contributing author of two essays in 'Extreme Rock' and another in the compilation of guest authors of the Mountain Literature Festival, 'Orogenic Zones'.
He has a Zoology degree from Exeter University and a Post Graduate Certificate in Education from Bangor College, North Wales. He taught windsurfing, climbing and sailing as an instructor for Newcastle-upon-Tyne Youth and Community Service as well as organising YTS courses for the Local Authority and acting as an independent consultant on in-house accreditation and national qualifications; and the development of urban climbing facilities.
Access & Conservation Officer:
Hebe Carus
Hebe is not based at the MCofS office.
You can leave a message for her by calling our office reception on 01738 493942 or email hebe@mcofs.org.uk
One of my ambitions for the Access and Conservation post is to tie the work I do even closer to the views and concerns of you, the mountaineers. Mountaineering is often seen as an individual pursuit done in the spirit of adventure, and in many ways I agree with that. However, there are some issues where a representative voice is a very important addition to the debate. Only by hearing a wide spectrum of your experiences and views can I truly represent you.
For the last 10 years I have been working in various Ranger posts, environmental research and a bit of travelling. I am from Scotland, and am proud to call it home, but also proud to share it with others who appreciate one of the most fantastic countries in the world. My hillwalking exploits started 16 years ago with a miserably wet, ill-equipped walk up Cairnwell. Thankfully I bought better gear and persevered. The mountains are now my battery rechargers. I started climbing 7 years ago indoors and 4 years ago outdoors, also a season of winter climbing. My current project is to re-learn skiing so I can have a go at ski mountaineering. I have been asked how many hobbies I need, and this is not all of them. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible, and finding the best way I can represent you.
Mountain Safety Adviser:
Heather Morning
Email: msa_mcofs@hotmail.co.uk
Tel: 01479 861 256
Mobile: 0778 886 1431
Heather’s love of the mountains started at a very young age. Raised on the North Yorkshire Moors, her introduction to the mountains was to be carried around in the 1960’s version of a papoose by her parents who were both keen hill walkers. Family holidays were spent alongside her father as he ‘bagged’ the Munros.
A university education and post grad certificate from Bangor University led into a 15-year career teaching mountaineering and climbing in the mountains of the UK. This included gaining her MIC and instructing at LEA centres, universities, Plas-y-Brenin, Glenmore Lodge and Ballachulish Joint Service Mountain Training Centre.
Immediately prior to joining MCofS Heather worked as a Ranger at Cairngorm Mountain.
Heather has also been fortunate enough to climb in many parts of the world including Alaska, the European Alps, Norway, Greenland, Himalayas and three seasons in Antarctica. She has been an active member of the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue Team for 8 years and has recently been successful in qualifying with SARDA as a fully-fledged dog handler with her collie dog Milly.
Membership Development Officer
Mike Dales
tel 01738 493942
Mike was MCofS Access and Conservation Officer for seven years, and has worked as Access and Environment Officer at the Scottish Canoe Association (SCA) since 2006. His work with SCA is now part-time, and he will combine his SCA role with the new part-time Membership Development Officer’s post at the MCofS.
Outside of work Mike is usually to be found somewhere in the outdoors. He is a mountaineer and Munroist, and currently in the middle of collecting Corbetts. His other big passion is sea kayaking, an activity he enjoys it for its association with travelling to the remoter and wilder parts of Scotland. His sporting interests go beyond those activities and he is also keen on skiing, cycling and running.
Scottish Students' Mountain Safety Officer:
Roger Wild
After seven years as the MCofS Mountain Safety Adviser, Roger took up his current post in April 2009. The post is financed by the Catherine Smith Memorial Trust and focuses on providing skills training to the Scottish Student Clubs. Roger's contact details are available here.
Administration Staff
Jane Anderson
Jane is our Membership Administrator. She is a regular hill walker and has climbed most of the Munros within easy reach of her home town of Perth. Her other main sport is orienteering, for which she is a qualified coach. She also enjoys tennis and is looking forward to her first win with Bridge of Earn ladies! To rest from all these activities she comes into the MCofS office 4 days a week and deals with your membership. Feel free to call in for a chat with her, so that she can put your face to your name on the database!
Denise Logan
Denise is our Bookkeeper, married to Graham and has two boys, David and Gavin and a very energetic Jack Russell called Tilly. As a family they enjoy dinghy sailing in the summer, skiing in the winter and are prepared to admit they are St Johnstone fans! Denise works in the Perth office on a part-time basis.