Growing a Greener Glasgow

Our People

South Seeds was formed in 2011 by a group of people who all wanted to make a difference to the local community and the wider environment on the Southside of Glasgow. Here is a little information about some of the people who are currently involved. If you would like to take part as well, then please get in touch.

Brian Sweeney

Tool library technician

Brian has lived in Govanhill for many decades and is a time-served electrician. In his other role he is maintenance officer for a veterans housing charity.

Mhairi Grossett

Trustee

Mhairi lives on the Southside and enjoys exercising in Queen’s Park. At work, she delivers community benefit for a renewable  energy developer and generator. Mhairi has a background in planning legislation and project development.

Myrtle Breckenridge

Energy officer

Myrtle grew up in Govanhill and is part of the energy advice team here at South Seeds. Myrtle studied social sciences at university and has previous experience working in advocacy for vulnerable people.

Aiste Garneviciene

Trustee

Aiste works at OFGEM’s Innovation Link, helping innovators to bring to market products and services for a flexible and diverse tomorrow’s energy system. Aiste moved to the Southside of Glasgow at the start of 2020.

Tim Moss

Tool Library assistant

Tim volunteers at the Tool Library, improving the space one DIY project at a time. Elsewhere, he works as urban planner specialising in community engagement. This he helped South Seeds on, running consultations on national planning policy.

Sam Johnson

Work party coordinator

Previously at the Southside Tool Library, Sam currently oversees the community development of the Old Changing Rooms. He’s lived in Glasgow on and off for over a decade, but now stays just 7 minutes walk from Queen’s Park.

Matt Hannon

Trustee, chair

Matt works as Director of Research & Senior Lecturer at the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, within the Uni of Strathclyde’s Business School. His research examines the policy & market conditions necessary to accelerate low-carbon energy technology & business models.

Karlene Doherty

Trustee, treasurer

Karlene is a qualified civil engineer who works for the Development Trust Association Scotland. She is passionate about helping people to make healthy and sustainable travel choices and supporting communities to realise their ambitions.

Helen Melone

Trustee, vice-chair

Helen is a southsider and  Senior Policy Manager at Scottish Renewables for heat and small-scale renewables. She loves the outdoors and is a keen Munro bagger. Helen lives in a top floor tenement flat and is always looking for ways to keep warm.

Simon Morris

Trustee, secretary

Simon is an Associate Director at Ricardo Energy & Environment. Simon specialises in sustainability, renewables and carbon management. He is passionate about supporting communities, households and businesses to reduce their impact on the environment.

Alan Smith

Trustee, staff liaison

Alan is a longstanding Southsider and a keen supporter of community engagement and the environment. Alan holds industry experience in energy, services, carbon reduction and organisational change. On behalf of the South Seeds trustees he has taken on the role of staff liaison officer

Poppy Ives

Senior energy officer

Poppy has lived in several drafty Southside properties. She previously worked at an energy company and understands how to get the best from their customer service. In her free time, Poppy volunteers with vulnerable women.

Eric Gardener

Growing trainer

Eric has been growing fruit and vegetables for 50 years. He knows what grows well in Glasgow and how to get the best of the growing season.

Zoe Madek

Office manager

Zoe has a back ground in office administration and lives just off Victoria Road. She is part of a number of Southside groups. Zoe also helps out with the community gardening opportunities.

Jo Hartga

Tool library officer

Jo has installed energy-efficiency measures, including wall insulation and secondary glazing, in her tenement by hand. She has first hand experience of the tools needed to make a southside home more energy efficient.

Lucy Gillie

General manager

Lucy managed the Community Voices Network for the Scottish Government. She has 20 years’ experience working with communities to tackle health, regeneration and environmental issues.