I am on secondment to the Scottish Government Islands Team to help deliver on the National Islands Plan in my role as Repopulation and Island Communities Policy Manager.

I plan to travel to Maine to explore any learning from their island communities that are facing many of the same challenges as ours in Scotland. In anticipation of this, I have had a number of discussions with Maine residents, and have a unique opportunity of exploring challenges through the community experience and policy development side of things which should lead to some really interesting connections, learning and positive outcomes.

My Fellowship is about understanding how we might deliver a more equitable supply of affordable housing in island communities to support their long-term sustainability. Housing is more than just bricks and mortar, it is central to maintaining our communities.

This is both a professional and a personal interest of mine – I work closely with island communities, I am delighted to be the chair of an island community development trust, and I also live on an island facing challenges in sustaining its population.