Our people

Austin joined Poppyscotland as Director in June 2022.  He has spent his career working with organisations and people endeavouring to help individuals at the wrong end of the social and economic scales to progress through work, education, health support and socialisation.  He began his career in economic development with The Wise Group where his 20-year tenure included appointments as Interim Chief Executive and a board member.  He moved on to become Regional Director for Remploy before joining The Shaw Trust, one of the UK’s largest employment and disability charities, where he oversaw its extensive national partnership network.  Laterally, Austin assumed responsibility for all of The Shaw Trusts charitable services, which included 50 charity shops, three social business and several services aimed at supporting adults with learning difficulties and or disabilities

• Call: 0131 550 1543
• Email: a.hardie@poppyscotland.org.uk

• Call: 07729 080165
• Email: 

  S.Higgins@poppyscotland.org.uk

• Call: 0131 550 1551
• Email: g.michie@poppyscotland.org.uk

Gordon joined Poppyscotland in July 2016 as Head of Fundraising. His main responsibilities centre on leading a team of fundraisers to raise the voluntary income required by the organisation, including the annual Scottish Poppy Appeal. The Education & Learning and Volunteering functions also fall under his remit.

Before joining Poppyscotland, Gordon spent 16 years working in fundraising agencies and was involved in the development of UK and overseas charities’ individual giving programmes in senior director roles. Prior to this he was a fundraiser for the organisation now known as Worldwide Cancer Research. He began his working life in the RAF, serving from 1988 to 1995 with postings in England, Germany and closer to home at RAF Leuchars in Fife.

• Call: 0131 550 1549
• Email: m.fahy@poppyscotland.org.uk

• Call: 0131 550 1544 
• Email: k.nelson@poppyscotland.org.uk

John is a Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years of experience working at a senior level across a range of third sector organisations.  He joined Poppyscotland in August 2021 having previously been Head of Finance with Fife Cultural Trust.  Prior to that John worked as a Director for charities including Edinburgh International Festival and Thistle Foundation. 

• Call: 0131 550 1545 
• Email: j.campbell@poppyscotland.org.uk

• Call: 0131 550 1570
• Email: manager@lhpfscotland.org.uk

Charlie was appointed as Manager of Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory in January 2007. Prior to that he spent 23 years in the Royal Tank Regiment and served all over the world. Aside from regimental duty he served at the Junior Leaders Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps as a Squadron Leader, as an SO2 Weapons, responsible for the introduction of Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank into service. His final tour was in command of the British Liaison Team on entry into Kosovo.