Local Area Group (LAG) members
Local Area Group (LAG) members
Hans Waltl, Chair of the LAG
Sector: private sector
Hans is a chartered certified accountant. He is involved in a number of charities and social enterprises and his position as a trustee of Borders Forest Trust along with previous experience in EU projects abroad focussing on SME growth and development give him a good deal of knowledge and insight into rural matters. In addition, as a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts, he is involved in the annual Land Use Conference, which has covered issues including the environmental and economic impact of wind farms and assessed land use programmes. Hans also holds the title of a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the City of Worshipful Company of Engineers.
Hans has been Chair of the LAG for two years and been a LAG member since 2015.
Pip Tabor
Sector: third sector
Pip has a degree in ecology and an MSC in natural resource management. He recently retired from the Southern Uplands Partnership, a rural development charity which he managed for 23 years, during which time it delivered a wide range of projects, many of which benefited from LEADER funding. In recent years, Pip has become more concerned with the climate and nature crises and how we can develop a more sustainable rural economy.
Fiona Benton
Organisation: Borders Community Action (BCA). BCA is part of the national Third Sector Interface organisations
Sector: third sector
Fiona’s role at BCA involves supporting local groups and charities with funding and governance queries. Fiona is relatively new to the third sector, having joined The Bridge in December 2022 after a career in London as a legal PA, paralegal, freelance proof reader and sheep farmer.
Fiona has been a volunteer at Stable Life, the Scottish Tenant Farmers Association and as a one-to-one mentor helping schoolchildren gain an insight into the workplace. She has also been secretary of her village hall. She is passionate about agriculture and rural skills, the countryside and supporting her local community. Fiona recently joined the board of the Jedburgh Community Trust.
Margaret Simpson MBE, MSC, FRSA
Organisation: Scottish Borders Social Enterprise Chamber
Sector: third sector/social enterprise
Margaret is the Director/CEO of the Social Enterprise Chamber and also the EO/Chair of Ability Borders and the Access Panel. The Chamber has nearly 580 members and Ability Borders is growing rapidly. Margaret is also on the Local Employability Partnership and nationally on the Poverty ALLIANCE, STP and the Rural and Islands Parliament, City Region Deal for Employment and training and No One Left Behind, among other appointments.
Miriam Adcock
Organisation: Zero Waste Scotland
Sector: public sector
Miriam has worked at Zero Waste Scotland since 2009. Her role is about helping organisations and individuals to move towards a more circular economy where resources are valued and nothing is wasted. She spends much of her time supporting community groups through running workshops, giving talks, and providing advice. She also works on campaigns and projects such as ‘ditching disposables’ – helping organisations to reduce their use of single-use items such as coffee cups. In her spare time she is also the founder and volunteer JogLeader at JogPeebles and a trustee of Tweeddale Youth Action and regularly volunteers at cycling and running events.
Miriam has been a LAG member since 2022.
Debbie Playfair
Sector: private
Debbie Playfair is a director in the farming business of Playfair Farming Limited situated in the foothills of the Cheviots. Debbie has considerable experience in working with National Heritage Lottery funded projects and is currently chair of Trustees for Tweed Forum. In addition, she is currently National Vice Chair of the Environment and Land Use Committee for the National Farmers Union of Scotland. Debbie is a member of the Fallago Environment Fund decision making group.