Our Trustees - Wiston Lodge

Wiston Lodge is governed by a Board of Trustees, all of whom are volunteers who bring years of experience, a wealth of knowledge and most importantly a passion for driving Wiston Lodge forward to realise our vision.

Amanda Burgauer

Chair of the Board

Amanda Burgauer is the Director of Common Weal, Scotland’s leading progressive think tank. She is an experienced entrepreneur with both software and consultancy companies and has been on the Wiston Lodge Board since December 2013. Amanda was previously Chair of Scottish Rural Action, running the Scottish Rural Parliament every two years, and has also served as a volunteer on the management boards of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership and South Lanarkshire LEADER.

Judy Russell

Founder & Trustee

Judy is one of the Founders of Wiston Lodge the charity, having been part of the team that made a successful buyout of the buildings and grounds from the YMCA. After many years as a member of the board of Trustees, Judy was elected Chair in spring 2021.

George Sutherland

Trustee

George taught at Lanark Grammar for over 30 years and was invited to join the board at Wiston Lodge while serving as a South Lanarkshire councillor, more than ten years ago. The Board placed him on the finance and building committee. He’s volunteered for a number of organisations. These include sports teams while working as a teacher, and has been involved with Guide Dogs for the Blind for 15 years. He’s been politically active for most of his life, following on from his father being a Japanese PoW. George has a BSc Hons from the Open University, and graduated from Heriot Watt in 1970.

Meg Beresford

Founder & Trustee

Meg has an agricultural qualification and after marrying and having children, she resumed study at university. She then became a prominent campaigner against nuclear weapons. Meg then worked at the Iona community as a gardener, and came to Wiston in 1994 as assistant director, when it was still owned by the YMCA. She established the garden and organised a series of folk festivals. In 2007 she was part of the buyout team for Wiston Lodge, and took the initial post in charge. Her involvement is inspired by outdoor activities, particularly nature connections, and opportunities for different groups mixing such as music and arts, youth organisations, and events like Quaker or Buddhist retreats.

Jane Robison

Trustee

John Moffat

Treasurer & Trustee

Ian Edwards

Trustee

Ian Edwards trained as an ecologist and has a passion for ethnobotany. He is a research associate of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and member of the Association of Foragers. Ian believes a connection with nature, including gathering and sharing wild foods, helps build resilience in individuals and communities. He has worked on the silviculture of native forests Malawi, studied traditional plant uses in Sulawesi and Australia, and led environmental education projects in Bhutan, Cameroon and the Middle-East, as well as at home in Scotland. He lives with his wife and son in Midlothian and when he is not in the woods he can be found on his bike, paddling a canoe or taming an unruly forest garden.