The St. Oswald’s Centre board of trustees comprises a strong group of local volunteers with complementary skillsets focused on education, quality of life, sustainability, and building institutional capacity.
Anna Giulia Cescon
Anna Giulia Cescon has over 10 years of experience as a Product Manager, working in Italy, Nigeria, and Edinburgh. She moved to Edinburgh a decade ago and recently settled in Bruntsfield—an area that feels especially meaningful to her, as she helped kickstart Casa Montessori alongside its two co-founders in 2019. Today, her two children are happily attending Bruntsfield Primary School.
Kaz Lyon
Kaz qualified as an accountant at consultants KPMG, and has worked in audit, risk and systems automation at pensions at investments company Aegon. His current role is Operations Lead at Edinburgh Communities Climate Action Network. He has been a trustee at the Scottish Refugee Council and currently is a trustee at Community Energy Scotland. He lives in Bruntsfield with two kids at the primary school and is involved with the parent council sustainability committee.
Hamish Matheson
Hamish has spent 20 years as a geologist and exploration manager delivering complicated, multi-disciplinary energy projects. He is a trustee of the Seaforth Sanatorium Trust, a grant giving body focusing on youth development. He lives in Bruntsfield with his family and is currently the clubs treasurer for the Bruntsfield Primary School Parent Council.
JV (Jose) Noriega Valentine
JV has 15 years experience in Edinburgh in the facilities management industry across every aspect of delivery, planning, and contracting. He has a passion for local community social cohesion and development, including social value, sustainability, and economic imperatives. His daughter currently attends the neighboring Bruntsfield Primary School.
Steve Platt
Steve is an Emeritus Professor of Health Policy Research at University of Edinburgh. He has extensive experience as a member and chair of several charity boards, including Samaritans UK and the Mental Health Foundation. He has lived in Edinburgh for nearly 50 years and in Bruntsfield over 30 years. His younger son attended Bruntsfield Primary School. He is strongly committed to supporting the efforts of the charity to realise the full potential of the St Oswald’s Centre for enhancing the lives of people living and working in the local community.
Michael Scott
Michael was born in Edinburgh. Having spent time in Australia and Exeter he has lived in Bruntsfield for the last 7 years. Michael is an investment manager at Walter Scott & Partners and a CFA® Charterholder. He has committed his time to various philanthropic initiatives including MCR Pathways, Future Asset Consulting and fundraising on behalf of Capability Scotland.
Michael currently spends most of his free time looking after his first child, who is six months old. When time allows, he enjoys cycling, golf and football.
Working Groups
Our building, gardening, and fundraising working groups comprise enthusiasts and professionals from the community who are passionate about donating their time, knowledge, and expertise to spur and sustain the Centre’s work and contribute to the civic life of the community.
Supporting Partners
Equally, our architects and contractors are local and established experts, and as parents themselves and friends and members of the community, they are also well-placed to work on the essential tectonic issues that are the focus of our current phase of work.