Brian Weaver was appointed CEO of HISEZ in July 2008. He graduated from Stirling University in 1975 and worked for a multi-national pharmaceutical company before falling in love with the Highlands and one of its natives. He then found himself paying the mortgage by working for 20 years in the finance industry, 3 years as a partner in a small specialist sawmill and 5 years as Business Starts Manager in Highlands and Islands Enterprise. He brings to HISEZ a wide experience of private sector management and finance which is combined with knowledge of social enterprise gained by 10 years in Alness Credit Union. He is still married to the same Highland native and has one son who finally graduated from Stirling University

Karen keeps us all organised. She’s our Finance and Administration Officer and is brilliant at making sure things run smoothly. Before she joined HISEZ Karen worked in banking, most recently as a branch manager at Barclays. When she’s not buried in spread sheets and things with numbers, Karen spends her time making cards – so if you’re passing the office in Castle Street pop in and take a look under her desk (that’s where she hides them – whoops).

Lindsay started with HISEZ in February 2009 as Development Officer. She comes from a varied background which includes managing the website and distributing regular newsletters for the family business, Summer Isles Foods, in Achiltibuie. A graduate of Glasgow University, she decided the Highlands was a much more interesting place to be so she came back in 2004. She is also involved in lots of community-led arts project including the Promoters Arts Network (PAN), Cromarty Film Festival and Inverness Old Town Art (IOTA). Lindsay has also just started her own Social Enterprise called Play Pieces.

Amy Matheson started with HISEZ in April 2010, undertaking the role of business assistant. After graduating with a degree in Business Studies, she worked with The Social Enterprise Academy and Stramash before taking on her latest role. She is a native of the fine West Coast town of Oban and is terrified of losing her accent to the North!

A qualified journalist Kate ran a PR and marketing agency in leafy southern England until the pull North got the better of her and she and her husband headed for the Highlands.
That was in 2005. Since then she’s got to grips with long winters, short summers but failed to make any real progress in mastering Gaelic. Before joining HISEZ in July this year Kate worked on a range of business consultancy projects for clients in both the private and public sectors. She is chair of Strathglass & Affric Community Company Ltd, a social enterprise that is developing a community hall for Strathglass.

HISEZ also has community consultants available to any enterprising communities who need to develop a community toolkit or business plan - contact us to arrange a meeting with our experienced team.