Team

Grania is an archivist with experience of cataloguing, preserving and promoting a range of archival collections. She joined the Scottish Council on Archives in 2024 to support the NHLF funded Community Stories – Community Archives project. The project will support groups across Scotland who have amazing archival materials with managing, preserving, cataloguing and online accessibility through online and offline workshops, one-to-one training with professional archivists and accessibility through the Your Scottish Archives portal.

John Pelan took on the role of Director of the Scottish Council on Archives in December 2017. John provides organisational leadership for SCA and, working with trustees, staff and stakeholders, develops its strategic direction.

John has worked in the culture and heritage sectors in Scotland for several decades. Prior to joining SCA he was Director of the Scottish Civic Trust and previously held senior positions with the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland including Depute Secretary and Director of Communications. John is passionate about archives and the role they have in fostering a sense of identity and engagement with the past.

Elspeth is a very experienced archivist who has worked in many different archive services in Canada and Scotland, including a long spell as archivist with Falkirk Community Trust and Falkirk Council from 1996 to 2018. Elspeth is a Fellow of the Archives and Records Association and an Honorary Teaching Fellow at the Centre for Archives and Information Studies, University of Dundee.  Elspeth’s wide range of skills including supporting volunteers, tutoring students, mentoring archivists, developing staff, as well as operational management, policy development and compliance.

Elspeth edits and provides content for SCA’s new Your Scottish Archives portal and also created much of  the SCA Scottish Community Archives Toolkit.

Erika recently graduation with a doctorate and has a background in information science, communities and heritage. She has worked in the heritage, culture and archive sector for years, working with various venues and organisations on how to preserve unsung narratives. Much of her work has involved working with individuals and organisations to teach archival and conservation practices and promote open-source information sharing to break down barriers to preservation. She joined the SCA in 2024 to contribute to the Community Stories – Community Archives project.

Laura is an archivist with over a decade’s worth of experience working with the archives of organisations including the third sector, higher education and the National Health Service. Her skills set includes archives management training, supporting volunteers, cataloguing, digitisation and community outreach.

Laura is one of the Consultant Archivists working on the National Heritage Lottery Funded project Community Stories – Community Archives to help support community archives with the care and development of their heritage collections.

Marissa has a background in Classics and Museum Studies and has a range of experiences at various heritage organisations. As the Digital Communications and Administration Assistant she will be assisting with the activities of the organisation and running our social media accounts. She is excited to help communicate the importance of archives.

As a trained conservator, Audrey has worked for organisations ranging from the Royal Opera House, London, to the State Library of New South Wales. She was the Senior Conservator at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and went on to establish her own business, Conservation Consortium Scotland in Edinburgh.

Following the successful delivery of the NHLF funded Skills for the Future project, Opening Up Scotland’s Archive, Audrey built on the project’s legacy, widening participation and engagement, working closely with community archives and local history groups, to encourage their sustainability and development. The Partnerships and Engagement Manager is responsible for the management and delivery of SCA’s outreach and engagement programme, including the co-ordination of a programme of activity focussing on community archives, volunteering and non-professional audiences.

The Programmes and Operations Manager is responsible for the management, development and delivery of SCA’s capacity-building and advocacy programme of training, events and resources. The Programmes and Operations Manager oversees SCA’s popular programme of events and development training, covering everything from preservation and conservation, to copyright and retention schedules.