This CV has 10 sections:
Education
Research & Fellowships
Current & Past Voluntary Positions
Freelance
Paid Employment
Public Talks, Lectures
Panel Contributions & Performance
Workshops
Chairing, Hosting & Facilitation
Events & Projects organised
Education:
2009–2012 Ph.D, University of Edinburgh
2008–2009 MSc. by Research (Distinction) Scottish Studies
2003–2007 MA (Hons) 1st in Scottish Ethnology & Scottish Literature
All degrees undertaken at the University of Edinburgh
Awards & Prizes:
2012 The Michaelis-Jena Ratcliff Prize for Ethnology and Folklore
2009 Arts and Humanities Research Council Award (AHRC)
2007 School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures Scholarship, University of Edinburgh
2006 Angus McKenzie prize for highest attainment in Scottish Studies (Honours)
2005 Barnson Bequest Award for fieldwork research
2004 Strömbach prize for field-based research report
2003 Delargue prize for highest attainment
Research & Fellowships
2022 - 2024 Research Associate, School of Design, Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh
2016 - 2020 Research Associate, Intercultural Research Centre (IRC), Heriot-Watt University
2012-2013 Postdoctoral Fellowship, Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities, University of Edinburgh
Voluntary Positions:
2023 - present, Chair, Abriachan Village Hall
2023 - present, Voluntary Trustee, Abriachan Forest Trust
2016 - 2021, Voluntary co-director, The Shieling Project CIC
2017 - 2020, Voluntary assistant director, Scottish Centre for Geopoetics
2015 - 2020, Panel Judge, TASGADH, Fèisean nan Gàidheal
2015, National Advisory Group, Geddes Centre for Teaching & Learning, Riddles Court
2014 - 2017, National Council Member, The Saltire Society
2007 - 2010, Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin’
Freelance:
Sept 2023 - present, Human Ecology Researcher in Residence, Findhorn Watershed Initiative
Nov 2021 - Sept 2022, Creative Ethnologist in Residence, Dandelion
Jan 2019 - March 2022, Freelance for Enough! www.enough.scot
July 2020 - present, Tutor & Facilitator, Online Short Course ‘Tobar an Dualchais: Ceanglaichean Cruthachail / Creative Connections’ Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
May 2020 - Writing commission for Lauren MacColl’s album ‘Landskein’
Feb 2019 - present, Monthly columnist for Bella Caledonia and the Sunday National
Feb 2019, Tutor & Facilitator, Fèisean nan Gàidheal ‘Fuaran’ project
Aug 2018 - July 2019, Freelance research & writing, European CoHere Project, Intercultural Research Centre, Heriot-Watt University
July 2018 - May 2019, Local Voices Community Engagement for SHORE: How We See The Sea project, curated by Invisible Dust
June 2018, Workshops & input with Local Voices for SIEF International Summer School: ‘Giving Voice? Facilitating Social and Community Resilience,’ Elphinstone Institute, University of Aberdeen
Aug 2017, Consultation in culture and heritage, Learn to Love Digital
Sept 2015 - July 2017, National Network Co-ordinator, TRACS, Scottish Storytelling Centre
Sept 2013 – Mar 2014, Co-ordinator, Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland
June 2012 - March 2013, Mentor, The Archive Project, School of Scottish Studies Archives & Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin'
May - July 2013, Support to PR team, Festivals Edinburgh
May – Aug 2012, Knowledge Seminar Programme Co-ordinator, Festivals Edinburgh
Jan 2007 – June 2010, Traditional Music Tutor, Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin’ Ceilidh Club, Craigmillar & Wester Hailes
Paid Employment:
Oct 2022 – Research Associate in the within the School of Design at Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh
Oct 2013 – April 2017, Research & Teaching Assistant in Scottish Culture & Heritage, Online Distance Learning, University of Edinburgh
Aug 2015, Libraries Assistant, Scottish Studies Library, University of Edinburgh
Sept 2014 – June 2016, Lecturer (Scotland and Heritage, Gaelic Music & Song, Celtic Storytelling), Newbattle Abbey College
Sept 2009 - 2013, Tutor in Scottish Studies, University of Edinburgh
Public Talks, Lectures, Panel Contributions & Performance
June 2024, Guest speaker with Raghnaid Sandilands, Land and Nature in Scotland: Emerging Care Alternatives, School of Innovation and Technology, Glasgow School of Art
March 2024, Uisge Èirinn | River Findhorn, River Connections: Headwaters Celebration, Strathdearn Hub
Sept 2023, Keynote Lecture, Reforesting Scotland Annual Lecture
March 2023, Online Talk, SCAN Decades: STEPPING IN TO THE CARRYING STREAM - Mairi McFadyen and Ainslie Roddick in Conversation
Feb 2022, Online Lecture: Lèirsinn nan Gàidheal / Gaelic Visual Arts, Scottish Artists’ Union
Nov 2021, Online Lecture: Tobar an Dualchais, Blas Festival
Nov 2021, Public Lecture: Annual Hamish Henderson Memorial Lecture, Carrying Stream Festival, Edinburgh
Oct 2021, Guest Speaker: Contribution to Fèisean nan Gàidheal online training session, TREÒIR -VOAR - VIRR project
May 2021, Guest Speaker: Fèis Rois Virtual Weekend Lunchtime Lecture, ‘Ceilidh Culture, Convivality and ‘The Carrying Stream’
Sept 2020, Guest Speaker: Highland Youth Arts Hub (HIYA) ‘Creative In Your Community’ Project, online Creative Conversations 1
July 2020, Guest Speaker: FEECA (Folklore, Ethnology, Ethnomusicology Aberdeen Conference), ‘Connection, Creativity, Community in a Time of Covid-19’ (online)
June 2020, Panel Guest: #MakeShift Solas Festival, ‘Not Going Back to Normal Panel - Visions of a Post Lockdown Scotland
May 2020, Panel Guest: Folk Film Gathering ‘Community Under Pressure’ Discussion
Nov 2019, Guest
May 2020, Panel Guest: Folk Film Gathering ‘Community Under Pressure’ Discussion
Nov 2019, Guest Speaker: Hamish Matters Festival, Blairgowrie 2019
Aug 2019, Panel Guest: The Hamish Henderson Summer School, Sustainable Cultures, Scottish Storytelling Centre
August 2019, Panel Guest: ‘Wildlife, Land Reform and Environment’ conference, Revive: The Coalition for Grouse Moor Reform
August 2019: Panel Guest ‘Why Hamish Matters’, Hamish Henderson Summer School: Sustainable Cultures day, Scottish Storytelling Centre
Nov 2018, Public Lecture: Scottish Centre for Geopoetics Annual Tony McManus Lecture, ‘Finding Radical Hope in Geopoetics,’ Leith Parish Church, Edinburgh
April 2017, Song Performance: ‘Two Truths of Thomas the Rhymer’ at TradFest with Chris Wright
Oct 2016, Lecture: The Alan Bruford Memorial Lecture, ‘The Space Between is Where the Maysie Lives: Presence, Imagination and Experience in the Traditional Ballad,' Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Aug 2016, Talk: ‘The Role of Local Cultural Heritage in Learning for Sustainabiltiy,' The Shieling Project
Aug 2016, Talk: ‘Arts & Crafts - Radical Social Art, Awakening of Mythical heroes & Future Dreams,' Celtic Summer School, Scottish Storytelling Centre
Aug 2015, Talk: ‘Patrick Geddes' Cultural-ecological imagination.' Celtic Summer School, Scottish Storytelling Centre
Aug 2015, Talk: ‘Scotland's Visual Culture.' Celtic Summer School, Scottish Storytelling Centre
Jan 2014, Lecture: ‘Think Global, Act Local: a post-national cultural-ecological perpsective.’ Cultures of Independence Series, Glasgow School of Art
Aug 2013, Lecture: ‘How Scotland’s Environment has shaped Scotland’s Culture and Sense of itself.’ Scotland on the Threshold Seminar Series, Scottish Storytelling Centre
Aug 2013, Lecture: ‘Seeing Scotland: Visual Art and Scotland’s Identities.’ Scotland on the Threshold Seminar Series, Scottish Storytelling Centre
Mar 2013, Lecture: ‘Songs and Sustainability: Exploring a Cultural-Ecological Approach in a Scottish Context.' Traditional Song Forum Spring Meeting, Scottish Storytelling Centre
Nov 2015, Panel Guest: ‘Social Fabric - Knitting a Nation,' Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh
Sept 2015, Panel Guest: ‘Poetic Politics - Culture and the 2014 Scottish
July 2014, Panel Guest: The 2014 Middle East Festival Forum on Spirituality, Politics and Culture
July 2014, Panel Guest: ‘How would a Yes vote affect the Common Weal?‘ Festival of the Common Weal, The Arches, Glasgow
April 2014, Panel Guest: Devil’s Advocate debate Devils’ Advocate, Edinburgh
May 2104, Panel Guest: Green Yes Event, Out of the Blue, Edinburgh
March 2014, Panel Guest: YES International Women’s Day, University of Edinburgh
Workshops & Learning
August 2023, Online workshop: 1000 Better Stoies Scottish Communities Climate Action Network
Oct 2022, Online session: DE/GROWTH: Human Ecology, Economy, Community online course, Centre for Human Ecology
July 2019, Workshop: ‘Reclaiming the Commons/ Reclaiming a Sense of World’, Expressing the Earth Residential Conference, Wiston Lodge, Biggar
June 2018, Talk & Workshop: ‘How We See Our Highland Landscapes,’ HighLAND/FEARANN event, Architecture Fringe, Abriachan
June 2017, Workshop: ‘What Would a Geopoetic Creative Ethnology Look Like?' Expressing the Earth Conference, Scottish Centre for Geopoetics and the University of the Highland and Islands, Seil Island
Nov 2016, Workshop: ‘Lift Your Voice and Explore the Scots Song Tradition' with Scott Murray, Edinburgh
Aug 2016, Workshop: ‘Patrick Geddes' Notation of Life,’ Outlook: Exploring Geddes in the 21st Century conference, Planning Aid Scotland
Aug 2014, Talk & Workshop: ‘A Patrick Geddes Journey.’ Celtic Summer School, Scottish Storytelling Centre
June 2014, Workshop: ‘Creative Cultural Activism,' Inverness
April 2014, Workshop: ‘Traditional Arts Ecology in Scotland' EYG Volunteer training, Edinburgh
Feb 2014, Lecture & Workshop: ‘Heritage and Hope in Scotland.’ Scottish United Reformed & Congregational College
Chairing, Hosting & Facilitation
November 2023, Facilitator: Scottish Rural and Islands Parliament Panel Discussion & ‘Last Dance’ Workshop
Sept 2019, Facilitator: Take One Action Film Festival at the Glasgow Women’s Library
July 2019, Host: ‘Bothy Culture ceilidh’, Abriachan, Architecture Fringe
July 2019, Host: ‘FEARANN / LAND 2’ event, Abriachan Forest, Architecture Fringe
July 2019, Host/Facilitator: ‘Reclaiming the Shieling, Reclaiming the Commons’ day, Architecture Fringe, The Shieling Project, Glenstrathfarrar
May 2019, Facilitator: Enough! Launch, Govan, Glasgow
Sept 2018, Host: ‘Traditional arts, Learning for Sustainability and Outdoor Learning’ Sharing Day, The Shieling Project
June 2018, Co-host: ‘HighLAND/FEARANN’ event, Architecture Fringe, Abriachan Inverness
May 2018, Host: ‘Highland Stravaig’ Scottish Centre for Geopoetics, Abriachan, Inverness
July 2017, Host: ‘57 Degrees North: Bothy Culture,' Abriachan Village Hall, Architecture Fringe
May 2017, Chair: ‘Chanson d’Armor’ with Rachel Newton and Stuart Eydmann, Folk Film Gathering
Jan 2016, Host: ‘The New Movement in Narrative Documentary’ with Lou McLoughlan, Edinburgh
Nov 2016, Host: ‘Enhanced by Diversity, Connected by Humanity' TRACS & Bemis St Andrew's Day Open Conference, Edinburgh
Nov 2016, Song & Storytelling Performance: ‘Open Hearth’ Scottish International Storytelling Festival
Nov 2015, Chair: ‘An Evening with Verene Nicolas and Alastair McIntosh,' St Augustine's Church, Edinburgh
Nov 2015, Host: ‘What is Scotland?’, Saltire Society event, University of Edinburgh
Independence Referendum One Year On,‘ National Library of Scotland
May 2015, Host: ‘Culture: What Next?‘ Tradfest, Scottish Storytelling Centre
May 2015, Host: ‘2 Minute Manifesto: Election Day Special,‘ Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
March 2015, Host: ‘Changin Scotland,‘ The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool
Oct 2014, Chair: ‘Past, Present & Future of Radical Scotland,‘ Radical Book Fair, Edinburgh
Sept 2014, Host: ‘Yes Live‘ at the Alhambra, Dunfermline
Sept 2014, Host: ‘An Evening with Burns, Scott and Tam Lin‘ Peebles Arts Festival
April 2014, Chair: Yes Edinburgh Central Panel Event, St Augustine’s Church
Events & Projects organised
September 2024, Hopeful Futures, in collaboration with Circus Artspace
March 2022, Highland Degrowth Gathering: Offers and Needs Market, The Ceilidh Place, Ullapool
July 2019, ‘Bothy Culture ceilidh’, Abriachan, Architecture Fringe
July 2019, ‘FEARANN / LAND 2’ event, Abriachan Forest, Architecture Fringe
July 2019, ‘Reclaiming the Shieling, Reclaiming the Commons’ day, Architecture Fringe, The Shieling Project, Glenstrathfarrar
Dec 2018, ‘Cafe Conversations - Climate & Degrowth,’ Velocity Cafe, Inverness
Sept 2018, ‘ Traditional arts, Learning for Sustainability and Outdoor Learning’ Sharing Day, The Shieling Project, Glenstrathfarrar
June 2018, ‘HighLAND/FEARANN’ event, Architecture Fringe, Abriachan, Inverness
May 2018, ‘Highland Stravaig’ Scottish Centre for Geopoetics, Abriachan, Inverness
July 2017, ‘57 Degrees North' - 4 events as part of the Architecture Fringe, Abriachan, Inverness
May 2017, ‘Why The Birds Sing,’ TradFest Edinburgh | Dùn Èideann
Jan 2017, ‘The New Movement in Narrative Documentary’ with Lou McLoughlan, Edinburgh
Jan 2017, ‘Stories, Stones and Bones: Making Heritage Live,’ TRACS, Edinburgh
Nov 2016, ‘Enhanced by Diversity, Connected by Humanity' TRACS & BEMIS St Andrew's Day Open Conference
Nov 2016, ‘From Heritage to Creativity' (in partnership with Scotland's Urban Past) Inverness
Nov 2015, ‘What is Scotland?’, Saltire Society event, University of Edinburgh
May 2015, ‘Culture: What Next?’ Festival conference, TradFest Edinburgh | Dùn Èideann
March 2015, ‘Changin Scotland,’ 3 day residential conference in Ullapool (collaboration)
Aug 2014, ‘National Collective Presents...' 9 day run at Edinburgh Festival Fringe (collaboration)
July 2014, ‘Yestival,' 24 dates over 34-day tour across Scotland
June 2014, National Collective Highland Launch, Inverness
April 2014, ‘Aa the Airts: Project Wish Tree,' TradFest Edinburgh | Dùn Èideann
Feb 2014, ‘New Scotland/New Culture' Summerhall Arts, Edinburgh (voluntary/collaboration)
Jan 2014, ‘The Archive Project: An Adventure in Traditional Music' Album Launch, Summerhall
May 2013 ‘Open Fields: the Future of Trad' conference, TradFest Edinburgh | Dùn Èideann
Aug 2012 Knowledge Seminar Series, Festivals Edinburgh, Creative Scotland & British Council