Meet the Team
Team Dundee Bairns
Our Staff
Executive Director
Genna Millar
I grew up as a Dundee Bairn and I passionately believe that no child should face inequality through financial barriers to basic things that they need to grow and thrive. I am absolutely determined that the bairns of Dundee deserve every opportunity available and I am dedicated to making sure no bairn goes without.
Food Project and Volunteer Coordinator
Susan Maxwell
Business Manager/Bairns at Home Lead
Dee Pearce
In my role with Bairns at Home I work with our referrers to provide essentials for our community. I’m also striving to ensure that all items that come through our Multibank find a useful home.
The other part of my job is to support our Board to ensure our governance is as strong as it can be.
Wellbeing Worker
Kirsty McKay
I joined Dundee Bairns in 2025, bringing my experience from the world of theatre, third sector mental health services and the NHS adult mental health sector.
Passionate about wellbeing, I love creating opportunities for Dundee’s bairns to share their voices, spark their creativity and imagination whilst exploring new possibilities and opportunities in a fun exciting way.
Wellbeing Worker
Becky Kidd
I am one of the Dundee Bairns wellbeing workers working across the East of Dundee. We work directly with children and young people doing lots of different activities, clubs and workshops, both during and after school. I worked outwith Dundee for a few years and was keen to come back and work with my own community, so I was very happy when I got the chance to join Dundee Bairns. I am passionate about our wee city, I believe there is a lot of good happening and it’s great to play a small part in that. I love getting to know the children and young people we work with, watching them experience different opportunities and grow in confidence.
Our Trustees
Chair and Founder
David Dorward MBE
Background: David spent 43 years in local government, almost all in Dundee. He was the Director of Finance with Dundee City Council for 14 years and finished his career as Chief Executive of the City Council for 5 years before retiring in November 2014, He established Dundee Bairns in 2016, and it was constituted as a formal charity in 2017.
Why are you with Dundee Bairns?
“I love seeing that Dundee Bairns has and will continue to make the lives of Dundee families and bairns that little bit better.”
Trustee
Bob Lauder
Retired oil and gas industry Health and Safety Manager.
Why I’m part of Dundee Bairns:
I consider it a real privilege to serve as a Trustee with Dundee Bairns, and I can think of no more rewarding charitable role than helping to provide much needed practical support to the children of my home city.
Trustee
Marjory Stewart
Marjory retired in 2017 following a 40-year career in local government, latterly as Executive Director of Corporate Services at Dundee City Council. She spent almost her entire working life based in Dundee.
She joined the Board of Dundee Bairns as a Trustee and Treasurer at its inception in May 2017 as she wanted to support the work David had begun with the establishment of the Dundee Bairns Fun & Food Programme.
Why I’m part of Dundee Bairns
I enjoy using my financial skills to support Dundee Bairns
in helping to tackle inequality and child poverty in Dundee.
Trustee
Lyndsey Nicholls
I joined Apex Hotels in 2004. In 2017, we partnered with Dundee Bairns to provide Christmas hampers for 50 families, and we have continued to make annual donations ever since. These contributions are made possible through the generous support and commitment of the team at Apex City Quay.
In November 2025, I became a member of the Board of Trustees and am committed to supporting the charity in delivering its outstanding work within the community.
Our Patrons
Patron
Neil Forsyth
“I was delighted to have been asked to be a patron of Dundee Bairns. They are a charity I have known about for a few years, and I think their work is incredible. Since joining as a patron I have learnt more about their different programmes, from The Fun and Food programme which delivered approximately 21,000 meals over the summer of 2021, to their Tea Clubs which will be running in schools over the Winter, and their Christmas voucher and food provision to help Dundonian families over the Christmas holiday period. I’m very proud to have been asked to be a small part of an organisation that does so much for so many Dundonian families and children.”
Patron
Jamie Scott
Jamie, 30, was born in Kirkliston around the time mum Winnie was working at the Caledonian. His dad, Grant, was in the Black Watch and the family moved around when Jamie was young. He started his career at 14 as the most junior person in the kitchen of his parents’ pub, and eventually worked his way up to running it. “It was always my intention to open my first restaurant in the Fife and Dundee area. This is where I grew up and drew all my inspiration from. The Newport gives me everything I wanted in my first venture. Newport on Tay is a beautiful coastal town with the most incredible views across the river”. Owning a restaurant in the area it makes sense being patron of a charity such as Dundee Bairns which comes so organic to me. The work of Dundee Bairns is so inspiring and I hope I can help them gain more knowledge to further their success, as together we are determined that no Dundee child should go hungry.