Meet the Team

Team Dundee Bairns

Our Staff

Project Manager

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

Susan started working for Dundee Bairns back in 2022, and has since taken on the role of Food Programme and Volunteer Coordinator. She is responsible for the smooth operation of our Fun and Food and Tea Club Programmes, and enjoys working with the teams at Tayside Contracts as well as other providers to help get food out to oor Bairns.  She helps to maintain our social media, as well as being responsible for the onboarding and support of our valuable volunteers.

Business Manager/Bairns at Home Lead

Dee Pearce

Healthy Eating Coordinator

Lauren Bell

Wellbeing Manager

Cath McBennett

Finance Officer

Ann Anderson

Wellbeing Worker

Kirsty McKay

Wellbeing Worker

Becky Kidd

Warehouse Operative

Declan Smith

Stock Control Assistant

Jack Brennan

Warehouse Operative

Brian Johnston

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

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

Joanna Siageon

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

Craig Clement

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

Neil Lowden

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

Jenny Marra

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

Heather Davidson

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

Gail Reid

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

Lyndsey Nicholls

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.

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.

Dundee Bairns is a flexible, agile and responsive charity, working to support some of the most vulnerable children in Dundee, supporting many community projects, school groups and services to make sure that no child goes without