The Team

The Urquhart Partnership is a Human Resource, Training and Recruitment Consultancy with offices in Aberdeen and Manchester. The company is 15 years old and currently employs just over 20 people. We strive for excellence in sourcing, managing and developing people for our clients.

Over the last 15 years, I have gained a broad range of experience in a number of HR related delivery areas such as recruitment and selection, psychometric testing, training and mentoring. I have combined this with a sound understanding of all aspects of running a business including sales and marketing, finance, IT systems, website development etc. My natural strengths are as a creative thinker with strong problem solving / lateral thinking skills.

I am also a Director of cushydoos, an HR related event management company and also on the Board / Vice Chair of the Cancer Charity CLAN.

Shona Hendry is an account director at The BIG Partnership, the UK’s largest PR agency outside London, with clients including urological cancer charity UCAN and Northsound’s Cash for Kids. She is a former journalist and was assistant news editor at the Press and Journal.

Iain is Learning and Development Director and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility for Chartered Accountants, Johnston Carmichael. Johnston Carmichael has a strong and active presence within the sphere of CSR. Some of the firm’s current activities include, the ‘Green Shoots’ Poster Competition that is aimed at raising awareness of environmental issues amongst school pupils across Scotland and indeed our staff. We have also partnered with the Prince’s Scottish Business Youth Trust (PSYBT) to provide pro bono Accounting and Tax advice to their member organisations. For more details of our CSR activities please click here.

We are very pleased to do what we can in helping ‘Celebrate Aberdeen’ become as successful as possible.

Educated at Aberdeen Grammar School I grew up working in the family business ‘Gerard’s restaurant and ‘Café Colmar’. When my parents retired in 2000 I bought a business in Banchory which I later sold and went to work as HR Manager at The Marcliffe Hotel and Spa. Before joining Cash for Kids as Charity Manager in 2009 I worked for the charity Crimestoppers as Project Organiser for Grampian, Tayside, Highlands & Islands. I am a qualified clinical Hypnotherapist (although I don’t practice anymore) and I completed a BA Honours degree in Psychology with The Open University. I have three children and enjoy dancing, swimming, socialising, cooking and dining out.

Northsound Radio’s Cash for Kids is a registered charity promoting the welfare of children and young people within the Northsound transmission area and this year we are celebrating 15 years of fundraising to support local underprivileged, sick and disabled children - what better way to celebrate than taking part in the ‘Celebrate Aberdeen’ parade.

With cash raised locally and spent locally, Cash for Kids guarantees that supporters generous donations go to bring hope, healing or happiness to a child in their local community. If your would like to support our fundraising or wish information on how to apply for a grant please contact Michelle Herd, Charity Manager – This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

I am Funding & Business Planning Officer for ACVO – The Third Sector Interface for Aberdeen. ACVO exists to develop, support and represent voluntary and community organisations, charities and social enterprises working or based in Aberdeen City of which there are approximately 4,000. My particular role is to lead our work on Enterprise & Sustainability in the sector and to provide Funding & Business Planning Support – one-to-one, through delivering training, through brokerage, signposting, mentoring and coaching and through special projects such as Celebrate Aberdeen and Business Know How North East which has over 400 private/third sector members. I am a member of the local Steering Groups of Scottish Business in the Community and Common Purpose and am a judge of the Trend Magazine Life with Style Awards. I have been in this post for 4 ½ years and previously established Crimestoppers Grampian/Highland. I have been fundraising for and developing third sector organisations – often in partnership with the private sector and the media – for 24 years in London and the North East and have been volunteering since I could walk (handing round biscuits at Oxfam coffee mornings).

Celebrate Aberdeen is a project of ACVO – Scottish Charity SC03685 Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations and will receive 100% of net proceeds.

I have been Communications Officer with Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations (ACVO), the Third Sector Interface for Aberdeen City for over ten years now. My role covers one of our six core activities – ‘Communicating the Sector’ and ensures that the most up-to-date and relevant news is circulated to and about the Third Sector in Aberdeen City. This includes working with the media, production of various information sharing tools, most importantly, the ACVO E-Bulletin which is sent out every week to over 2,000 subscribers in Grampian, maintenance of over 60 third sector and community planning partner websites and organising events to showcase the work of the sector and encourage partnership working.

Scott Baxter is Deputy Chief Executive and Resilience & Development Director with Aberdeen Cyrenians. Over the last 25 years Scott has held many senior roles within the Statutory, Private and Voluntary Sector with local and national organisations. In addition to his work with the Cyrenians, Scott is Chairperson with Befriend a Child, runs his own training business Solutions of Substance and is also an active musician regularly playing at events and festivals.

Pauline Sumal is a Partner at Clydesdale Bank, having joined the bank in 1999 Pauline has had various roles from looking after a portfolio of Private Clients to now being involved in Business Development. In the last 2 years she has worked particularly close to the charity sector which has ranged from structuring bespoke charity banking products to organising events and seminars to connect with the third sector. CSR is at the heart of Clydesdale Bank by making a positive contribution to the society and by supporting their staff to help in their local communities.