Our wonderful Team
Alexandra Deliyannis
Youth Services Manager
I have been working as an ASN Development Worker since February 2021. My main duties are to enrol and support young people with additional needs by supporting them through our Starfish Way programmes to achieve their DofE Award and other wider achievements. The programmes that I plan also provide young people with the opportunity to develop their social and life skills and encourage more independence and confidence in themselves as they move on to their next steps of college or the world of work.
Our work goes far beyond Awards and we try to give our young people all the same opportunities as everyone else in a safe, caring and fun environment. By far the best part of my job is working directly with young people. I work with groups and also oversee our 1:1 high nurture programmes. As well as supporting young people and building positive relationships, I also work directly with parents, carers, social work and other local organisations. No day is the same and I learn so much from the young people I work with.
I also have the pleasure of working directly with our fantastic volunteers and supporting our Distance Learning Hub students.
I am a seasonal open water swimmer and animal lover who enjoys running adventures with my dog Toby. I am also a mum of 3 – navigating the parenting rollercoaster. I am a reader and ancient history enthusiast but also partial to a soap opera. Love a sunrise, sunset, Christmas and Autumnal trees. Recently have become a guinea pig mum to 2 rescue centre piggies.
Wendy jackson
Funding and Partnership Manager
I am the Funding and Partnership Manager and have been with the organisation since 2015, having worn many hats in my time here! I am responsible for raising funds for our work, building new partnerships and strengthening existing collaborations. I have been involved with Starfish Way from its launch, and delight in being part of such a talented and passionate team.
I believe in the unlimited potential in every young person given the right opportunity and support. The Starfish Way provides these opportunities, and we see year after year the incredible and life changing achievements of the amazing young people we have the privilege to work alongside.
Away from work, you’ll find me with my family on or in the water, with my head in a beehive or boarding guide dog pups, when time allows!
Erica Duncan
Operations Manager
I am one of the newest members of the team and as the Operational Manager, I wear many hats – supporting all our wonderful teams and staff members across the organisation with the ultimate goal of delivering our unique Starfish Way programme.
I have a passion for the outdoors and believe all children and young people should be able to access it and enjoy the benefits of being in nature. I love being in such a rewarding role that also allows me to spend time with our wonderful young people and delivering our courses in some incredible locations around Perthshire. When I’m not at work, I’m probably outdoors somewhere with my own children or enjoying a good book!
Mell Osbaldstone
Office Finance and Administration Manager
I am the Office Finance & Administration Manager supporting our wonderful team from behind the scenes with all the administration paperwork, paying the bills and purchasing equipment. Supporting such a wonderful, caring team who inspire so many young people is amazing!
I have always loved the outdoors and have worked with young people for over 20 years. Being a born organiser, I originally started in administration, looking forward to the weekends so that I could go out exploring the beautiful countryside.
After having my two children I studied for my NVQ in childcare which then led me onto working with young people as a teaching assistant. This was such a rewarding experience.
I love animals, gardening, cycling and walking. We have 2 dogs, Panzer and Rupert, a cat, Willow and 4 chickens, Peggy, Gracey, Dottie and Maisie and we have a small orchard with apples and plums, and we love to grow our own vegetables.
Our Wonderful Volunteers
Dave Anderson
Volunteer
My name is Dave Anderson and I’m 60 something! I am supporting The Starfish Way and am enjoying it immensely, especially volunteering in somewhere as special as Megginch Castle. I come originally from Auchterarder, but have lived most of my life in Perth and have worked for over 30 years in Dundee in the voluntary sector. My background is social work.
I also volunteer with Riding for the Disabled, Perth and Kinross Association of Voluntary Service driving the mini bus for the Day Centre in Perth, Giraffe and Uppertunity in Dundee .
I live in Craigie, play golf and of course support St Johnstone… well, who doesn’t!
Morag Dodds
Volunteer
I recently joined the team as a volunteer gardener at Megginch Castle.
I’m originally from the New Forest area but have lived in Scotland for over 50 years and love it here.
I enjoy spending time outdoors, hillwalking, travelling and exploring. I’m also interested in wildlife, wild land areas and environmental issues. I am a keen amateur gardener and a voracious reader.
Our Board
Our Management Committee are, or have been, involved in some way with the youth development and the DofE Award. They are also volunteers from a vast array of backgrounds who are interested in seeing the organisation flourish and develop as a strong organisation to meet the demands of the future for young people within Perth & Kinross.
We are always seeking new members to bolster our Committee. You do need to be enthused about young people and their potential. The greater array of backgrounds our Committee have, the greater the wealth of knowledge & skills there is to learn from and influence our future.
If you would like to find out more contact admin@thestarfishway.co.uk
Robin Illsley
Chairman
Robin has 40 years experience in education and supporting young people.
For 20 years he has led Duke of Edinburgh Award initiatives in school and more recently within our organisation.
Now retired, he isn’t really! Helping young people is still his passion.
In his spare time he enjoys visiting his three sons, walking his dog, hillwalking, mountain biking, gardening and multi day outdoor adventures.
David Sands
Treasurer
As well as running businesses in retail, property and construction, David spends as much time as possible in the Scottish Highlands.
He has almost completed the Munros, is a very average skiier and a passionate fisherman.
Gillian Whytock
Secretary
Gillian has been volunteering with the organisation since 2004 and believes it’s one of the best decisions she ever made. She loves supporting young people to learn new skills, develop confidence and achieve their potential.
Gillian’s day job keeps her desk bound, so she’s always keen to escape to the outdoors. Her favourite things are hillwalking, mountain biking, wild camping adventures and pottering about with plants.
Liliana Correia
Youth Representative Trustee
A former Starfish Way participant with lived experience of the challenges faced by our young people, Liliana advises on current issues affecting young people, ensuring the voices and needs of young people are always central to our work.
Elaine Howie
Committee Member
Elaine has provided PR and communications support for some of the UK’s leading corporate and luxury brands, including Lloyds TSB Scotland, the Gleneagles Hotel, Johnnie Walker Championship, Blythswood Square, Magners Irish Cider, The Black Watch Museum and the Ross Development Trust.
Elaine has, over many years, developed extensive experience within the third sector. She has created and delivered fundraising campaigns and events including the David Sole Burns Supper; The Muir Maxwell Trust Galas; and ‘All About Boobs’ Ladies Lunches in aid of Breast Cancer Now. Most recently assisted with ‘Lisa’s Challenge for Maggie’s’ which helped raise £1.6M to fund the extension to Maggie’s Edinburgh.”
Prior to launching her own business, Elaine had worked for some of the country’s leading agencies and brands, such as Charles Barker PR Scotland, United Distillers UK (now Diageo) and as a Director of Carnegie Sports International.
Paul Rennie-Smith
Committee Member
Paul Rennie-Smith has been a Board Member for the organisation since March 2021.
He has a proven track record of delivering complex technology-enablement programmes to realise business benefits whilst leading large teams of multi-disciplined and globally dispersed technical experts. In the past 10 years he has worked for a number of FTSE 100 organisations, including BT Openreach, Cap Gemini, Fujitsu and the Royal Bank of Scotland. During this time, he has delivered digital transformation programmes for a number of clients across a wide range of sectors, including Construction, Defence, Financial Services, IT, Public, Retail, Telco, Transport and Utilities.
At the end of May 2025, Paul decided to take a career break with a view to retiring. In his last role he was employed as a Programme Manager on an assignment with a multi-national defence organisation where he was responsible for the coordination and delivery of Information & Communications Technology (ICT) Services.
Paul has supported a number of charity and social enterprise organisations including Raleigh International, Love Milton, Street Soccer Scotland and Easterhouse Phoenix Development in a voluntary capacity. He has raised a significant amount of money for charities over the past 30 years+ and was selected to be a Baton Bearer for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton Relay in recognition of this.
A keen sportsman, he is a member of Kinross Cycling Club and enjoys skiing and walking.
Gail Vaux
Committee Member
A former solicitor and qualified financial adviser, Gail currently works part time as a library assistant and volunteers for Perth CAB. Originally from Wales, Gail has lived in rural Perthshire since 2008.
Gail loves walking, planning and going on long distance hiking holidays, yoga, reading, gardening and rowing. She is passionate about the benefits to everyone of being in the outdoors and the opportunities provided by The Starfish Way. An active member of the funding subcommittee, Gail uses her skills and expertise to support the organisation in any way she can.
Lynn Jack
Committee Member
Fellow, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) with a postgraduate in Human Resources.
Jacqueline Mason
Committee Member
Jacqueline Mason is a Student Advocate at the University of St Andrews. She has worked with charities and in further education for a number of years, supporting children and young adults to develop skills, confidence, and resilience. A graduate in Business Management and Foreign Languages, Jacqueline is delighted to serve as a Trustee of the organisation.
