Meet the Team
Our Staff
Diana Whitmore, Founder and Co-CEO
Diana, M.A. Education, is a psychosynthesis (positive and transpersonal psychology) practitioner, who designs and delivers professional training in the fields of youth work, business coaching, psychotherapy and counselling. She is accredited by the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy and as a senior supervisor by the British Association for Counselling and Therapy. She has worked with young people for over 20 years and has founded three charities over a 35-year period. Diana was Director, Scotland for Ecologia Youth Trust and set up the Growing2gether programme in Scotland in 2016. She is the author of two books, Psychosynthesis in Education: A Guide to the Joy of Learning and Psychosynthesis Counselling in Action.
diana.whitmore@growing2gether.org.uk
Gavin Morgan, Co-CEO
Gavin (PGDip CLD/BA Business) has over 25 years experience across public, private and third sector organisations and currently sits as vice chair on the CLD Standards Council 'Registration Committee'. He is passionate about community, learning and development and has extensive experience working with children, young people and adults across a variety of settings. He spent six years within a national role for Who Cares? Scotland and over eight years within the CLD youth team at Moray Council. He is a trained Rites of Passage Guide with the School of Lost Borders in California and, when not immersed in community development, you may find him out on his Canadian canoe, wild camping, playing his guitar or enjoying a board game with his wife and children.
gavin.morgan@growing2gether.org.uk
Elaine Bennett, Director of Fundraising
Elaine, B.A. (Hons), has over 30 years’ charity and commercial experience, including fundraising, PR and communications. Key roles include Director of Fundraising at the Prostate Cancer Charity and Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, Head of Corporate and Trusts at the British Red Cross, and Director of Fundraising at Teens and Toddlers.
Elaine is passionate about raising funds and awareness to help more young people overcome challenges to become who they were destined to be. She is an avid animal lover and enjoys horse riding in the countryside.
fundraising@growing2gether.org.uk
Fasil Bogale, Director of Finance
Fasil is a chartered accountant (A.C.M.A., C.G.M.A.) who, after a successful career working for renowned asset management firm, European Credit Management, now supports businesses and third sector organisations to build the resilience of local communities and create sustainable living initiatives. Aside from his work for Growing2gether, Fasil is a Director of Ekopia Social Investments, a community benefit cooperative, and the Chief Financial Officer of Gaia Education, a sustainable development charity.
Kirsty Humphrey, Research Health Psychologist
Kirsty has developed our evaluation methodology and analyses project outcomes. Kirsty has an BSc Hons, MSc. in Health Psychology and 18 years’ experience working in research including publishing several research papers. Previous posts include Research Fellow (University of Surrey), Research Health Psychologist (Woolfson Institute for Preventative Medicine) and Director of Research (Teens and Toddlers). She has also been a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and has a particular interest in mental health as well as behaviour change. She has worked on Growing2gether since the project was founded in 2017.
kirsty.humphrey@growing2gether.org.uk
Adelle Horler, Operations Officer
Adelle Horler is a workshop facilitator and a media professional. After many years in traditional journalism she shifted to content marketing – using content creatively to offer value and bring people closer to purpose. She spent 10 years as Content Director at an internationally awarded content marketing agency, working across all sectors, including health, food, communications, wealth, motoring and retail. Originally from Cape Town in South Africa, she moved to Findhorn in Scotland to work in Marketing and Education for the Findhorn Foundation, holding retreats and workshops in this renowned intentional community.
dell.horler@growing2gether.org.uk
Ursula Gebicke, Programmes and Development Manager
Ursula has been a full-time Lead Facilitator for Growing2gether since 2017. After completing a Social Pedagogy degree in Germany, she moved to Scotland in 1991. She gained extensive experience in residential Social Work and Nurture Group settings, favouring a therapeutic and holistic approach. Key roles include Assistant Principal at Raddery School and Childrens’ Services Worker for the Highland Council. She is very interested in Languages and enjoys making music and spending time outdoors.
Aileen Mackay, Community Programme & Partnerships Manager
Aileen has a number of tools in her belt, such as B Ed (Merit in Teaching), Standard Qualification in Headship, Post Grad GIRFEC and coaching for life qualification. With over thirty years in education her passion remains with inclusion, empowering others and relationships. She believes creativity in its widest form and an understanding of belonging is at the heart of every one of us and wants every young person to have the opportunity to strive.
Marit Beije, Lead Facilitator
Marit was born and raised in the Netherlands. There she was trained as a Primary school teacher and taught for over 13 years in state schools and in Steiner education. She enjoys singing, nature and arts.
Jill Connor, Lead Facilitator
BA (Hons) Drama and Production. Jill has a passion for drama and enjoys performing on zoom or in person as part of The Mad Hatter's of Moray. She has previously been a long term volunteer for the Learning Support team at Forres Academy and for Active Schools as a netball coach.
Craig Ramsay, YSA Facilitator
Craig is passionate about engaging with the disengaged and growing the number of boys who can benefit from the Growing2gether programme. He started working with us in 2023 and has experience in working with care experienced vulnerable young people.
Kelly Brown, Lead Facilitator
Our Trustees
Our Board of Directors currently consists of four members, all with charity, education or business management experience. They provide strategic governance and ensure that the programmes deliver for young people and adapt to local needs.
Clive Kitson has a lifetime engagement and love of education. He has a background in teaching, curriculum development in Schools, and the in-service education of teachers. He was a faculty member and manager of education for the Findhorn Foundation Charitable Trust.
He has also served as Director of the Findhorn Foundation College. He brings his care, understanding and experience to the work of Growing2gether.
Dr Sara Trevelyan has had an eclectic career and originally trained as a medical doctor. She initially worked in psychiatry, followed by an opportunity to explore mental health and the community for the Scottish Association of Mental Health.
She was co Director of the Gateway Exchange a community centre in Edinburgh, offering creative opportunities to ex-prisoners, ex-addicts, and people with mental health backgrounds. She re-trained in counselling and psychotherapy in the Person Centred Approach and has worked as a therapist for many years, integrating transpersonal approaches.
Sara has also studied energy healing and been ordained as an interfaith minister. As a mother and grandmother she is passionate about supporting young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds. The vision of Growing together linking teenagers with young children in nurseries is one which she is fully committed to and delighted to support.
Maya Christobel brings over four decades of experience as a therapist, organizational strategist and visionary leader to her role as Fundraising Consultant and trustee. With a lifelong commitment to supporting individual and collective transformation, Maya has guided thousands through life transitions, trauma healing, and leadership development.
Her Master’s and Doctorate at Harvard University focused on the intersection of psychology, systems change and social impact. With decades of hands-on experience in therapeutic practice and nonprofit leadership, Maya is uniquely positioned to forge deep relationships with donors, foundations and philanthropic partners.
A pioneer in EVOX Neurofeedback, Maya integrates cutting-edge trauma release modalities to rewire the brain’s habitual responses to stress. This approach facilitates new neural pathways, offering lasting healing from trauma and expanding the capacity for emotional resilience and growth.
Throughout her career, Maya has helped build and scale programs centered on emotional well-being, youth empowerment, and social innovation. Through filmmaking and screenwriting she translates vision into action and values into impact, telling stories that move hearts and inspire giving.
Maya leads with integrity, insight, and an unwavering belief in young people's potential to shape a better world when given the support, tools, and love they deserve.
Anne Skene is an experienced Board Trustee and Chairwoman. She brings a range of experience to the board, from her work as an educational psychologist and teacher, teacher trainer and consultant, to being on the Moray Council for Forres, responsible for chairing the Children and Young People’s Services Committee, Corporate Parenting and Appointments committees. She also founded and ran a youth drama academy – and she’s been a farmer. Her interests include rowing, kayaking, painting, reading, theatre and music.
Nan Moore is an experienced ministerial leader who served as Director of Family Ministries for over 30 years, specialising in youth mentorship, leadership development and inclusive programming. Her work includes a youth/adult co-leadership model on anti-racism and cultural diversity initiatives, substance-use education, and social justice conference organising. She also has served as a chaplain within Unitarian Universalist youth communities across the United States and Canada.
Trained in multi-faith Clinical Pastoral Education in Boston, Nan has provided chaplaincy care in hospitals, churches and hospice settings, including paediatric palliative care supporting children and their families facing life-limiting illness.
Nan is a certified Unitarian Universalist Spiritual Director with a private practice and serves as a Commissioned Community Minister in Quincy, Massachusetts. She officiates weddings, memorials, child dedications and other life-honoring ceremonies, dividing her time between Forres, Scotland, and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Heather Knowles currently the Chief Officer of Kincardine and Mearns Citizens Advice Bureau (KAMCAB). She has a background in Homeopathy and Buddhist Meditation. She has been working in the Third Sector for over a decade, leading on the Aberdeenshire Carers Service and in particular support for Young Carers. She has a real passion for supporting the development of young people potentional.
She has experience and a love of leading change for Services, Teams, and the Community. Solid experience in strategic management, generating income, building culture, and managing stakeholder relationships.
Her passions include meditation, gym, cold water, family and the unique doggy form of family.