Samantha Ross joined Link Community Development in June 2011 as Programme Director. She is responsible for the management of the organisation’s operations – programmes, fundraising, and communications; and for working with the Board in the areas of finance and governance. Before joining the organisation, Samantha worked with Save the Children in Sierra Leone evaluating their education programmes, spent five years in Tanzania working in various capacities for local education NGOs, and has worked as a teacher in a variety of Asian countries. Samantha has a PhD in International Development where she explored the role of local languages in education, and cultural and biological diversity conservation, and an MA in Education and Development. Her interests include yoga and travel. 

Louise Stuart joined Link Community Development in Scotland in January 2007 and since July 2011 she is Programme Manager. She is responsible for the Link Schools Programme and was delighted to lead Link's first Malawi Bike Ride in July 2011; She also works on the Partners in Development programme and raising funds from events and individuals. Before joining the organisation, Louise worked for the charity Service Civil International in Belgium where she co-ordinated international seminars. Previously she worked at the Centre for Drugs Misuse Research at Glasgow University producing communication and marketing materials, and prior to that as an English Language Assistant in a school in France. Louise has a BA Honours in International Business and Modern Languages from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. Her interests include foreign languages and culture. 

Kate Armstrong joined Link Community Development in Scotland in November 2009. She is responsible for the Malawi Leaders of Learning programme, School Development Projects, Solar Connect, School Sponsorship and corporate fundraising. She also supports a variety of fundraising events including the Hitch and small fundraising events. Before joining the organisation, Kate worked for Global Conscience Initiative, a grassroots human rights organisation in Cameroon, where she was responsible for communications and delivering human rights education to schools and the wider community. Previously Kate volunteered for Amnesty International as a research assistant and directed Amnesty’s campaign at the University of Edinburgh for refugees’ and asylum-seekers’ rights. Kate has an MA in History and Politics from the University of Edinburgh, where she focused on international relations and human rights. Her interests include languages and travel.

Intern profiles

Amanda Muir joined Link Community Development in Scotland in April 2011 as a Fundraising Intern. She assists in the administration of the corporate fundraising strategy of Link Scotland and engages in corporate contact research and development. She also supports the promotion of the Hitch to students in Scottish Universities. Amanda has a BA in International Studies from the University of California, San Diego and is currently studying towards a Master’s Degree in Global Health and Public Policy. Her interests include human rights and travelling. 


Michael Crawley joined Link Community Development in August 2011 as Marketing and Administration intern. Michael has an MA in French and English Literature from Edinburgh University and works as a translator for Action Contre la Faim in Paris. He hopes to study Violence, Conflict and Development at SOAS next year. His interests include running, travelling, photography and languages, and he is currently studying Amharic and planning a trip to Ethiopia for later in the year.

Mr Robin Arnott initially trained as a banker but for most of his 37 years with the Royal Bank of Scotland worked in its IT Division, latterly as a Senior Manager with responsibility for its UK operational activities. Taking early retirement from the Bank in 1997, he undertook a year’s voluntary work in Israel and on his return was appointed Chief Executive of EMMS International (a medical mission organisation with healthcare and primary educational projects mainly in Malawi and India), a post from which he has just recently retired. Robin has gained extensive experience in the charity sector, particularly in areas of governance and fundraising. He is a Certificated Member of the Institute of Fundraising. He is currently holds non-Executive directorships with LCD Scotland, the Scotland Malawi Partnership and a number of other charities. Robin’s interest in, and love for Malawi has developed primarily as a result of his work with EMMS International. He has a desire to see improvements in people’s conditions and standard of living and regards raising educational standards and quality as a means to that end.  

Mr Mark Beaumont qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1986. Following work at Deloitte & Touche and in the NHS he has spent most of his career working in the Finance departments of Bank of Scotland and Royal Bank of Scotland. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland. Mark has a connection with Malawi, spending his early childhood in Embangweni. He is the Treasurer and a Trustee of Child Survival in Malawi (Scotland), a charity that supports locally-run infant nutrition and welfare projects.

Mr Ken Greer has spent all his adult life working within the education system. After graduating in English from the University of St Andrews in 1975 he began teacher training at Moray House College, in Edinburgh. He later gained a Masters degree from the Open University. He taught English in Lanarkshire and West Lothian and, from 1980-90, worked in promoted posts in Buckhaven and Dunfermline High Schools. He then became Adviser in English for Grampian Region, based in Aberdeen from 1990-1993. He joined Her Majesty’s Inspectorate (HMI) in January 1994, holding various positions including National Specialist in English and District Inspector. From there he was seconded to the Scottish Executive Education Department in 2000 to consult upon and draft the first National Cultural Strategy. He returned to Fife Council in March 2003 as Senior Education Manager, becoming Head of Education in December 2005 and then Executive Director (Education) in April 2007.

Professor Martyn Roebuck, Honorary Professor of Education at Glasgow University, is Chair of LCD Scotland. He was for 23 years an HMI in Scotland, latterly as Chief Inspector with particular responsibilities in new technologies, educational research and international relations. As an HMI, Martyn was a specialist adviser to the OECD on IT in education, and to the EU on quality assurance and school self-evaluation. He worked in West Africa in the 1960s. Since 1999 he has worked in Uganda, Rwanda and Botswana on school inspection and school improvement.