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Review and Update on NW2045 Vision

Who We Are

NW2045 Steering Group

The NW2045 Steering Group, formed in 2025, comprises representatives from all seven Community Council areas within NW2045. The group comes together every 4-6 weeks to guide the focus of NW2045 work, and the individuals represent it within their communities.

Frances Gunn, MBE

Chair

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Rags Celli

Bettyhill, Strathnaver and Altnaharra Community Council 

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Marion Milligan

Tongue Community Council 

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Don Campbell

Durness Community Council 

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Anita Wilson

Durness Community Council 

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Angela Johnson

Kinlochbervie Community Council 

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Neil Macdonald

Scourie Community Council 

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Colin Pritchard

Assynt Community Council 

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Lesley Muir

Coigach Community Council 

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NW2045 and Regional Land Use Partnership team

Sara Harkins

NW2045 Steering Group coordinator and RLUP team

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Lizzie Williams

Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) manager

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Rachel Skene

Community Engagement in Landscape Change – RLUP team

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Sophie Clark

Community Engagement in Landscape Change – RLUP team

 

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Ewen McLachlan

Development Officer, Assynt Development Trust (the anchor organisation for the NW2045 collective)

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Joseph Peach

Helped to establish the Steering Group and continues to support the work. 

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Community Co-leads

The RLUP Land+ project has enabled Community Co-leads to work within their communities.

From 2023-2024, Denise MacDonald, Sophie Clark and Sara Harkins were Community Co-Leads in Kinlochbervie.

In February and March 2026, a brief ‘Land+ Snapshot’ project is underway, with Community Co-leads in the other six community councils of the area. These are:

Abi Muir – Coigach
Ruth Hinsley – Assynt
Laura Pearce – Scourie
Merlin Henley – Durness
Dee Roberts – Tongue
Nadine Malcom – Tongue/Bettyhill

RLUP Management Group

The RLUP is funded by the Scottish Government. The Highland Council is the grant holder; Assynt Development Trust is the Anchor Organisation.

The Management Group, which meets fortnightly, comprises:

Frances Gunn – RLUP Chair
Nicole Wallace – Highland Council Contract Lead
Elaine MacAskill – Assynt Development Trust Chair

NW2045 Collective

The NW2045 collective comprises a wide range of organisations, communities, and private and public sectors from across the area, working together towards a common Vision. There is currently no formal process for joining the NW2045. 

Fortnightly, informal online catch-up meetings allow the NW2045 collective to come together to share information, develop collaboration, and build mutual support in working towards a better future for the area.

These meetings are open to anyone interested in these issues; if you would like to join us, please email Lizzie.w.williams@northwest2045.scot. 

NW2045 Original Working Group

The original working group helped develop the initial Vision. Many of these organisations are still very much involved in the work. The group had representatives from: 

  • Assynt Development Trust
  • Assynt Foundation
  • Highland Council
  • Highlands & Islands Enterprise
  • John Muir Trust
  • North Highland Initiative
  • North West Highlands Geopark
  • Scottish Land Commission
  • Scottish Wildlife Trust
  • Scourie Community Development Company
  • Up North Development Trust 
  • Wildland Ltd.​
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Frances Gunn, MBE

Chair

I am a native of Tongue, a crofter and community activist. I chair the Flow Country World Heritage Site Steering Committee; I’m a Board member of the FC WHS; Strathnaver Museum; UpNorth CDT; and the North Coast Leisure Centre among other things both local and Highland wide.     

I firmly believe that we have more power working together so was delighted to be part of the NW2045 team and the RLUP. Land is at the heart of all development: economic, environmental and cultural so I welcome change and collaboration. 

Marion Milligan

Tongue Community Council 

I was born and brought up in the Highlands, before retiring I was the local GP in Tongue for over thirty years.

I am Chairperson of North Coast Connection SCIO which provides a Health and Wellbeing Hub based at the Kyle Centre, in Tongue.
I am also a director of Transport for Tongue Ltd – a community transport organisation which provides transport, for example to hospital appointments, to local shops and services, for some of the most vulnerable people in our area.

I am a community councillor and represent the area for the North West Highlands Geopark.

Anita Wilson

Durness Community Council 

Prior to coming to Sutherland, I lived in the Lake District where concerns around depopulation, over-tourism, and lack of opportunity for young people resonate strongly with current issues in the Northwest Highlands. I have lived at Balnakeil Craft Village, Durness for more than 15 years where I run a craft business.

I sit on the Durness Community Council and have a role as Chairperson for Children’s Hearings, Scotland.  

Angela Johnson

Kinlochbervie Community Council

Angela Johnson  is a community-focused professional blending leadership, creativity, and wellbeing. As Secretary of Kinlochbervie Community Council,  she supports local initiatives alongside her work as a business consultant.

She also runs tourist accommodation and a craft shop, specialising in wellbeing and creating spaces that enrich community life, connection, and balance.

Neil Macdonald

Scourie Community Council 

Neil is born and bred in the Scourie area. He attended school in Golspie and has spent his career to date as a mechanic, taking up his current position as Fleet and Facilities Manager for the Reay Forest Estate in Lairg.
 
He has a strong sense of community and has also served on the Grazings committee , The Hall Committee the community council prior to his appointment as Chair of Scourie Community Development Company. He also currently serves on the board of Scourie Church of Scotland.

Together with his wife Aileen, Neil has made it a priority to instil a strong community spirit in his three sons and feels it is vitally important that people get involved to drive what goes on in their local area.

Colin Pritchard

Assynt Community Council 

As well as representing Assynt on the Steering Group, Colin is also an Assynt Community Councillor.

In 2024 Colin retired as a Chartered Financial Planner after 38 years in Financial Services. He now owns, lives and works on a small croft in Unapool.

He and his wife are also proprietors of a small craft, coffee & cake shop in Culkein, which has proved popular with visitors to the area.

Colin is passionate about making the North West a better place to live for all.

Lesley Muir

Coigach Community Council 

Lesley Muir has lived in Polbain, Achiltibuie for over 30 years. One of the founders of community radio station Lochbroom FM, she taught in local primary schools for over 15 years and was acting Head of Achiltibuie Primary.

Past member of the Renewable Energy Working Group of Coigach Community Council (CCC), she is currently Vice-Chair of CCC and Co-Chair of Coigach Community Trust.

Lesley makes ceramics and owns FISK Gallery & Workshops which supports and shows the work of local Creatives.

Sara Harkins

NW2045 Steering Group coordinator and RLUP team

Sara comes from Kinlochbervie and is owner of Kinlochbervie Estate. Sara has a background in film and television production, having held multiple senior roles within BBC Scotland. Additionally she has experience on many boards including BBC Children in Need Scotland Advisory Committee and Early Years Scotland.  ​

Sara has been heavily involved in the NW2045 in recent years, particularly in relation to the Regional Land Use Partnership, and efforts to develop a community seaweed farming initiative, a partnership between Assynt Development Trust, Kinlochbervie Community Development Company and Scourie Community Development Company.

Sara is also involved in other projects that involve land and people within the Kinlochbervie area; this work is not under the auspices of the NW2045. 

Lizzie Williams

Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) manager

Lizzie manages the NW2045 Regional Land Use Partnership. She has lived in Coigach since 2009, working on a variety of land and community regeneration initiatives, including hands-on management of nature restoration projects and facilitating cross-sectoral collaboration across the area.
 
Lizzie has supported the NW2045 since 2021, providing communication and coordination skills to sustain the positive intentions of the partners.
 
Raising a young family and supporting unwell parents in a remote community has given Lizzie first hand experience of the issues facing the area. 

Frances Gunn, MBE

Chair

Ewen McLachlan is a part-time Development Officer at Assynt Development Trust. ADT is the anchor organisation for Northwest2045.scot and the Scottish Government’s Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP).

Ewen is a trustee with Development Trust Association Scotland and Co-founder of The Stove Network Dumfries and Galloway. He has spent most of his career in the Arts, Media, Politics and Community Development.