Artemis Pana
Artemis joined SRA in April 2020.
Originally from Greece, Artemis moved to Scotland in 1995 and feels very lucky to call the Isle of Raasay her home. She has worked for a major funder, the Scottish Government and several charities in the fields of equalities, homelessness and addictions. For a while she was self-employed, supporting youth participation projects in Scotland and across Europe.
Artemis helps run a small playgroup in Portree and is Treasurer of the Raasay Development Trust. She has recently gained a Masters in Sustainable Rural Communities from the University of the Highlands and Islands.
You can contact Artemis on artemis@sra.scot
Irina Protasova
Irina joined SRA in May 2024 but had previously worked with the team as an independent contractor for the SRIP 2023 project.
Originally from the European north of Russia, part of the Arctic zone, Irina moved to Scotland to pursue her Master's degree at the University of Strathclyde. After graduating, she decided to make Scotland her permanent home.
Irina has spent the last five years running a marketing agency and working as an independent marketing consultant. Across all her projects, she focuses on initiatives that aim to make life better for people. Her passion for public health drives her work, and she recently graduated from an Integrative Nutrition and Lifestyle Coaching Postgraduate course, with plans to further contribute to the health and well-being of local communities.
You can contact Irina at irina@sra.scot.
Nikki Brown
Nikki joined Scottish Rural Action in October 2024.
Originally from the south of England, she moved to Argyll in 2012 to take on a remote hill farm in Glendaruel on the Cowal Peninsula. Over the past 14 years, Nikki has developed a farm diversification business, including renewable hydro energy and food production from an onsite commercial kitchen. She has also built extensive experience in the community sector, working on a range of grassroots development projects, with a particular focus on community woodlands.
At Scottish Rural Action, Nikki brings a broad skillset to partnership working and community development. Her work focuses on strengthening the village halls and community spaces network, supporting SRA members, and contributing to collaborative partnership initiatives.
Nikki lives in Tighnabruaich with her two young daughters and enjoys spending time outdoors—hiking, running, and cycling to explore the Scottish countryside. Living by the sea is a privilege she greatly appreciates.
Contact Nikki: nikki@sra.scot.
Mia Lalanne
Mia joined SRA in October 2024.
Originally from France, Mia grew up on a 98 acre farm in the USA before moving to the UK in 2018. She currently lives in north Argyll.
After over a decade working as a project manager in the global media industry, Mia completed a MSc in Net Zero Communities at the University of the Highlands and Islands in early 2024. Mia hopes to continuously grow her skills towards efficiently supporting community-led initiatives and movements in rural and island Scotland.
In her spare time, Mia is an enthusiastic member of her local skiff club, and also volunteers with several member-led organisations including Reforesting Scotland, Forth Valley and Lomond Youth Local Action Group, and the Argyll and Bute Climate Action Hub.
You can contact Mia at mia@sra.scot.
John Grieve
John joined SRA in 2024.
Born and raised in central Scotland, John studied music and combined his passion for the arts with community education, managing training programmes in the UK, Africa and the Middle East. He transitioned into event management, working on various festivals and events including the Edinburgh Fringe and London 2012 Olympic Games.
John moved to New Zealand in 2017 to pursue opportunities providing event management consultancy to Regional Councils and Government Ministries. Having recently returned to Scotland he has been delighted to support SRA with the planning and delivery of the Islands Economy Showcase and the forthcoming European Rural Parliament. In his spare time, he volunteers as treasurer for his local community woodland trust and enjoys cycling and exploring Scotland with his five year old daughter.
Sanika Patil
Sanika is a Global Health and Management student specialising in health policy and research, with a dedicated focus on child poverty and gender inequality.
Working at the intersection of data, communication, and strategic decision-making, the work centres on translating complex health and social policies into clear, actionable insights.
Grounded in a cross-disciplinary approach spanning public health, management, and social equity, the focus is on research that centres marginalised communities and advocates for systemic change.
You can contact Sanika on sanika@sra.scot.
Akash Sam Christwin
Akash joined Scottish Rural Action in 2026 as part of his Master of Public Health placement at the University of Aberdeen.
Originally from Kerala, India, Akash brings a professional background in environmental health and public health practice, having worked as a Sanitary Inspector where he supported community health initiatives, environmental monitoring, disease prevention programmes, and public health education.
His work at Scottish Rural Action focuses on exploring the relationship between rural environments, public health, and community resilience. A particular area of interest is rural water treatment and water sustainability in Scotland, examining how access to safe and sustainable water systems can influence health, wellbeing, and long-term community development.
Outside of his professional interests, Akash is an enthusiastic advocate for health promotion, community wellbeing, and sustainable rural development.
You can contact Akash at akash@sra.scot