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 SRA in October 2024.
Originally from the South of England, Nikki moved to rural Argyll in 2012 to take on a remote hill farm partnership in Glendaruel on the Cowal Peninsula. During the last 13 years of living and working in Argyll, Nikki has developed a farm diversification business, supplying ready meals and catering services to customers across Scotland; she has also worked in diverse community development roles, mainly at grass-roots level. Nikki is now committed to applying her broad knowledge and skillset to the dynamic rural movement in Scotland at a National level, working closely with partners to unlock the many opportunities that exist within communities. Now living in the heart of Tighnabruaich with her two young daughters, Nikki enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, running or cycling to explore the beautiful Scottish countryside on her doorstep.
You can contact Nikki at 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.
Michaela Scott
Originally from Clackmannanshire, Michaela is currently studying Criminology and Politics at the University of Stirling.
Michaela is a founding member of the Forth Valley and Lomond Youth Local Action Group, which supports rural community development through youth-led decision-making and funding. Michaela also volunteers across her local community, which led to delivering the opening speech for the 25th Anniversary Scottish Parliament Community Conversation in Mid Scotland and Fife among other recent events and public speeches.
Michaela is interested in social justice, policy, and uplifting young voices, towards supporting rural communities in addressing global challenges through civic engagement.
You can contact Michaela at: michaela@sra.scot