Women for Independence

Women for Independence is delighted to announce that it has agreed to go forward into 2016/17 with a National Committee of 23 fte women, who will be steering the organisation into its fifth year of working for Scottish independence, social justice and sex equality.  The Committee are;

Amy Nicolson

We welcome to the Committee for the first time Amy Nicolson, Chair of the Indy Quines, Aberdeen's local Women for Independence affiliate.   Amy earned her political spurs campaigning for independence in the 2014 Independence Referendum.

Carolyn Leckie

 "Former a lot of things", Carolyn is a lawyer and a columnist in The National.  She was a founding member of Women for Independence and has helped steer the organisation since 2012.

Elaine Gunn

We welcome Elaine to the Committee for the first time.  The self-employed mother of three boys is, among many other things, writing a feminist novel.

Heather Anderson

Another new Committee member, organic farmer Heather electified the Women for Indy National Council in Galashiels earlier this year with her talk on food, feminism and politics. 

Janine Calikes & Katy Loudon

In a first for Women for Independence, we welcome to our committee a jobshare.  Katy and Janine plan to share the work of being a committee member in the year ahead.  The pair have been leading lights in WFI Rutherglen. Their work in getting sanitary protection into local foodbanks has been featured in the national media. 

Julie Bell

WFI Angus's Julie Bell has been on the National Committee since 2015. The self-employed therapist is a local activist in Angus, and has helped to drive forward Women for Independence's national Justice for Women campaign. 

Dr Kathryn Vincent

American-born, Aberdeen-based Kathryn is new to the National Committee.  She describes herself as "the republican, immigrant, academic, third-wave feminist the alt-right warned you about."

Kirsten Izatt

Another new committee member, Kirsten is passionate about her animals and about home-schooling her children. She hopes to highlight mental health issues.

Dr Lesley Orr

First elected to the WFI National Committee in 2015, feminist academic Lesley was the curator of our fabulous women's history event "Shall We Not Speak for Ourselves" held in Dundee earlier this year.  

Lindsey Scott

New to the committee, artist and print-maker Lindsey is passionate about ensuring that disadvantaged women are represented in public life.  She has helped Women for Indy with various design work in the past. 

Maggie Lennon

First elected to Committee in 2015, Maggie is the founder and director of the Bridges Programme, a third sector organisation that works with asylum-seekers and refugees in Glasgow.  Maggie has been a key third sector voice on Brexit, and has helped to develop WFI's own Justice for Women campaign. 

Mairi Tulbure

Returning National Committee member Mairi is a Lanarkshire feminist and mum.  In the past year she has led workshops at WFI's National Council on the Named Persons Legislation.

Margaret Young

Margaret Young is a leading light in East Ayrshire Women for Independence, one of the largest WFI groups in the country.  The group have been very active in researching the suffragette history of the area and nationally Margaret has led WFI's campaign for sanitary provision in maternity hospitals.  Margaret first joined the National Committee before the 2014 referendum.

Dr Marsha Scott

American born Marsha was hoping to become a citizen of an independent Scotland, but has had to settle  . . . for now.  Marsha is the CEO of Scottish Womens Aid and brings geek-politics to the table along with her expertise.  She was first elected to the National Committee in 2015.

Michelle Rodger

Michelle is a director of Business for Scotland and also writes a column for The National.  Since being elected to the National Committee last year she has helped to advise on media and communications, which are specialisms of hers. 

Dr Mireille Pouget

"French by birth, Scottish by choice and European by culture", Mireille has lived in Scotland for 40 years, working as an adult educator and on European social inclusion projects.  New to the National Committee, Mireille is an activist in Clackmannanshire WFI. 

Rosemary Hunter

Rosemary was elected to the National Committee in 2015 and has worked to promote women in public life, as well as internally within WFI using her financial management skils.  She has spoken and led workshops at several National Council meetings.  She is also a leading voice in promoting women in sport.

Rosie Kane

Comedienne and performer Rosie Kane was a founder of Women for Independence, but is joining the National Committee formally for the first time.  Since first campaigning against motorways in her home community of Pollok, she has been a leading fighter for social justice - and kazoos - in Scotland. 

Selma Rahman

WFI Edinburgh activist Selma was first elected to the National Committee in 2015.  A regular blogger, Selma brings wide experience of women's issues internationally to Women for Independence. 

Sheila McCole

Perth and Kinross WFI leader Sheila first joined the National Committee in the run up to the 2014 referendum and has served since, using her supreme organisational skills for national events and to sort out WFI merchandise. 

Suzanne McLaughlin

Suzanne was first elected to National Committee in 2015.  An entrepreneur and owner of Glasgow's Yesbar (as well as her new venture Liberty), Suzanne is also on the national board of Engender. 

Victoria Heaney

Our photo shows Victoria addressing WFI's National Council on the issue of TTIP, an issue that she has led on for WFI working with external groups such as Global Justice Now.  Victoria was first elected to National Committee in 2015.

Zara Kitson

First elected in 2015, Zara has immense political experience and is co-author of 'Who If Not Us?', a book by 12 young Europeans.  She brings voice to the importance of international co-operation in progressing a better Scotland and world.