Mark Anderson
CHAIR
Mark worked in the web and telecom industry for over 25 years after receiving his MBA from MIT. During this time he has worked as a developer, held senior sales and marketing roles and founded two high-tech startups in London. He is also co-founder of the US-based non-profit Net Impact.
Mark first came to the Foundation to do Experience Week in 1990 while studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge University, and Findhorn has been his spiritual home ever since. Having lived there for a number of months in 1991, and again 2002/2003, he moved to Findhorn in 2008 where he currently lives with his wife. He was invited to be a trustee of Findhorn Foundation (SC007233) in 2012, where he currently serves as chair.
Mark’s life journey has always been guided by the search for areas which can have the most positive impact on our collective future. In his 20’s this started with studying environmental sciences, and evolved to a business career underpinned by the belief that business can be a positive force for social good. Latterly, he has come to the view that bringing everyday spirituality, compassion and connection with nature into more people’s lives is at the core of bringing positive transformation in our world. Mark hopes that Findhorn Foundation SCIO is making a meaningful contribution to this work of positive transformation.
Jim Simpson
TREASURER
Jim Simpson possesses an extensive background in the finance and corporate areas of international commodity marketing, the creative industries, and oil field services. Over the last ten years, Jim has used his C-suite experiences to focus on supporting organizations in the spiritual learning and community development areas to assist in maximizing their financial and organizational development areas to best support their mission and goals.
Active in the community, Jim is currently Chair of the United Church of Canada Foundation, board member of Naramata Centre, a spiritual retreat centre on the west coast of Canada and former board member of Pacific Jubilee Society for Spiritual Direction and Vancouver School of Theology and is active in the Naramata Cittaslow group.
Through his involvement in the International Holistic Centre network, Jim became involved with the Findhorn Foundation Trust providing some interim financial consulting support in the spring of 2021. After that contract concluded, Jim was invited to discern on joining the initial board of the SCIO. Jim feels there is a deep call for understanding the potential for alignment of our soul, nature, all beings, and spirit. As we can sit, in community, to listen to that still small voice, we can begin to see how care for one another and this planet can rise as one and create a new way of being.
Jim is dedicated to bringing his learnings and experiences to help this time of transformation and new creation at Findhorn to see what can be.
Richard Tanner
SECRETARY
Richard first came to work with the Findhorn Foundation in early 2022 when he offered his services and was appointed charity secretary on a pro bono basis. After many years working in a professional capacity he was keen to offer his support to charities in helping them make a meaningful difference in what they did and in enriching the lives of those they served. The work of the Foundation particularly resonated with Richard and his own life experiences. He was appointed a trustee of Findhorn Foundation SCIO in April 2024.
When not working with the Foundation Richard is employed in the renewable energy sector working for Nadara Limited, one of Europe’s largest privately owned wind and solar power developer and operator. He is also a trustee of the Clackmannan Development Trust, a charity in the central belt of Scotland providing education, life skills and welfare support to people in the community.
Richard lives not far from Stirling in Scotland together with his partner of many years.
Barbara Vacarr
TRUSTEE
Barbara is a psychologist and ordained inter-spiritual minister currently working as an executive coach and organizational consultant. As the former CEO of Kripalu Center, President and CEO of Goddard College, and the founding director of the PhD in Adult Learning and Human Development at Lesley University she has developed and led educational initiatives that support human development and organizational transformation. She comes to this work from a personal commitment, seeing leadership as a path of deep spiritual growth and learning.
Her sense of reverence for the magic and mystery of life led her on a long-life path of spiritual seeking and in the 1970’s was inspired by Eileen Caddy’s writings and the Findhorn Foundation’s spiritual curriculum.
Barbara serves on the Board of The Berkshire Center for Social Justice and she and her husband of 45 years share in the pleasure of grandparenting their five grandchildren.
Joycelin Dawes
TRUSTEE
Professionally, Joycelin was a researcher in the UK civil service, then for UK Members of Parliament, and later a teacher. She is co-author of The Quest, Exploring a Sense of Soul and published books on discernment and Quaker decision-making. She has varied experience in trustee and chair of trustee roles.
Her connection with Findhorn began in the late 1980’s. She helped organise a number of Foundation conferences and 1996/1997 was part of the Reinvention Group tasked with reviewing the Foundation, its management structure and strategic development at that time. More recently, she was a trustee of the Findhorn Foundation College.
In 2022, she was invited to become a trustee of the new Findhorn Foundation charity (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organization SCIO).
Joycelin says she accepted appointment as a trustee because “I have been a trustee of a number of charities through challenging periods, from start-ups to re-restructuring to wind down and re-visioning. I hope my experience, particularly in governance and developing strategic purpose can be useful as the new SCIO determines its purpose and seeks to deliver on its aims. I see this as a generational opportunity for the founding impulse pioneered by Eileen and Peter Caddy and Dorothy Maclean, based on listening within, co-creation with nature and work as love in action, to be re-vitalised. The SCIO has a fresh opportunity to take its activities to new audiences in new ways whilst releasing some responsibilities to the eco-village community and New Findhorn Association.”
Joycelin has been a Quaker for thirty years and that faith and experience grounds her life.