Our Trustees

Wendy Murray

Chair

Wendy has lived in the coastal village of East Haven in Angus for 35 years. Living so close to the sea has always felt a privilege but one which brings responsibilities. Wendy became involved in monitoring coastal erosion in 1992 and participated in her first beach clean in 1993. She is now Lead Trustee with the village charity East Haven Together and works collaboratively with many other groups and individuals along the Angus coast. Wendy also undertakes wider volunteer work with organisations such as Keep Scotland Beautiful and is passionate about and environmental and community- led activities. She was awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) in 2025 for her volunteer work. 

Áine Purcell-Milton

Secretary

Áine took up the position of Executive Director at the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST) at the start of 2022. She has an MRes in Marine Ecosystem Management from St Andrews. She has come from a career in coastal community engagement and environmental education from various Irish and UK NGOs. She is a keen water sports enthusiast and you’re most likely to find her in or under the water. 

Rebecca Plant

Treasurer

Rebecca manages Fauna & Flora’s Scotland programme from their Edinburgh office, where a small team works to support community-based organisations to reach their own locally-defined goals for their local waters and land. She has been lucky to be part of CCN’s journey since formation in 2017, previously supporting the network directly as Project Officer, and subsequently managing the CCN Coordinator role. She is also a trustee of Scottish Community Alliance (SCA) and is an advocate of community leadership in conservation. 

Alan Munro

As a passionate marine advocate, Alan is committed to protecting our seas through both grassroots action and strategic policy engagement. Specifically, he works to inspire and empower emerging leaders in marine conservation to engage with policy change in his role as the founder and director of Young Sea Changers Scotland.  

He was the previous Coastal Communities Network Coordinator, and he holds an MSc in Coastal & Marine Management and a BSc in Ecology. 

John Aitchison

John is a conservationist and wildlife filmmaker. For thirty years he has lived on the west coast of Scotland, where he chairs the CCN-member group, Friends of the Sound of Jura. John is a champion of the Argyll Coast and Islands Hope Spot.