On Wednesday 6th May we were joined by the highly engaging and entertaining Frances Carlaw, whose career spans the worlds of business development, major fundraising, community leadership, and a rather wonderful specialism in pearls.
Frances enthralled us with her depth of experience that is genuinely rare.
She served as Director of Scottish Enterprise Borders, overseeing a budget of more than £10 million in support of sustainable business growth and regional economic development. She also held the role of Director at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, and worked as Head of Fundraising for Scotland at Barnardo's, leading a team of twelve and delivering against annual targets of £3 million, as well as directing a £1 million Capital Appeal.
Her consultancy work has been equally impressive. Frances directed a £1 million Revenue Appeal, achieved in just twelve months, and has advised on arts, development, and business planning projects across the UK. She is a fully certified Member of the Institute of Fundraising and served on its Scottish Executive Committee.
Most recently, many of you will have seen her profiled by the Chartered Institute of Fundraising after she raised over £200,000 for Kippen Village Hall in just ten months as a volunteer fundraiser. That achievement led to her becoming a finalist in the BBC Make a Difference Scotland Awards.
Frances is now semi-retired, but far from idle. She works as a self-employed pearl jewellery consultant, lecturer and maker, delivering specialist lectures on pearls to audiences across the UK and creating unique handstrung pieces.
Frances guided us through the fascinating life of a pearl - why they are so special and rare and why her passion for them first developed from her own grandma's pearl to the full collection she now holds at Lavender House in Kippen.
Join us in September at The Bonham for our next Guest Speaker event - Leigh Mellis