INTERIM CHAIR

Lisa has been a Civil Servant for 40 years working in many roles including the policy for Scottish culture and the historic environment. 

Lisa went to school and lived and worked in Portobello until recently moving along the road to Musselburgh.  She has been delighted to watch the iconic and treasured Town Hall reclaim its rightful place at the heart of Porty. 

She feels strongly that community resources like PTH can be the conduit for creative expression, community collaboration and a sense of belonging, and is delighted to join the Board.

INTERIM CO-CHAIR

Dan is a maths lecturer at Edinburgh College and has been there for 15 years. Dan has a strong sense of community and has been a trade union representative there for over 10 years, and has a good understanding of employment law having done various trainings. Dan also sit on the Edinburgh College Board of Management as lecturing staff representative, which has piqued his interest in being involved in strategy.

Dan is a passionate musician, playing in his own band and has been involved in several musicals. He has recently moved back into the area and wants to bring his knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to the role of trustee.

INTERIM SECRETARY

Iona is a local resident of Portobello. Her Mother's family come from the area and the Town Hall has always been a local landmark.  Her background is in events, gallery, heritage and charity retail management. 

She studied history at Edinburgh University which is a passion of hers.

TREASURER

When Stewart retired a little over 5 years ago, he knew he wanted to do some voluntary work. He also knew that, after 30-odd years as an accountant in financial services, he did not want to be a charity’s money person. And up until now that’s exactly what’s happened. He has volunteered for Edinburgh Art Festival, The Listening Service (at Edinburgh Sheriff Court), a foodbank and the Covid and flu vaccination programmes. All very rewarding and the kind of change he was looking for.

TRUSTEE

Alison is a painter working in Portobello and has regularly exhibited at Art Walk Porty over the last few years and more recently served on the AWP committee. She hopes to contribute creative ideas to the development of  the Town Hall as a vibrant cultural hub in the centre of Portobello.

TRUSTEE

Claire joined the board in 2025. Originally from Edinburgh, she lived in Bristol for many years and developed a passion for volunteering as a mentor for refugees and asylum seekers there. She moved to Portobello in 2021 to raise a young family while continuing to support a number of national charities to deliver digital and strategic projects in her job as a Product Manager. Her dad was an English teacher at the old Porty High for 40 years, so building a life in Portobello feels very much like a full-circle moment!

Claire is excited to be joining the board to help support such a well-loved and ambitious community space; she believes firmly in the importance of the arts and of amplifying a diverse range of ideas and voices in everything that we do.

TRUSTEE

Lawrence grew up at the top of Leith Walk - but have lived in King's Road since around 1980.

He was the councillor for Portobello from 1994 to 2007. And a volunteer with the Portobello Older Peoples Project - where he is also treasurer.

Lawrence has long had an interest in public transport, especially rail - and chairs the Capital Rail Action Group. He is vice-president of the Scottish Association for Public Transport and on the committee of Railfuture Scotland.

Lawrence is a member of Portobello Rotary Club.

Lawrence retired after 41 years on the railway.

TRUSTEE

Asmaa is a Sociocultural Anthropologist and Researcher focusing on the role of cultural institutions in our societies, such as libraries, for community engagement and social development. She moved to Edinburgh in August 2025, to Portobello, and joined the PTH Board with the intent to contribute to its development through grant acquisition and cultural projects.