Board Members

The Very Rev Professor Sir Robin Barbour KCVO BD STM. Robin had a distinguished career in the armed services and an equally distinguished career in the Church of Scotland where he was Moderator of the General Assembly and a prominent member of the Committee of Forty. He was also Regus Professor of New Testament at Aberdeen University. Robin has a long history of association with YMCA.

Wilf Urquahart. Wilf was involved with YMCA as a teenager himself in Inverness before going to work overseas. He serves World Evangelisation Crusade for nearly two decades in Burkeno Faso one of the worlds poorest countries in West Africa. Wilf continues to work for WEC in a national role. Wilfs gentle wisdom is greatly appreciate by all in the organization.

Bayne Shaw Bayne has many years of experience as an accountant and manager having worked with a prominent national accountancy firm and in a wide variety of consultancy roles including working in National Government. Bayne’s insight and commitment have been invaluable over recent years when YMCA have experience substantial growth in Perth and when we needed the insights which his experience gave us in to how best to manage that growth. Bayne is also a rugby referee so no one wants to disagree with him!

Robin Watt. As a partner in a local legal firm Robin brings invaluable insight to our Board. His commitment to young people is demonstrated not just in his involvement with YMCA but also his position as an officer in a local Boys Brigade Company. Robins ability to analysise situations is greatly appreciated by the Board and we can always rely on his steady hand and mind. Robin has a great sense of humour – for a solicitor!

Michael is recently retired from managing his own very successful chain of commercial businesses with outlets across Scotland. Michael brings all his considerable experience and unstoppable enthusiasm to the work of YMCA in Perth. Michael is also on the Executive on YMCA Scotland. As a former President of Perthshire Chamber of Commerce he is very aware of the nature of the local economy and it’s relations to the wider economy. Michaels skills in business planning are greatly valued at YMCA and he brings an infectious smile and enthusiasm to the organization.

Niall studied Business Management and was involved in this capacity in the commercial sector for a number of years. He changed direction in terms of career and now works in Social Care supporting homeless people as part of the team in a residential centre in Perth. He is involved with YMCA at a National and European level (he serves on the Executive of YMCA Scotland). Niall is also very involved in the Acoustic Café management, definitely in the management rather than in making the music Niall!

Fred spent several years on the cutting edge of new church development in Scotland as the minister of Riverside Church in Perth. He is one of only a handful of church leaders to hold a postgraduate qualification in New Church Development. He now serves as the full time National Director for the Evangelical Alliance in Scotland where he represents the church in a wide variety of its interactions with the wider society in Scotland. Fred is from Fife and still supports a football team from that area so he is not used to finding himself in big crowds of people!