Meet our team

Born in 1939, Dr Venters married Jean in 1962 and in 1965 his twin daughters Susan and Shirley were born, both with cerebral palsy. Dr Venters returned to Edinburgh University as a mature student to study medicine and he practiced as a GP for 30 years.He was then involved with Enable and Ark Housing in the 70’s and 80’s and with Tom Gorrie, pioneered housing in the community for those with complex needs.Now semi- retired and practicing complimentary medicine, he has more time to fully enjoy his other interests which include singing, playing guitar, supporting Hearts FC and playing with his grandchildren.

Following a 27 year career in the Scottish Prison Service, Robert has been a trustee of SHARE for some 12 years and he enjoys being kept up to date on all aspects of the way SHARE conducts itself, continually planning and striving to deliver a very caring and unique service.He believes that SHARE as an employer offers staff the terms and conditions that enable them to work in an environment which meets the needs of staff and client. The opportunity for training and personal development ensures that staff carry out their duties to an exceptionally high standard, offering good career prospects. He has seen this through the excellent care and attention given to his sister.

Ronnie has been a member of SHARE since 1995 and has long been a supporter of the organisations ethos.Ronnie was a senior executive in the whisky industry for more than 20 years and now runs a successful Facilities Management company and brings a wealth of finance and management experience to the Board of Management.

Gordon has been a Trustee of Share for 6 years and took over the role of Financial Director in 2014. A Chartered Accountant, he previously worked in ship management and the oil industry. Gordon contributed hugely to the overall management of Share and during his time as Financial Director, implemented more efficient and improved administrative systems.Gordon retired from the role of FD in November 2016 but continues to support the work of Share in his capacity as Treasurer on the Board of Trustees, because he believes Share is an organisation intent on providing the best quality of care to the many people it supports, and looking after the best interests of it’s employees.

Jessica is a professionally qualified Architect specialising in accessible design, with a background in housing, community-based projects and the disability sector. She currently holds the role of Senior Architect with the University of Stirling’s Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) and is a member of the Centre for Environment, Dementia and Ageing Research (CEDAR) group. In addition to her professional consultancy role, Jessica has been awarded a Scholarship from the University’s Institute of Advanced Studies to pursue PhD research in the field of human rights and architectural design ethics in the practical application of accessible design. Jessica started working with Share over 10 years ago as a Care Support Worker, then later moving into a Development role at Share’s Head Office co-designing and delivering the 3year Moving On outreach project for young adults with additional support needs in transition in West Dunbartonshire. Her previous third sector work also includes annual involvement over 6years in a local specialist summer school in Northern Ireland, The Lighthouse Trust, delivering Conductive Education for children and young adults with neurological and mobility impairments.  In her spare time, Jessica keeps busy being mother to two active young lads and a spritely labradoodle, and enjoys working on various renovation projects in her own home. 

Kate is a retired Consultant Paediatrician who worked in child disability teams in the West of Glasgow for 30 years from 1990’s to 2010. She worked closely with parents, social work and education services and learned the crucial part that voluntary services run by disability charities played to support parents of children. She also worked in management roles in the Health Board and nationally with the Scottish Government for 8 years. Over this period the early years agenda established a number of support services for children with disabilities under the “Every Child Matters” ethos. This has driven an interest in ensuring the support to parents after the statutory services stop at 18 – 21 years (for those who remain in full-time education). SHARE Scotland provides a range of services that should be available for all people to live independently. Kate remains committed to helping SHARE Scotland achieve these aims. Those who deliver these care services should be trained to the highest level and supported by employers who know this.

I’m a Procurement professional specialising in technology and cloud services and have been employed with Aegon for past nine years as their global procurement manager.Got involved with ShareScotland through my daughter Nicola who has been a service user for past 13 years. During that time we have watched her mature into the strong Independent young woman she is today and that would not have been possible without the support of ShareScotland staff and management.A few years back I worked with Share to create a video that was directed towards other parents in similar positions, the video highlighted our hopes and expectation for Nicola as well as our fears. Personally this was an opportunity for me to give something back and help support Share’s objectives and it was very rewarding, my hope as a Trustee is to be able to continue to contribute and add value to the service.

Ruth is passionate about people and believes that with the right support and encouragement everyone can have a fulfilling life. We are all in this together playing our individual and collective parts to ensure those we serve experience their best possible life.Ruth is an accomplished and experienced Chief Executive and a health and social care professional. She offers significant experience in senior leadership and strategic roles within diverse environments, with a record of successfully designing and delivering wide ranging transformational programmes and improving performance, inspiring realisation of full potential. Having worked in both the public and not for profit sector. You could say she has a transformational leadership style motivating and inspiring individuals to put people at the centre of getting work done and to be engaged with their work.Ruth’s effectiveness at this level derives from her ability to apply sound judgement whilst remaining focused on the organisation’s primary objectives and successfully building strong working relationships, both internally and externally.Ruth has contributed to several third sector and statutory agency boards and committees.

Karen joined Share in 2019 and brings over 25 years of experience in charity finance, having held senior roles with national organisations including Diabetes UK and SAMH. A graduate of the University of Glasgow with a Bachelor of Accountancy (Hons), Karen is also an ACCA member. As Finance Director/Deputy CEO she is focussed on supporting the Board, CEO and Senior Management Team steer strategic direction, ensuring that our service users receive the highest quality of care.Karen has good all round experience managing Corporate Services including Finance, IT, Marketing and HR functions, with a strong focus on efficiency, continuous improvement and delivering best value while maintaining high-quality services. Karen is passionate about working in the charity sector and takes great pride in being part of a parent-led organisation that makes a meaningful difference to people’s lives. She is committed to ensuring Share remains financially strong, sustainable and able to continue delivering outstanding support to the people it serves.

Kenny joined the NHS in 1980, working in Peel Hospital, just outside Galashiels. He qualified in General nursing a few years later. He then spent a year working in Dingleton Psychiatric Hospital in Melrose after which he moved to Edinburgh. He worked in several hospitals in Edinburgh before moving into Learning Disabilities nursing in 1989 and qualifying as a Learning Disabilities Nurse in 1992. He then left the NHS to work for ELCAP, in East Lothian, becoming an Area Manager in 1998. In 2002 he joined SHARE Scotland as Regional Coordinator for the East and is responsible for the day to day running of all our services in Edinburgh and West rural Edinburgh.

Sharon joined Share Scotland in 2014 as a Service Manager at St Nicholas Place. As the service was still fairly new, she was driven by being at the heart of ensuring those we supported got the most out of every day and helping to find new and exciting opportunities for them. Sharon is a strong believer in equality for everyone and always tries to focus on individuals’ abilities. Shortly afterwards she took on the additional responsibility for managing City Park, a single person service.Sharon has worked with various care organisations since she joined the profession starting off in 1994 as a Support Worker with Leonard Cheshire Disability. She then moved to Capability Scotland then Aberlour Childcare Trust before returning to LCD only this time as a Team Leader progressing to a Care Co-Ordinator where she remained until joining Share.In March 2020 Sharon was promoted to Senior Service Manager which she says has brought many new and exciting challenges. “No two days are the same. Being one of the smaller care organisation we are able to remain focussed on the people we support ensuring they are leading the lives they choose, while being supported to do so by our loyal, committed and highly valued staff teams”.

Lisa joined Share Scotland in 2026 as Senior Service Manager for our West services. Prior to joining Share, Lisa held a senior leadership role with The Action Group, bringing with her a wealth of experience in social care, service development, and person-centred support.Lisa is passionate about empowering people to live the lives they choose and ensuring services are responsive to individual needs and aspirations. She works closely with the people we support, their families, and staff teams to promote high-quality support, continuous improvement, and positive outcomes. With a collaborative leadership style and a strong commitment to Share’s values, Lisa plays an important role in shaping and developing our services across the West of Scotland.

Pauline has been with SHARE since February 2014, however she has worked within the financial sector since 1981.They say that charity begins at home, and Pauline really believes that this is definitely the case with SHARE – she says it’s such a welcoming place to work and the atmosphere is always happy, whether you are in Head Office or out in the service user’s homes.She has had the pleasure of visiting many of the houses and says it’s wonderful to see how happy everyone is.

Emma joined Share in October 2015 after moving back to Scotland from London where she had been working for 13 years.Emma has a background working in Media, Education and then the Oil and Gas industry, coordinating administration teams.Emma joined the charity sector and quickly realised that working to improve the quality of lives of others was the perfect fit. Share puts its service users, families and staff at its heart and she is proud to be part of it.

Lisa joined Share Scotland in 2026 as an Administration Assistant and plays an important role in supporting the smooth day-to-day running of the organisation. Working closely with colleagues across services and central support teams, Lisa helps ensure that administrative processes are efficient, organised, and responsive to the needs of both staff and the people we support.With a positive and approachable manner, Lisa provides valuable support across a wide range of administrative functions, helping to maintain high standards of service and communication throughout the organisation. Her attention to detail, willingness to help, and commitment to Share’s values make her a valued member of the team and an important part of delivering effective support across the organisation.

Kerrie joined Share Scotland as a Service Manager in April 2026, bringing with her over a decade of experience in health and social care. She began her career as a Support Worker in 2014 and progressed through a variety of roles, working her way from Support Worker to Service Manager with Adroit Care Support Services in just four years. She has also worked as a Team Leader across two services with Leonard Cheshire.Kerrie is passionate about equality and rights, and strongly believes that everyone should have the support, opportunities and guidance they need to live a full and meaningful life. She is committed to supporting people to have greater independence, advocating for their choices and building genuine relationships that help people feel valued, heard and empowered.What Kerrie enjoys most about her role is that no two days are the same. She values being able to provide direct support to the people who use the service while also supporting, guiding and developing her staff team. She enjoys improving services and continually learning from those around her, always looking for opportunities to develop her own knowledge and practice.Kerrie takes great pride in seeing people achieve things they may once have thought were beyond them and in watching people flourish when given the right support and encouragement. She believes good leadership is about recognising potential in both the people we support and the staff who support them and creating an environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Kristen started her journey in social care as a Support Worker, developing an understanding of compassionate, person-led support. Her commitment to quality and team development led her to become a depute manager for St. Nicholas. She is now brining that same focus into her role as acting Service Manager, guiding the service with empathy, leadership and a strong commitment for positive outcomes for the people she supports.

Laura has been part of the Share Scotland team since 2003 and is the Service Manager for our Howie Services and Belses service. Over more than two decades with the organisation, Laura has built extensive experience in delivering person-centred support and leading high-quality services that enable people to live full, independent, and meaningful lives.Laura is passionate about ensuring the people we support are at the heart of everything we do. She works closely with individuals, families, and staff teams to create positive outcomes and maintain the high standards of care and support that Share is known for. Her wealth of knowledge, commitment, and leadership have made her a valued member of the organisation and an important part of Share’s continued success.

Nicola joined Share Scotland in 2014 and is the Service Manager for our Midlock service. Throughout her time with Share, Nicola has developed a strong reputation for her commitment to delivering person-centred support and building positive relationships with the people we support, their families, and local communities.With a practical and collaborative leadership style, Nicola works closely with her teams to create safe, supportive, and empowering environments where individuals can achieve their goals and live the lives they choose. She is passionate about developing staff, promoting high-quality support, and ensuring Share’s values are reflected in everything her services do. Nicola’s dedication and experience continue to play an important role in the success and growth of our services.

Jenny has been a valued member of the Share Scotland team since 1998 and is the Service Manager for our Dunlaw Service. With almost three decades of experience supporting people across our services, Jenny brings a wealth of knowledge, dedication, and leadership to her role.Jenny is passionate about delivering person-centred support that enables people to live independent, fulfilling lives and achieve their personal goals. She works closely with the people we support, their families, and staff teams to ensure high-quality services that reflect Share’s values and commitment to inclusion. Her extensive experience and longstanding commitment to Share have made her an integral part of the organisation and a trusted leader within the team.

Louise has been a valued member of the Share Scotland team since 1997 and is the Service Manager for our Kennedy services. With nearly three decades of experience across the organisation, Louise brings a deep understanding of person-centred support and a strong commitment to helping people achieve their goals and live the lives they choose.Louise is dedicated to creating environments where people feel respected, valued, and empowered. She works closely with the people we support, their families, and her staff teams to ensure high-quality services that reflect Share’s values and standards. Her extensive experience, knowledge, and passion for supporting others have made her a trusted leader and an integral part of Share’s journey over the years.

Karen joined Share Scotland in 2023 and is the Service Manager for our Maude Service. Since joining the organisation, Karen has brought enthusiasm, compassion, and a strong commitment to delivering person-centred support that helps people live fulfilling and independent lives.Karen works closely with the people we support, their families, and staff teams to ensure high-quality services that promote choice, inclusion, and wellbeing. She is dedicated to creating positive outcomes and fostering a supportive environment where individuals are empowered to achieve their goals and be active members of their communities. Karen’s leadership and commitment to Share’s values make her a valued member of the management team.

Carol has been with Share Scotland since 1999 and is the Service Manager for our Niddrie service. Over her many years with the organisation, Carol has developed extensive experience supporting people to live independently, make their own choices, and be active members of their communities.Carol is known for her compassionate approach and strong commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred support. She works alongside individuals, families, and staff teams to ensure the people we support have opportunities to achieve their goals and lead fulfilling lives. Her dedication, experience, and passion for making a positive difference have helped shape the success of the Niddrie service and reflect the values at the heart of Share Scotland.

Colin joined Share Scotland in 2024 and is the Service Manager for our Craigton Service. Since joining the organisation, Colin has quickly established himself as a dedicated and supportive leader, committed to delivering high-quality, person-centred support.Colin works closely with the people we support, their families, and staff teams to ensure individuals have opportunities to achieve their goals, maintain their independence, and live fulfilling lives. He is passionate about creating positive outcomes and fostering an inclusive environment where people are respected, valued, and supported to thrive. Colin’s enthusiasm, leadership, and commitment to Share’s values make him a valued member of the management team.