Our Trustees
Russel Brown
Chair
Russell became a trustee of Independent Living Support in October 2015 after having been a supporter of the charity for a number of years. He took on the role of Chair of Trustees the following year. Russell was employed at Nobel’s Explosives Company for 18 years before transferring to ICI Dumfries for 5 years. During that time he served as a local councillor for 11 years, before being elected to Parliament in 1997 where he represented the local area for 18 years. He is currently Vice-Chair of Annan Athletic Football Club.
Graeme Galloway
Treasurer
Having completed 30 years in police management within Dumfries & Galloway, Graeme is currently the Programme Director of Developing the Young Workforce. Graeme holds a degree in Criminal Justice and a Post Graduate Certificate in Disaster Victim Identification. Married, with two grown up daughters, in his spare time Graeme sits on the Board for Young Enterprise Scotland, runs Dagmar Mountaineering Club, and is a member of both Kirkcudbright Sailing Club and Dumfries Harriers.
Kate Gibbons
Trustee
Kate was invited to join the board following time working alongside ILS in her professional capacity as a Health Improvement Specialist. A skilled practitioner with over 35 years’ experience developing and managing support services across the voluntary and statutory sectors, Kate is passionate about ensuring our services are co-designed and delivered in consultation with the people who use them and are experts by experience.
Mark Blount
Trustee
Mark worked as a community pharmacist for 31 years in Dumfries,Carlisle and Kirkcudbright. In December 2020 he started working as a Pharmacist Prescriber with NHS Specialist Drug and Alcohol Service based in Dumfries. He is married with 2 grown up girls and enjoys playing golf and watching Queen of the South, where he has just finished an 11 years stint as a Director of the club. He is treasurer of the First Base charity and is on the Queen of the South Charity Trust.