New face at the helm of community project
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A new face is at the helm of a company established to promote development in a rural Highland community.
Strathdearn Community Development (SCD), aims to attract development in the Strathdearn and Tomatin area and has appointed Maureen McDonald-Cooke as project leader.
She took up her new position at the start of this month after stepping down from her position on the SCD board. As a board member, she took the lead on SCD’s affordable housing project, and this will continue to be her main priority for the coming year.
Ms McDonald-Cooke comes with more than 30 years’ experience across a wide range of industries, including not-for-profit organisations. She is an experienced housing professional and a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Housing.
She has more than 10 years’ experience working for registered social landlords and was latterly employed at a senior management level for a housing association and chaired the National Housing Federation East of England Region Housing Management Group.
More locally, she has been a member of Strathdearn Community Council and a non-executive director of the Highland Small Community Housing Trust.
“I am committed to providing a proactive approach and working with all stakeholders and businesses to assist in the delivery of Strathdearn community-based projects,” she said.
“I am very passionate about empowering the community to deliver various projects, especially affordable housing, as housing is a key component to create life opportunities whichever community you are serving.