Leadership Team & Governors

Originally from Lancashire, Anthony studied at both the University of Bath and the Open University, gaining a Bachelors and Masters degree in Mathematics. After securing his PGCE, he taught at Giggleswick School for ten years. Anthony then moved across to the maintained sector, working as the academic lead in the senior management teams of challenging inner-city schools in Liverpool and Bradford for six years, before returning to Giggleswick as the Senior Deputy Head. He has always been heavily involved in the co-curricular life of the school; coaching rugby, athletics and strength and conditioning, and helping with the CCF. More recently he fills his time training and competing in triathlons and duathlons, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.

Lynn joined Erskine Stewart Melville as Director of People in August 2023 and was appointed Chief Operating Officer in January 2025, bringing over 25 years of cross-sector leadership experience. Her background spans executive and non-executive roles across private, public, and charitable organisations, where she has led high-impact change, integrated operational functions, and driven organisational performance. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Member of the Institute of Directors, Lynn has built a strong network within the Scottish business and leadership community, enabling knowledge sharing and collaboration across sectors. Her experience includes oversight of HR, Estates and Facilities, Compliance, Health & Safety, Commercial, Catering, and Transport & Logistics, with a particular focus on strategic planning and sustainable operating models. Lynn is passionate about enabling others to thrive, actively supporting young people into positive career destinations and mentoring early-career professionals, particularly those entering leadership roles or starting their own business. Lynn lives in Stirling with her husband and their golden cocker spaniel. Outside of work, she enjoys sketching, walking, swimming, and sea kayaking in Scotland’s wild and beautiful landscapes.

Born and educated in Belfast, Mike left the Emerald Isle to study his MA in English Literature at the University of Aberdeen before then going on to take his PGDE. Teaching began in Aberdeen and Elgin before soon after taking up a post at Stewart’s Melville College as a teacher of English with a side line in coaching hockey and cricket. Mike joined the management team at Stewart’s Melville College in 2004, before later ‘jumping ship’ to become Head of the Junior School in 2016. He is married with three children. As a younger man, his two main interests were karate and cricket. There are still the occasional forays into the social side of cricket at Inverleith, but mostly time is taken up watching his and everyone else’s children perform on the stage or the sports field.

Edinburgh born and bred, Frances initially moved west where she studied Economics at the University of Strathclyde gaining a Bachelor’s Degree. Following a year’s voluntary work at a primary school in rural Thailand with World Exchange, her passion for teaching and improving education standards was ignited. She went on to gain a PGCE Distinction from the University of Glasgow. Frances started her teaching career in Surrey, before coming ‘home’ to Edinburgh in 2006 where she joined the ESMS Family as Head of Business Studies, Head of Careers and Director of Sixth Form. She made the move to Head of Stewart’s Melville College in December 2022, having served as Interim Head since August 2022.  From August 2026, Frances will be Head of Erskine Stewart Melville Senior School. Frances lives with her husband and son. Not one to sit still, when she’s not at a Peloton class she can be found outside, enjoying Scotland’s beautiful countryside with her family and pet dog.

Kirsty was appointed as Head of The Mary Erskine Senior School in August 2018, having been on the school management team since 2006. She has spent most of her career at ESMS. Stewart’s Melville College first saw her teach Geography but, within a few years, she was promoted to become a Principal Teacher of Guidance and moved to The Mary Erskine School, where her focus has been in the pastoral side of school life. Kirsty gained her PGCE at Jordanhill in Glasgow, after graduating in Geography and Economic and Social History from The University of Edinburgh. Kirsty loves living in Edinburgh with her family, enjoying all it has to offer. In her spare time, she enjoys keeping fit, vegetarian cooking, walks with her dogs and spending time in the Scottish Borders.

Dan, originally from Surrey, is a seasoned Digital, Data & Technology leader with over 20 years of experience driving transformational change and managing IT capabilities across multiple sectors. Following graduation with an Engineering degree, Dan began his career at Accenture, consulting to major organisations such as GSK and Diageo. More recently he has held leadership positions at RBS & Heineken. Joining ESMS in July ’24 he is really excited about bringing this experience to bear in the Education sector with a specific focus on using Data & Advanced Analytics to provide our teaching staff and leadership teams with better automation, insight and visibility. Dan is married with 3 boys, lives in Linlithgow and enjoys Scouts leadership, squash and going to music gigs.

Sarah is an accomplished business leader, experienced board member and finance professional with over 25 years of experience spanning financial services, SMEs and consultancy.

Sarah brings a wealth of expertise in financial and operational turnarounds, cost management, business transformation, and governance. Known for her strategic mindset and hands-on approach, she has a strong track record of helping organisations improve performance, deliver measurable results, and build high-performing teams. As a former Board Chair and trusted business advisor, she combines commercial acumen with an empathetic leadership style that inspires confidence and fosters resilience.

Katie Ridland is the owner of Ridland Wealth Management Ltd, a firm specialising in financial planning for families and small businesses for over 17 years. She is Treasurer of the Merchant Company and has served on many committees including Education Liaison and is the Trustee of the Retirement Benefit Scheme. Katie is a qualified Chartered Finance Planner and a Fellow of the Personal Finance Society. She has been actively involved in the school as she was previously a Governor for 5 years. Katie’s passion is financial education and for the past five years, she has delivered classes at Erskine Stewart Melville. During this time, Katie has presented to over 2,500 children across Edinburgh schools. She is a member of the High Constables of Edinburgh and a past president of Edinburgh Rotary. Katie served on the board in 2006 of Junior Chamber International.

Professor Linda Bauld holds the Bruce and John Usher Chair in Public Health in the Usher Institute, College of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh and serves as Chief Social Policy Adviser to the Scottish Government. Her research focuses on two main areas: the evaluation of complex public health interventions, and how research can inform public health policy. She has also been involved in communicable disease research on Covid-19 and chaired Scottish Government advisory groups on Covid-19 and children and young people (schools and HE/FE) since September 2021. Professor Bauld is a Trustee of Diabetes UK and the Institute for Alcohol Studies. She is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, the Faculty of Public Health, the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Academy of Social Sciences. She was awarded an OBE in June 2021 for her services to public health. Both her children attended ESMS.

David Bradley-Bird is the co-founder and Director of Multiply, an award-winning marketing agency based in Edinburgh. With extensive experience in marketing, David works with leading blue-chip organisations to deliver innovative digital communications and impactful learning strategies. Educated at Millfield School in Somerset, David grew up in Hertfordshire before relocating to Edinburgh in 1997 to advance his career. He is an active member of the Merchant Company and several industry bodies, including Marketing Society Scotland, reflecting his commitment to professional excellence. Away from work, David is married with two children currently at university. He maintains an active lifestyle through running, cycling, gym sessions, and regularly competes in running events and triathlons.

Chris Burnside MEng CEng MBA works as an engineering consultant with 30 years’ experience working in the energy industry.  He undertook his Master’s Degree at Heriot-Watt University and then worked internationally for many years on major capital projects before returning and settling-in Edinburgh. Chris has particular interests in diversity, inclusion and the promotion of STEM subjects. He has had a long association with Heriot-Watt University as a member of an Industry Advisory Board.  Chris has two children, his son has special-needs and his daughter was a former pupil at George Watson’s College.  When time permits, Chris enjoys hill walking, skiing and snowboarding.

Maidie Cahill has worked as an HR professional in a variety of organisations including Land Rover, Unilever and NEC Semiconductors, before Joining The SQA as Director of Corporate Services. Maidie has used her HR/governance experience serving as a board member with Edinburgh College, Edinburgh World Heritage, Art in Healthcare and Friends of the Royal Scottish Academy. Since retiring Maidie has joined the Royal Company of Merchants and is currently an Assistant on the Master’s Court. She is also a Burgess of the City of Edinburgh and a member of the Incorporation of Bonnetmakers and Dyers. Maidie is the only High Constable of Edinburgh to own her own police box in Drummond Place.

Liz Flockhart was educated at George Heriots and studied at St Andrews University (Modern History MA). She qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1998, then moved to Martin Currie as a Fund Manager for 10 years. A further 10 years at abrdn plc as Global Head of Investment Oversight followed. Liz has two children, both former pupils of ESMS. She has been actively involved with the School throughout her time as a parent, taking part in initiatives such as the launch of the Parents’ School Ball, acting as Treasurer of the Stew Mel Lions Rugby and supporting our students with career guidance and work placement support.

Iain Galloway brings experience from an international investment career to ESM, having managed European investment portfolios for Standard Life Investments, before moving to the Middle East to build and lead investment teams at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds. Now returned to Scotland, Iain is an active Angel investor and advisor, holding also various board and leadership roles. With several personal connections to the Merchant Company schools and having been a member of the ESMS Parents’ Liaison Committee, Iain is an enthusiastic champion for the schools’ continuing successful evolution to benefit current and future generations. Iain holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a member of the Merchant Company

David Girdwood has a long association with the School, having joined Stewart’s Melville College in 1987 as Head of Chemistry. He later became Head of Upper School & Director of Studies for S1 to S3. In the summer term of 2022, he served as Interim Principal. David has been a member of the Governing Council for many years. He read chemistry at St Andrews and went on to teacher training at Jordanhill (now Strathclyde). This was followed by an MEd at Stirling and the Scottish Qualification for Headship. He has served as an Associate Inspector with HM Inspectorate of Education. In 2002 David was appointed as Rector of St Columba’s School, Kilmacolm, serving for 15 years until his retirement in 2017. David was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Renfrewshire in 2009. He has served as Chair of Governors of St Columba’s, as a Governor and Chair of Education of The Glasgow Academy and of Lomond School. David is married to Lisa and they have two daughters, who are former pupils of the Junior School before moving to St Columba’s. He has a much-loved working cocker, Rhu, who is a retirement dog. David’s interests include rugby and walking.

Chris is a Chartered Surveyor (MRICS) and has some 35 years’ experience working in the Scottish commercial property market. Regularly advising clients from both the UK and overseas on the virtues of investing in real estate across the country.

Having been a Lead Partner with a UK based private practice, which was acquired in 2011, he (and three other Directors) set up Lismore Real Estate Advisors in 2020, based in Edinburgh. His connection with the School started (along with many other Dads) coaching mini-rugby at The Stew Mel Lions and continued as his son was educated at SMC. Lismore also supports the school, being a sponsor of the 1st XV rugby team.

His interests include golf, the hills, cycling and trying to keep up with Harry, the working cocker.

Fiona MacFarlane BSc MBA CEng MIChemE MCIPR is the lead consultant at Morham Solutions, with a number of non-executive director / trustee roles across the charitable sector. Brought up in North Berwick, she studied Chemical Engineering at Edinburgh University, returning there to complete an MBA. She became a chartered engineer at BP before a temporary move into public relations and communications completely changed her career path. Married to Hugh, mother of two and granny of one, Fiona was Director of Communications at George Watson’s College. She has served as a Member
of the Court of the Merchant Company and is Treasurer of the Burgess Association of the City of Edinburgh. Since 2020 Fiona has helped to establish “MyEdinburgh”, a Merchant Company initiative that aims to bring
together individuals, charities, businesses, and innovators to enable collaborations and help break down barriers to build a thriving inclusive city. In her spare time, she is involved in musical theatre and is a member of Southern Light, Edinburgh’s oldest musical theatre company.

Ross has worked in either construction or property related sectors over the last 30 years, working on projects all over the UK. For the last seven years he has been working with the Edinburgh based real estate organisation, Ediston, as their Development Director.

Susan Murray LLB, Dip LP, LLM (Dist.) (Edin) is a Senior Litigation Solicitor working in-house with the Central Legal Office of NHS Scotland. She is accredited as a specialist in medical negligence by the Law Society of Scotland and is a Member of the Society’s Accreditation Panel for Medical Negligence. Susan has over 30 years’ experience of specialising in high value medical negligence litigation and public inquiries involving the NHS. She served as President of the Law Society of Scotland during 2024/2025 and is a Society Council and Board Member. She has also served on several Law Society Committees, including Equality & Diversity (Convener) and Audit. Susan is a second-generation former pupil of The Mary Erskine School, and her 3 children were educated in ESMS. Her interests include travel, gardening and spending time with her children and grandchildren.

Bruce is the CEO of Next Level Educational, which focuses on professional development for teachers and schools across the UK and internationally. As a consultant and trainer, he is widely praised for his passion, clarity and the practicality of his messages.

Bruce’s best-selling and acclaimed books include The Teaching Delusion trilogy, Power Up Your Pedagogy and Power Up Your Questioning. Of Power Up Your Pedagogy, Professor Rob Coe of Evidence Based Education says: ‘To all teachers I would say: study this book, learn from it and act on it’.

Bruce has been working in education for over 20 years, having trained as a teacher at The University of Edinburgh in 2002. As headteacher, Bruce’s leadership of Berwickshire High School from 2020-24 was instrumental in turning around a school rated ‘weak’ and ‘unsatisfactory’ in an HMIE inspection, to one widely recognised as sector-leading in its approaches to teaching and learning improvement, ethos, and professional development.

He lives in East Lothian and is a keen golfer.

Alistair Stewart is an investment professional with in excess of 20 years’ of experience investing in and managing private equity investments. He completed his law degree at Aberdeen University before qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, spending five years with KPMG. He then spent 18 years in institutional private equity and five years as CEO of a UK-based e-commerce business. He is actively engaged with the wider ESMS network through his involvement with the Stewart’s Melville and North Edinburgh Vikings Rugby clubs. Both his son and daughter are recent graduates of the School.

David Stewart is an experienced cyber security professional with over 30 years’ experience in the technology and cyber security arena. Currently serving as Group CISO for a FTSE 100 business, he leads the development and delivery of enterprise-wide security strategy, governance and cyber risk reduction programmes.

Throughout a varied career, David has worked across multiple sectors and disciplines within technology and cyber security, bringing deep expertise in security architecture, incident response, risk assessment, regulatory compliance and stakeholder engagement. He also plays a key role in shaping resilient and forward-looking security practices at the highest level.

David lives in Falkirk with his wife. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring new destinations on holiday and is a passionate sports fan, particularly of Scottish rugby and football, often found watching matches and supporting his favourite teams.

Michael Wells is Legal Director of Dispute Resolution and Claims at Thorntons Law LLP in Edinburgh. He is a former pupil of Daniel Stewart’s and Melville College and currently a Member of the Royal Company of Merchants, and a former Assistant of the Court. He is also a Youth Coach at Spartans WFC. He plays most racquet sports, having played tennis for the School, and hockey for Edinburgh University, DSMC FPs and ESMS Vets.