Team & Board

The board of Visit Inverness Loch Ness has 12 director positions which consist of 10 representatives of levy paying business, 1 councillor nominated by Highland Council and 1 nominated director from either a levy paying business or an Opt-In member.

Don Johnstone, CEO

About me:
I’ve always thrived in jobs that involve putting smiles on faces, which is probably why I’m now in tourism and not still working in the finance sector where I spent 10 years doing various roles which included compliance, auditing, business analysis and change/project management. I spent 9 years at Inverness Caledonian Thistle FC where I was responsible for marketing, communications, press and (award winning) social/digital media. My first foray into tourism came in 2018/19 with VisitScotland. Starting out as an ‘itinerant visitor adviser’ (they called us CooVisors because our van was dressed up as a Highland Coo). In short, I was employed as a traveller in Scotland, speaking to and inspiring other travellers in Scotland. This got me hooked on tourism and I became a Quality & Tourism Adviser in 2020. Lockdown came 2 weeks later, which meant we couldn’t be out on the road; however, it did provide opportunity for me to get experience working with several other areas of the organisation – Business Growth & Development, Market & Marketing Teams, Events, Travel Trade, Digital and Sustainability.

What I Do:
Lead, inspire and enable the team at Visit Inverness Loch Ness to be their natural best, so that we can deliver our best for the destination in a responsible and conscientious manner.

Date joined: October 2023

Likes:
Time with my best friend, drinking nice wine and either intelligent conversation that challenges my thinking…or yakking about total nonsense. Recently discovered that I really like Elderflower despite spending most of my life avoiding it!

Dislikes:
Intolerance, lies and the phrase “because we’ve always done it like that”.

Hobbies:
Golf (for pleasure), trying new things and pushing my limits, audiobooks (I highly recommend Jodi Taylor’s, The Chronicles of St Marys) and learning - a day gone by without learning something new is a day wasted.

Favourite local activity: Getting outdoors with my camera.

Contact: don@visitiln.com

Jo Page, Digital Engagement Manager

About me:
After many years of exploring the Highlands on holiday and not wanting to go home, I made the move to Inverness 16 years ago. My work since moving here has mostly been in tourism and hospitality which includes owning my own guest house and also managing a fleet of hire campervans. I have nothing but passion and enthusiasm for the area and spend my free time exploring and discovering all there is on offer and telling the world about it!

What I do:
My role as Digital Engagement Manager involves promoting the destination and our members to our global online audience through digital marketing campaigns and projects, social media and our website.

Date joined: March 2020

Likes:
Coffee, cake, craft beer, racoons and kindness.

Dislikes:
Greed, Olives and Michael Buble (although I’m sure he’s a very nice person)

Hobbies:
Road trips in my campervan Colin and taking photos of the beauty and nature that surrounds us.

Favourite local activity:
on a calm day sat at Dores beach looking down the Loch, one of my all time favourite views of the world.

Contact: jo@visitiln.com

Sharon Mackay, Membership Manager

What I do:
I joined VILN in 2012 pre the first ballot as BID Co-ordinator, having been involved in setting up Inverness City BID in 2008. I work 15 hrs a week as Membership Manager and encourage members to make the most of their direct member benefits. I especially enjoy organising the networking events and providing B2B opportunities for members to collaborate. I coordinate marketing initiatives such as the popular ‘See and Do’ visitor maps and ‘Support Local’ banners.

Likes:
Walking our lovely collie dog, helping to manage the family farm holiday lodges, spending time with friends and family and eating my youngest daughter's wonderful food. I also enjoy listening to both my daughters playing the piano and fiddle, especially when I have the dishes to do!

Dislikes:
People not all being treated equally/with respect.

Hobbies:
Cycling, skiing and playing the piano from time to time

Favourite places in our destination:
Glen Affric and Cawdor Woods

Contact: sharon@visitiln.com

Emma Harrison, Destination Development Manager

About me:
My previous work has been in Management, leading large teams across the Highlands and Islands and building a Sports Strategy for the University. My mission is to encourage others to make the most out of their lives, stay healthy and never stop adventuring. I have worked for large organisations such as NHS, offer Scottish Mental Health First Aid Training, and I am also a freelance journalist for sports magazines.

What I do:
As a Destination Development Manager I work with members to enhance what we can offer as a destination, working collaboratively to achieve results into making us an award winning choice for visitors.

Date joined: March 2022

Likes:
Travelling, Trail Running, Running up Mountains, Cooking, learning more about food cultures and writing!

Favourite Local Activity:
Running on the South Loch Ness Trail, eating in the wonderful restaurants we have to offer

Contact: emma@visitiln.com

Sabine MacDonald, Administrator

What I do:
My primary role is Administrator, but I also look after B2B communication such as our weekly newsletter and Industry News Facebook page and LinkedIn page.
After graduating with a BA (Hons) in Business Studies from UHI/Napier University I worked for local tourism businesses and as a freelance German tour guide before joining Visit Inverness Loch Ness in 2014.

Date joined: July 2014

Likes:
Outdoor activities, good coffee and cake

Dislikes:
Bad weather that keeps me from cycling and walking!

Hobbies:
Cycling, walking and generally being outdoors, crochet and reading a good book

Favourite places in our destination:
Anywhere along the Loch Ness 360 route, Ness Islands and Cawdor woods and trails

Contact: admin@visitiln.com

Sabine MacDonald Visit Inverness Loch Ness

Matt Lafferty, Active Travel Officer

About me:
My first awareness of the active travel campaigning world was through bike related hobbies and part time work as a cycle courier in Glasgow in my 20’s. I was not heavily involved but attended the occasional Critical Mass and ranted with my friends about missing infrastructure – gateway campaining. Moving home to the Highlands in 2020 I became a full-time cycle courier and began volunteering with Sustrans to help deliver BikeAbility in schools. This led me into more community based active travel advocacy and, in 2022, to a role with Velocity Café and Bicycle Workshop on their Active Travel Hub project. Those few years were a deep dive into the active travel community of Inverness for me and I’ve been involved with projects and events at various levels in both a professional and personal capacity.

What I do:
As Active Travel Officer, I’m here to work with members and the communities in which they operate with the aim of increasing active travel uptake and engagement across the Inverness and Loch Ness areas.

Date joined: April 2024

Likes:
Spending valuable time with close friends. Messing around on or with bikes - I won’t often be found very far away from one. Exploring my creative side and keeping in touch with my childish self. Looking up.

Hobbies:
Bikes in many forms! Road, gravel, trail, bikepacking, alleycats, bike polo. Aside from that I’m somewhat a collector of hobbies. Astronomy; Birding; Film photography, developing, and printing; Board games; Dungeons and dragons; Camping; Wild Swimming; Climbing.

Favourite places in our destination:
Dores beach for a swim with a view (even in the rain!). The Falls of Foyers in full flow. The Great Glen Way for awe inspiring views of our local geography.

Contact: matt@visitiln.com