Meet The Team

Michelle Cowie

Michelle Cowie – Joint Manager

My name is Michelle Cowie and my role within Partnerships for Wellbeing is Manager (Job share).

I started work for Partnerships for Wellbeing in June 2009, as the Office Manager primarily dealing with accounts and paperwork surrounding the charity, and then in October 2009 was made overall Manager of the Charity.

My role within Partnerships for Wellbeing has evolved over the last couple of years and, I work closely with the Administration Assistant, Nicola Dunnet, and I have a high involvement with the Let’s Get On With It Together project and co-ordinator, Joanne McCoy.

Previous to working here, I worked for Tulloch Ltd based in Inverness and the Inland Revenue.

I have lived in Inverness my whole life. When I am not at work I enjoy spending time with my family, and socialising with friends. I enjoy reading, walking and music.

Ian Arnott

Ian Arnott – Joint Manager

My name is Ian Arnott and my role at Partnerships for Wellbeing is Manager (Job share). I am a native of Fife but have lived in the Highlands since 1971 when my family moved to Nairn,

In 1975 I joined Northern Constabulary and served until 2011 as a Police Officer where I held various posts in Ross-Shire, Western Isles, Shetland, Inverness and Caithness. My last job in the Police was as a Superintendent and Divisional Commander for Inverness, Badenoch, Strathspey and Nairn.

In May 2011 I joined Partnerships for Wellbeing as a Team Leader before I took up my current post on 4th January 2012. I work closely with Fiona MacInnes on the Inverness Voluntary Transport Scheme and Lynne Bannister on Step It Up Highland.

I live in Inverness with my family. My personal interests include walking, cycling, music, cookery and travel.

Fiona MacInnes

Fiona MacInnes – Inverness Voluntary Transport Scheme Co-ordinator

I’m Fiona MacInnes and it’s my job to co-ordinate the day-to-day operation of the Voluntary Transport Scheme in Inverness. This involves ensuring the service we offer is of a consistently high quality, and also raising it’s profile within the community so that we reach those who need it most. One of the best things about my job is the great bunch of folk I am fortunate to work with – in particular our volunteers. Their enthusiasm and commitment to the scheme is inspiring.

I have been involved in project design and co-ordination for the past 10 years with Skills Development Scotland. Although a very different environment, I’m excited about using my skills and experience for such a worthwhile project. We are very fortunate to have quality healthcare facilities in Inverness, but for many it can be a real struggle to get to them.

When not at work, I enjoy spending time with my daughter and my friends. My mission this year has been to “try new things” and as well as starting a new job, I have had lessons in ski-ing, golfing and keyboards.

Joanne Scott

Joanne McCoy – Let’s Get On With It Together Co-ordinator

My name is Joanne and I joined Partnerships for Wellbeing as Let’s Get On With It Together Co-ordinator in December 2011. I have both professional and personal experience of the health and social care field, following a varied career in this sector and living with MS. Self management, independence, choice and control are rights that I believe everyone should be entitled to.

I also work part-time for the MS Society as Regional Programme Co-ordinator for the Highlands and Islands, co-ordinating the self-management programme in this area. Prior to joining the MS Society I was the Chief Executive Officer of Direct Payments Caledonia.

Lynne Bannister

Lynne Bannister – Step It Up Highland Co-ordinator

I’m Lynne (Bannister), and pleased to introduce myself to you all. I was delighted to join the team at Partnerships for Wellbeing in September 2011 as co-ordinator in Inverness for the well established Step It Up Highland project. My background has been in the voluntary sector for over 20 years, having previously managed services for various disadvantaged groups such as The Alzheimer’s Society Birmingham, Crossroads Birmingham (caring for carers) and two charities supporting vulnerable families with young children (Family First in the Highlands and Homestart in Banff). So it is with a great deal of pleasure I am now working in what I perceive to be the ’up’ side of the voluntary sector - helping people to improve fitness by joining in health walks

On a personal level I have recently moved to Inverness from Lossiemouth and last year began my own journey of discovering the joys of higher level walking. Through both my work and in my personal life, I hope to encourage more and more people to experience what the simple pleasures of regular walking can bring, especially at this time of increasing obeseity, inactivity, an ageing population and stress in lives.

Nicola Dunnet

Nicola Dunnet – Administrator

My name is Nicola and I’m the administrator in the Partnerships for Wellbeing office. It is my job to make sure all of the paperwork is up to date and accurate. I am also responsible for the maintenance of the Charity’s website.

I have lived in Inverness since 2005 and have had varied working roles in the past six years from bar work to accounts offices to stacking shelves! I have to say I am delighted to have ended up in this role as it is a pleasure to work for PfW and with the rest of the team.

In my free time I enjoy reading, music, film, socialising and spending time with loved ones.