David Somervell – Trustee, Convenor of the Board
In his role as convener of the P&J David continues his involvement with the peace and anti-nuclear movement which started in 1977 – campaigning against Torness near Edinburgh.
Career Summary: David trained as an architect at Edinburgh College of Art and Oxford Polytechnic and specialised in energy and sustainable services provision. He was Technical Services Manager for Heatwise Glasgow 1984 – 89 when 100,000 Glasgow tenants had energy conservation measures installed in a multi-funded, multi agency programme providing training and employment for long-term unemployed.
His role as a change agent as much as a technical solutions provider evolved during his years with the University of Edinburgh – recognised as having a sector-leading role in implementing best practice in strategic energy & environmental management techniques. Initially appointed as Energy Manager in 1989, David stepped back from paid role as University Sustainability Adviser in 2016.
In his last five years at Edinburgh he was instrumental in helping establish the University’s Department for Social Responsibility and Sustainability – free-standing as a support department – alongside Estates, Procurement and Health and Safety etc.
Awards: UoE 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award for Sustainability and NUS Green Impact Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015 for “being a genuine sustainability legend, and inspiring a generation of students”.
Jan Benvie, Lead Campaigns Associate
Jan is a retired Primary School teacher who spent 4 years in the Middle East with Christian Peacemaker Teams in both Iraq and Palestine Israel.
She is a member of the Anglican Third Order of Society of St Francis and is a Trustee of the Anglican Pacifist Fellowship, one of the groups that have supported the Centre’s Peacebuilding in Schools project.
As well as her time as a human rights monitor in the Middle East, Jan has always been involved in a range of peace and justice issues at home and abroad. She is a member of Edinburgh Women in Black, Chair of Edinburgh Action for Palestine and Secretary of the Scottish Palestinian Forum.
When not undertaking work with the various groups she is involved with, Jan enjoys walking and reading.
My current interest in working for people Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Justice & Peace is far removed from my scientific career. I studied zoology for first degree, a Ph.D. in neurophysiology and lectured in preclinical veterinary science. My research interest was transmission and processing of pain mechanisms. But I developed an interest in working for refugees when I had direct experience with people fleeing from civil war. I saw the trauma, pain and the long-term destructive effects of war on people. I agonized over the prolonged immigration process and often the lack of understanding of the problems of displaced people so decided to join the campaign for refugees using my lived experience to be an ambassador.
My aspirations are that our contributions will change the narrative about refugees, making them welcome, accepted and integrated into British communities. I believe it is a Justice & Peace matter to respect the Human Rights of refugees. People do not choose to be refugees, they are displaced by wars, conflicts, persecution and climate change and it is Christian charity to have more humane immigration laws.
Interim Trustees working on the Organisation’s governance are Julian Goodare and Struan Kennedy
Watch this space to find out more soon!
