Alice is SDV’s Chair. She works as a fundraiser in the charity sector with experience in healthcare, the arts and animal welfare. She welcomes the continued opportunity to use her knowledge and experience, both in general and related to fundraising, to ensure the continued operation and success of SDV.

Sarah is SDV’s Secretary. She has been a volunteer visitor with SDV since 2023 and a member of the Board since the 2024 AGM. Before retirement, she was a senior lecturer in public law at the University of Glasgow, having previously been a solicitor, working both in law centres and in private practice. She appreciates being involved in the work that SDV do in supporting people in indefinite immigration detention in Dungavel.

Nahom joined SDV’s Board in May 2022 and has extensive experience within the Scottish third sector, holding impactful roles with Freedom from Torture, Citizens Advice Bureau, British Red Cross, and the Scottish Refugee Council. Most recently, he served as a Communities Support Coordinator at the Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA), where he led inclusive, community-led initiatives.

Nahom is currently pursuing an MSc in Urban Analytics at the University of Glasgow, specialising in using data-driven research to support human rights reporting. His lived experience in the UK asylum system informs his passion for raising awareness of the challenges refugees face. He is dedicated to applying his expertise in strength-based rehabilitation and data analysis to support SDV’s work in helping people in immigration detention.

Ruth Joined SDV’s Board in 2022. She has been volunteering with SDV for around nine years, visiting Dungavel regularly and providing phone support during the pandemic. She was involved in the Life After Detention group and worked with them as they made a film about their experiences after detention. She is keen to continue to bring her experience of visiting Dungavel and supporting a variety of people detained indefinitely to the Board.

Pauline joined SDV’s board in 2025 and is our current Treasurer. For the last two years she has worked as a Case Manager for the Scottish Refugee Council, supporting families and pregnant women in the asylum process. She is glad to be able to use and develop this experience to help SDV's work.

Olivia joined the board at the 2025 AGM. She has been volunteering with SDV for just over two years and is currently the Fundraising Officer for Positive Action in Housing, a housing and homelessness organisation supporting ethnic minorities and migrants. She began her fundraising experience while at university, working with the St Andrews branch of Amnesty International and assisted SDV with their fundraising for just over a year. She also has experience supporting migrants in Greece and through other volunteering opportunities. She brings her experience as an SDV volunteer and is eager to work with the board to strive for change and justice.

Ronnie  is a Zimbabwean advocate and former immigration detainee with lived experience of the UK detention system. He was detained on three occasions, including at Dungavel House Immigration Removal Centre in 2015, where support from Scottish Detainee Visitors played a significant role during his time in detention.

He now serves on the Board , bringing valuable lived experience to support and advocate for people in detention.

Ronnie is also the CEO of Refugee Sanctuary Scotland, working to support refugees and people seeking asylum to rebuild their lives.

Outside of work, he is an avid reader and a passionate supporter of Arsenal F.C.

Kate is our director and has been involved with SDV since she joined us as a visitor in 2003. She is responsible for the management of the organisation, fundraising and policy work. She has a background as social researcher and in 2024 completed a PhD examing the experience of fathers in immigration detention.

Georgia is our volunteer coordinator. She joined SDV in 2022, having worked for a number of projects supporting refugees, asylum seekers and other migrants. She is responsible for supporting volunteers to provide our services to people detained in Dungavel.