SkyeConnect Volunteer Directors
We are currently in the process of appointing additional directors from a wide variety of expertise, backgrounds and locations on to help drive our community forward.
Gary Curley - Chair
Gary is General Manager and Director of Skye’s Sligachan Hotel & Seumas’ Bar. The business has been in his wife’s family for over 100 years.
Gary is an Entrepreneurial Scotland Saltire Fellow and was chosen to complete their 6 month Saltire Fellowship Programme which took him to study at Babson College, the top business school in the world for entrepreneurship.
Currently completing a masters in business at Strathclyde, Gary also brings professional experience from previous senior roles in sales management, marketing, creative industries and hospitality.
Clare Winskill - Director
There are some tough times ahead as our fragile economy on Skye recovers from the economic impact of COVID. The existence of a membership organisation for Skye with a strong voice, that actively represents its members has never been more important than now.
We must all come together to effectively put pressure on the government and local authority to protect our island livelihoods, culture and landscape.
Our communities need support, in particular, to cope with visitor behaviour that impacts negatively on the island and its people. The biggest challenge for Skye is building a diverse economy, with the tourism economy playing its part; an economy that can keep young people on the island and give them the opportunities and quality of life. Our legacy must be that of a well-managed visitor destination where the culture and heritage are celebrated and our local people supported and secure.
We face the huge challenge of providing the required tourism infrastructure that can accommodate the incredible interest our island generates. From public toilets and superfast broadband to ensuring quality information is readily available to help our locals and visitors have the best experience of Skye
Jasper Buxton - Director
SkyeConnect is particularly active in representing the island’s interests to both local and central government.
At the same time, we are developing responsible tourism, for example by encouraging visitors to spend more time on the island. We are driving improvements in critical infrastructure, from increased parking capacity through to giving visitors comprehensive and up-to-date information about tourist attractions.
This means that visitors will continue to have an excellent experience on Skye, while quality of life for local residents is maintained.
Simon Cousins - Director
In 2018 Simon established Simon Cousins Media to offer communications services and advice for a range of clients across the country.
Having moved to Skye to live on the family croft, Simon has worked for SkyeConnect for the last two years. Over this period he has worked to promote a positive image of Skye and its tourism providers in the national media. Simon is the main point of contact for journalists and broadcasters looking for content and comment from the tourism industry on Skye.
He also produces films promoting the island and individual businesses as well as the weekly Skyetime Podcast, which is available here and on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
If you need any help or advice Simon can be contacted on 07850 715111 or simon@simoncousinsmedia.co.uk.