About us
Ronay is a long-term project shaped by a shared ambition to care for the island, protecting what is already thriving while supporting the resilience and recovery of its natural environment for generations to come.
Our approach
Since beginning this work, we’ve spent a lot of time getting to know Ronay, learning about its habitats and wildlife, its history, the natural processes that shape it, and the people who hold the local knowledge of the island and surrounding area.
We’ve been working with locals and environmental specialists to bring different realms of knowledge and experience together. Ecological evidence and specialist expertise are important, but so too are local knowledge and an understanding of how the island has changed over time. Together, they’re helping us build a clearer picture of Ronay and develop an evidence-led framework to guide how the island is safeguarded and how regeneration is approached over the long term.
Alongside the regeneration work, we’re developing commercial activities connected to Ronay and its natural resources. Our longer-term ambition is to build a model in which responsible commercial activity and stewardship support one another, contributing to the long-term care of the natural systems those businesses depend on.
There is still a lot to learn and develop. As our understanding of Ronay grows, the framework will evolve with it, helping us set priorities, guide decisions and monitor change over time.
We’re a small team with big ambition.
Ronay is a wild, windswept and elemental place. Something about its rugged landscape, changing light, and surrounding waters stays with people, drawing them back to the island time and again. Our team comes from very different backgrounds, but we share that connection to Ronay, a passion for nature conservation and responsible use of natural resources, and a desire to nurture this wilderness for the long term.
Ronay and its landscape are complex, and understanding them properly means drawing on knowledge and experience well beyond our core team. We’re fortunate to work with an extraordinary network of environmental specialists and locals who share generational knowledge of the island and have co-existed with the landscape for decades. Our steering committee brings another important local perspective, and their involvement is already helping to inform practical decisions about how Ronay is cared for and how its natural resources are managed.
Who we are
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Tim
CO-FOUNDER/CHAIR
Tim is in his element swimming in the lochs, paddleboarding, and exploring the island's rugged hills. A keen sailor and nature enthusiast, Tim is interested in how policy, business and technology can work alongside local knowledge, culture, and environmental science to support healthy, resilient natural systems and enhance biodiversity for generations to come.
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Andrew
CO-FOUNDER
Andrew was a Scottish entrepreneur and founder of a diverse collective of brands working together to create positive impact. A close friend of Tim and the wider Ronay team, Andrew sadly passed in early 2026. His legacy continues through Ronay’s long-term regeneration work and the ambition to explore how responsible commercial activity can sit alongside stewardship of the island.
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Mandy
HEAD OF COMMERCIAL & BRAND
Mandy leads the commercial development of the Ronay brand, shaping its products, proposition and how it goes to market. Working closely with the wider team, her focus is on building a commercially strong business and exploring new opportunities connected to the island that reflect the values of the wider Ronay project and support its long-term ambitions.
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Sally
HEAD OF SCIENCE
Sally is an ecologist, botanist and founder of the nature positive business Seilich, having previously worked as a conservation scientist at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. At Ronay, she brings expertise in ecological research and habitat restoration, alongside botanical product development and small-scale manufacturing, helping shape the island’s nature restoration work and seaweed products, with a focus on ensuring commercial activity supports the island's long-term recovery and stewardship.
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Violet
OCEAN ADVOCACY AND COMMUNICATIONS
Violet grew up in North Uist and has a BSc in Animal Behaviour and Conservation, with a particular interest in ecology, biodiversity and conservation. Combining this background with her local knowledge, Violet works closely with the Ronay team and steering committee, focusing on marine protection and waste management, while keeping the team connected to what’s happening locally and contributing content about the island’s wildlife and ongoing projects.
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Tom
NATURE ADVISOR
Tom specialises in finding long-term solutions to fund nature restoration and sustainable land management. Through his work with Agri Natural Capital, he brings extensive experience of farm and estate finance and nature-based solutions, helping Ronay explore practical approaches to the long-term management and recovery of the island’s natural environment.