Staff
Director – Rowan Brown
Rowan describes herself as a passionate charitable sector leader, motivated by a firm belief in the benefits of socially engaged, environmentally sustainable, civic practice. Her most recent role was as Chief Executive of Museums Northumberland where she led diverse partnerships to achieve impressive results in fund-raising and awards, sustained collaborative working, and community engagement. Rowan has worked across the UK, with directorships at the National Mining Museum Scotland and the Alfred Gillett Trust and curatorial posts with Glasgow museums and National Museums Scotland.
In her eight years at Museums Northumberland, she led the team to achieve Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) Status, embed a culture of collaboration and attain awards including the first ever Historic England Blue Badge Access Award for Woodhorn Museum. She also led a Local Government Partnership Award for reinstating the Category A/Grade I Union Chain Bridge (which crosses the Scottish/English border) in partnership with Scottish Borders and Northumberland County Councils, and the Friends of the Union Chain Bridge.
A disability advocate, member of the North East Combined Authority Culture Creative Tourism & Sport Advisory Body and the English Civic Museum Network, Rowan has served on the Boards of the Scottish Railway Preservation Society, Museums Association, Industrial Museums Scotland, the Ashington Town Development Board, and as Chair of Ethics for the Museum sector. In her spare time, Rowan is a keen cultural consumer, and a volunteer in civic work and literary festivals.
Assistant Director – James Garry BSc (Hons), BA (Hons), MSc, and MLitt.
James is a former Chartered Environmentalist and former Chartered Planner. He holds degrees from Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities and has since completed further study with the Open University (BA Hons, Classical Studies) and the University of the Highlands and Islands (MLitt, Scottish Heritage). He also holds a BSc (Hons) and an MSc. His recent research has focused on dark tourism, folklore, and cultural memory in Scotland.
Before joining the Cockburn Association, James pursued a professional career with several Scottish local authorities and public bodies, specialising in sustainability, carbon management, and climate issues. He is normally with the Association from Tuesday to Friday.
Development and Outreach Manager- Brigid Golden MA Archaeology & Social Anthropology
Brigid is a graduate from the University of Edinburgh with an MA in Archaeology and Social Anthropology. Through her work with the Edinburgh Archaeology Outreach Project, Brigid is experienced in community outreach and has deep appreciation for the value of engaging meaningfully with heritage. She is interested in ensuring accessibility to tangible heritage and promoting opportunities for learning and engagement, and is keen to apply her skillset to the work at the Cockburn Association, protecting the civic amenity and cultural heritage of Edinburgh. She works to support Trustees and staff in the delivery of the 150th programming and leads resource development initiatives. Brigid comes from St Paul, Minnesota and spends her spare time portrait painting.
