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.

Membership & Outreach Manager: Anna Dowling-Clarke

Anna joined The Cockburn Association as Membership and Engagement Manager in July 2026. You may already know her from Women’s History Month in March, when she led the “In Their Footsteps” walking tours in partnership with The Cockburn Association.

Anna brings a wealth of experience across the heritage and cultural sector. She is the founder of WHIPS (Women Hidden in Plain Sight), an Edinburgh platform recovering overlooked women’s histories through walking tours, audio tours and public programming, built through partnerships with organisations including The Cockburn Association and The Real Mary King’s Close. Prior to this, Anna contributed to high-value auctions in Sotheby’s Impressionist & Modern Art department and later managed and built auctions as Saleroom Manager at Kerry Taylor Auctions, including a widely covered charity auction for The John Bright Foundation featuring Cosprop-made costumes. She holds an undergraduate MA in History of Art from the University of Aberdeen and an MA in Arts & Culture from the University of Groningen.

In her role at The Cockburn Association, Anna is passionate about growing membership and building meaningful connections between Edinburgh’s communities and its civic heritage, encouraging more people to see themselves as active participants in protecting and celebrating the city’s built and natural environment.

Outside of work, Anna is a classically trained singer with a serious interest in opera.

Membership & Administration Assistant: Kara Bohn

Kara joined The Cockburn Association in June 2026 as Membership and Administration Assistant, after previously volunteering with the organisation for over a year, supporting a variety of activity including social media campaigns and Doors Open Day.

Kara completed her undergraduate degree in Architectural History & Heritage at the University of Edinburgh in 2025 and is currently completing her MSc in Architectural Conservation at the same institution. In her undergraduate, she was the President of the University of Edinburgh Archaeology Society, where she was the lead coordinator for the national Scottish Student Archaeology Society Conference in 2025. She also was the President of the Edinburgh Archaeology Outreach Project, a programme that brings university students into schools and after-school organisations to teach about archaeology, history, and heritage.

Professionally, Kara is experienced in building conservation, surveying, and planning consultancy, with an academic interest in 20th century heritage. Kara sat for two years as a casework panel member and administrator for the Architectural History Society of Scotland. She has been a member of the Cockburn’s Planning and Development Committee since February 2026. In her role at the Cockburn, Kara brings forward a passion and expertise in preserving and managing the built environment and is keen to continue being a championing voice.

Outside of her professional life, Kara is a keen knitter and crocheter. She is currently learning how to hand throw and fire ceramics.