Scalloway Community Development Company is governed by a board of volunteer directors. All the directors have a long history of community involvement in Scalloway and in wider Shetland roles.
Chair: Davie Sandison
Role: Chairman, Scalloway Community Development Company; Councillor (Shetland Central); Chair, Education & Families Committee
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Davie Sandison is a long-serving Shetland Islands Councillor and the current Chair of the Education & Families Committee. He combines public service with local initiative—supporting Hame Fae Hame childcare, guiding Shetland UHI governance, and steering community projects like SCARF and the Scalloway waterfront study as Chair of SCDC. Davie is passionately committed to sustainable development, educational equity, and enhancing wellbeing across Scalloway.
Why He’s Here:
“As a father and grandfather living in Scalloway, Davie’s vision is rooted in creating a thriving, inclusive community—where strong schools, sustainable tourism, and essential services go hand in hand with our island’s heritage and future.”
Secretary: Andrew Blackadder
Andrew Blackadder is a seasoned business and economic consultant and the founding director of A B Associates Ltd, operating for over three decades from Scalloway. He currently serves as Secretary of SCDC, and has previously chaired SHEAP and supported a wide range of local development and feasibility initiatives. His long tenure as a trustee of the Shetland Amenity Trust—spanning 30 years—underscores his unwavering commitment to Shetland’s environmental and community wellbeing.
Why He’s Here:
“Andrew believes that thoughtful planning and robust leadership pave the way for a sustainable and thriving Scalloway—grounded in community, rooted in strategy.”
Treasurer: John Hunter
John N. Hunter is a qualified accountant and long-term Scalloway resident. As Treasurer of SCDC since its foundation in 2019, he also brings expertise from his long career as an accountant for a variety of public sector organisations and latterly self-employed. John’s civic leadership extends across voluntary groups, including the Shetland Bus Friendship Society and Voluntary Action Shetland. With decades of service, he strives to ensure responsible financial oversight and sustainable community growth.
Why He’s Here:
“John believes strong communities are built on solid foundations—through transparent finance, local leadership, and service over many years.”
Mark Burgess
Mark Burgess is a former Shetland Islands Councillor and current Scalloway Community Councillor. A former college lecturer, he has been self-employed since 2008 and contributes as a freelance writer to The Shetland Times. Alongside his civic roles, Mark runs a holiday let business in Scalloway. He brings experience in governance, education, and enterprise to the work of SCDC.
Why He’s Here (Optional personal touch):
“Mark is passionate about helping Scalloway thrive — supporting community initiatives, encouraging sustainable tourism, and giving a voice to local people.”
Sarah Kay
Sarah Kay is an award-winning resin artist, jeweller, and entrepreneur based in Scalloway. By day, she transforms shells, sea glass, and coastal finds into handcrafted seascapes and wearable art—and by year-round practice, she integrates sustainability into every piece. She also runs a successful holiday chalet business, and her hillside studio and garden have become a vibrant community landmark.
Why She’s Here:
“Sarah brings creativity, sustainability, and heart to SCDC—infusing the Company’s vision with the same passion she brings to every piece she crafts, every project she undertakes, and every path she treads on Shetland’s shores.”
Arthur Williamson
Arthur Williamson represents Scalloway’s long-established fishing heritage. As a director of L Williamson Limited, the modern iteration of the family seafood business, he worked form many years to ensure the island’s freshest fish reaches markets across the UK and Europe. Arthur’s career spans leadership roles in significant local fisheries firms and training bodies—highlighting both his business acumen and his investment in the sustainability and development of Shetland’s fishing industry.
Why He’s Here:
“Arthur stands as a living link between Scalloway’s rich fishing past and its promising future, ensuring our community’s livelihood remains strong and well-directed.”