Meet the Team

Helen Avenell

Helen Avenell is a heritage professional and has lived in Forres for nearly twenty years. She leads Helen Avenell Heritage Associates, a heritage consultancy working across the Highlands and North East Scotland. Her work has a particular focus on local heritage and exploring creative ways of engaging with communities to celebrate their voices and stories. Helen is passionate about securing the future of St Laurence for the local community and transforming the building into a vibrant venue for arts, culture and connection. In her spare time Helen enjoys knitting, reading and walking.

James Campbell

James Campbell is a former Chairman and long- term Partner of Johnston Carmichael, Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors.

Former Director of Highlands & Islands Enterprise (Moray) and Johnston Carmichael Wealth. Former Chairman of Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Limited and Captain of Forres Golf Club

Now retired…… but continues as Non-Executive Chairman of Inverness Airport Business Park and as a Charity Trustee with St Laurence Forres Trust and a former Trustee of the Leanchoil Trust and as a Fund Member of Berry Burn Community Fund.

James is a Keeper of the Quaich and became a Freeman of the City of London on his way to becoming a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers

Ann McEllin

Ann McEllin is a chartered accountant who lives and works in Forres. In her work, she specialises in the voluntary and social enterprise sector, along with supporting budding entrepreneurs and independent business people. She is a community minded person who has enjoyed serving on councils and charity boards over the past 30 years, including Groundwork, Women’s Aid and care-based charities. Walking, reading, music and theatre are what she likes to do to unwind.

Major General The Hon Seymour Monro CBE, LVO.

Seymour Monro commanded the Ist Bn Queen’s Own Highlanders in Belfast and in the First Gulf War. His last military appointment was Deputy Commander of the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps, Italy.

He has been Executive Director of the Atlantic Salmon Trust, Adjutant of The Queen’s Body Guard for Scotland, and Director of the Highland Military Tattoo at Fort George and Chairman of the Northern Meeting Piping Trust.

Currently he is President of the Leanchoil Hospital Trust, Forres Pipe Band, The Royal British Legion Scotland and Forres in Bloom He was appointed HM Lord-Lieutenant of Moray in January 2020 and retired in 2025.

He is keen to ensure that the next chapter in this wonderful building’s life delivers arts, culture and special services for the community and beyond.

Norman Thompson

Norman spent his working life first as a maths teacher at Perth and Gordonstoun, and then working at IBM’s Hursley Laboratories near Winchester, and latterly at their Greenock plant.  His professional role was as a statistician – like an accountant but without the personality!  Before returning to Scotland over 30 years ago, he lived in the Central Belt, but the last twenty have been spent in Forres where he has contributed as a volunteer to the Dava Way Association, the Moray Way Association, the Moray Walking Festival, Forres in Bloom, and the activities of St. Laurence Church.

Eileen Wood

Eileen Wood is Treasurer of St Laurence Forres Trust, where she is committed to preserving and re-imagining St Laurence Church as a sustainable community space for arts, events, and local gatherings. Alongside this role, she runs Glenburgie Property Ltd, renovating and repurposing buildings across Moray. She brings practical project management, financial oversight, and long-term vision to the Trust. Eileen is passionate about protecting local heritage while ensuring historic buildings remain relevant, accessible, and valued by the community for generations to come.

Aimee Wright

Aimee is the Events Co-ordinator, supporting the organisation and delivery of events while also assisting with some facilities and building management. She also holds a similar co-ordinator role within another third sector organisation and brings strong experience in co-ordination and facilities management from previous roles. Aimee is passionate about community engagement and is committed to creating inclusive, creative spaces where people feel safe to express themselves through arts, music and performance. She is particularly interested in community-led research and the importance of ensuring local voices help shape services and opportunities. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring new places with her adventurous daughter and walking her three dogs across the beautiful Moray landscape.