Our Board • Scottish Youth Film Foundation

Jonny Murray

Jonny Murray is Professor of Film Theory, History and Criticism at Edinburgh College of Art, University of Edinburgh. He is Principal Editor of the Journal of British Cinema and Television and a Contributing Writer for Cineaste magazine. His books include (as author) Discomfort and Joy: the Cinema of Bill Forsyth (2011), The New Scottish Cinema (2015) and (as editor or co-editor), The Wicker Man: Constructing The Wicker Man: Film and Cultural Studies Perspectives (2005), The Quest for The Wicker Man: History, Folklore and Pagan Perspectives (2006), Drawn from Life: Issues and Themes in Animated Documentary Cinema (2018), and Colin McArthur, Cinema, Culture, Scotland: Selected Essays (2024).

Laura Adamson

Laura is a senior leader with 25 years’ experience across the heritage, culture, tourism, and retail sectors. She is committed to widening access to creative opportunities and has led major public programmes, award‑winning engagement campaigns, and cross‑sector partnerships that strengthen community impact. Her leadership roles at Dobbies, Live Borders, and the Scottish Seabird Centre reflect her belief in the power of culture to build confidence and skills. Laura brings governance experience as a Non‑Executive Director of Scotland’s Estates and Venues, and former ASVA Board Member, alongside strong expertise in communications, integrated marketing and advocacy. She is driven by a passion for helping young people access pathways into film and creative careers.

Joanne Kerr

Joanne began her career in youth work at 16, shaping a strong commitment to creativity, inclusion, and supporting young people. She has extensive experience across youth work, community learning, FE and HE education, including work with NFTS Scotland. She is currently Associate Dean at City of Glasgow College, focusing on communities, widening access, and ESOL. Joanne specialises in curriculum development and stakeholder engagement, with a passion for mental health and wellbeing. She is dedicated to widening access to film and the creative industries, supporting the Scottish Youth Film Foundation to inspire and empower the next generation.

Dan Brown

Dan is Place Director / Scotland Director at Creative Lives, where he leads work to support and connect community-led and volunteer-driven creativity across the UK & Ireland. He has extensive experience in cultural development, having worked across the country in roles spanning community engagement, participation and strategic delivery. Dan began his career in youth work and education, qualifying as a teacher specialising in moving image, and brings a strong commitment to inclusive, grassroots creative practice. Alongside his professional role, he has co-run MASH Cinema for over two decades, supporting and delivering exhibition and production.

Kathryn Taylor

Kathryn is a secondary school English, Media, and Film-Making teacher who has worked for the past few years with Screen Scotland to test and deliver the new Film and Screen curriculum. A lover of theatre growing up, she never thought she'd end up so heavily involved in film education, partly due to the lack of experiences available at that time, especially in the Highlands. Recent years working with Screen Scotland and and seeing the SYFF workshops in action has unlocked a new passion, and she is delighted to champion the creation of opportunities across Scotland for young people to excel and flourish in film-making. She is currently working to help expand the delivery of moving image education across schools in Midlothian.

Louise Sedgewick

Louise Sedgewick is an English and Media teacher at St Margaret’s Academy in Livingston, where she has taught for 20 years. Throughout her time in teaching Louise has championed and developed film education. She works closely with Into Film, becoming an Into Film Education Ambassador in 2015 and being on their expert teaching and screen careers panels. Her students aged 11-18 engage with film both in the curriculum and in extra curricular projects, including being the Film In A Year pilot school with SYFF. This project is now in its third year. Louise has recently completed a PG Cert in Film and Screen Education.

Monica Sutcliffe

Monica Sutcliffe is Fundraising Manager at The Queen’s Hall and Development Manager at Stills Centre for Photography. She is passionate about opportunities for children and young people in the arts and beyond.

Sue Harris

Sue is Professor Emerita of Film at Queen Mary University of London, where she worked for 25 years, founding and leading the Film Department in its early years. She is the author of various books on French cinema and film history, and was a regular reviewer for Sight & Sound magazine, specialising in new French releases. She has held editorial positions on a number of academic journals, and served on the board of national subject associations for Modern Languages and Film Studies. She moved back to Scotland in 2024, and is a Trustee and programmer with the UK French Film Festival.

Wilma Smith

Wilma Smith is a writer/director and stop motion animator from Coatbridge, Scotland. She began filmmaking as a teenager, studied at Glasgow School of Art, and moved from 16mm to digital, co-creating zero-budget features including ‘Four Eyes’ and ‘My Life as a Bus Stop’ both premiering at EIFF. Her commissions include Bridging the Gap’s ’The Review’ (2016) and Screen Scotland & BFI Networks ’The Jubilee (2024). With over 25 years experience in media education, she has led Little Pictures with GMAC Film and co-created Wee Wonders Scotland with Visible Fictions. She teaches at Summerlee Photomedia Studio at North Lanarkshire Council and is a mother of two daughters.

Phillip Vaughan

Phillip Vaughan is a Senior Lecturer, comic artist, and animator with 30 years of experience. A BAFTA member, he has created cut-scenes for franchises including Star Trek, Braveheart, Wallace & Gromit, Teletubbies, Tom & Jerry, Superman and more. Based at Abertay University, he leads the MSc in Technical Art and Visual Effects. Previously he directed an MSc in Animation & VFX and an MDes in Comics & Graphic Novels. He is also Head of Partnerships at the CoSTAR Realtime Lab, a Virtual Production studio. His career bridges professional practice and education, shaping the next generation of artists and technical creatives.