Meet the Team

Lorraine has been the Fèis Rois Office and Finance Manager since 2021, after a few years away from the team to run a family business and raise her three children. Responsible for the day-to-day smooth running of the office and finances of the organisation, Lorraine has a degree in Communication Studies. In her spare time Lorraine enjoys live music and creative writing, something she has been passionate about since school days.

Fiona is a former Fèis Rois participant who returned home to Ross-shire to take up the post of Chief Executive of Fèis Rois in April 2009. Fiona graduated MA (Hons) Celtic Studies from the University of Edinburgh before going onto build a career in the arts in Scotland. Recognising her contribution to culture and creativity in the Highlands, Fiona was made an Honorary Fellow of the University of the Highlands and Islands in 2022. Named in the 2018 BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour Power List, which recognised the top 40 most successful women having an impact on the music we are all listening to, and inducted by the Saltire Society as one of ten Outstanding Women in Scotland in 2019, Fiona has ensured that Fèis Rois is recognised as one of Scotland’s leading arts organisations. In her time at Fèis Rois, Fiona has grown the organisation to have an international reach whilst ensuring its roots are very firmly planted in Ross-Shire. 

Rachael is the Education Manager at Fèis Rois where she manages the organisation’s schools programme. Prior to taking up this post at Fèis Rois in September 2010 she was the Artistic Director of Firefly Arts, a youth arts company based in West Lothian. Rachael started at Firefly Arts as a trainee drama workshop leader, before she went on to the roles of Associate Director for Education and then Associate Director of Youth Theatre. Through the Richter Foundation, she has facilitated theatre workshops across Europe as well as co-delivering training for European youth workers. Rachael has a BA in Theatre and Media Drama from the University of Glamorgan and following the completion of her degree she became one of the first RANK foundation apprentices, where she was a youth worker for the RCDA Youth Service. Rachael was brought up going to the Gordon Gaitherin in Aberdeenshire, where she loved learning traditional music.

After taking part in the Fèis Rois Ceilidh Trail during his music degree at the University of the Highlands and Islands, Christian joined the Fèis Rois team in 2017 to coordinate the Ceilidh Trail behind-the-scenes on a graduate placement. He is now working as Creative Producer for the organisation and is working on performance and showcasing opportunities nationally and internationally. Christian holds an MSc in Equality & Human Rights from the University of Glasgow and outside of his work at Fèis Rois volunteers for LGBT Youth Scotland and LEAP Sports Scotland.

Hailing from Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness, Sophie’s passion for Gaelic language and culture is rooted in her Highland upbringing and involvement in house cèilidhs, dances, music sessions and local fèisean, from a young age. Sophie has an MA in Scottish Literature & Ethnology (Edinburgh University), a CertHE in Gàidhlig (Sabhal Mòr Ostaig) and an HNC in Traditional Music (University of the Highlands and Islands). Over the last ten years, Sophie has worked in the Gaelic arts and media as a performer, teacher and presenter and is well known internationally as a percussive, Scottish step dancer. Sophie joined Fèis Rois in September 2023, as Gaelic Officer: Creative Projects; working on events including Cearcall Còmhraidh, to Gaelic Immersion Weekends for teenagers in Ross & Cromarty. Sophie also looks to foster partnerships and collaborations with Gaelic organisations across Scotland and with other minority language communities, internationally. Outside of work, Sophie loves to get outdoors – walking in the hills, swimming and paddle-boarding!

Siobhan is an experienced Event Producer and proud Highland native, born in Inverness and raised with strong ties to South Uist and her Gaelic heritage. A graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Technical and Production Arts Management, Siobhan has worked across the UK and internationally on large-scale arena tours including Catherine Tate, Strictly: The Professionals, and Steve Backshall Live.

Her career began in repertory theatre and has spanned work with the National Theatre of Scotland, the Edinburgh Festival, and major international events such as the Riyadh Season in Saudi Arabia and the Commonweath Games Opening and Closing ceremonies. She has also been part of the Glastonbury Festival team for over a decade.

With additional experience living and studying in Germany, and fluency in German, Siobhan brings a global perspective to her work. Outside of events, she’s a passionate athlete who has competed in kickboxing and placed 4th in the World Natural Bodybuilding Championships.

Siobhan is excited to contribute to Fèis Rois, the community of Dingwall and be part of celebrating and supporting Scotland’s rich cultural heritage.

Marisa Astill-Brown is our Community Engagement Programme Producer, having taken up the post on 1 August 2025. After a long career working overseas in a range of humanitarian and development settings, Marisa moved to Ross-shire, where she and her husband have been running a family business providing strategic analysis and advice for overseas development programmes since 2009. Having learnt classical music on the piano and flute at school, she then rediscovered the joys of making music through Fèis Rois just before the pandemic and has been enjoying playing the fiddle ever since. In her spare time, Marisa is an instructor and Training Principal for Chanonry Sailing Club where she enjoys teaching children and adults alike to sail and to have fun on the water. 

Born and raised in Laide in Wester Ross, Eòin is the Gaelic Officer at Fèis Rois. Eòin graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a degree in music in 2025 and is a former participant on the Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail. As a native Gaelic speaker, accomplished accordionist, guitarist, and singer, he has been immersed in Gaelic and traditional music culture all his life. In his role, Eòin is dedicated to enhancing the use, awareness, and prominence of the Gaelic language in the area, as well as advancing projects such as Cearcall Còmhraidh and Dingwall 800. In his spare time, Eòin is a keen music producer, hillwalker and is a member of the newly formed six-piece band, Meallan.