Our Story
The path less well travelled
Nestled beneath the sprawling mass of Ben Wyvis mountain in the Scottish Highlands, GlenWyvis Distillery was established in 2015. The idea was to unite the community of Dingwall through the creation of a distillery owned by local people.
Dingwall’s last whisky distillery closed in 1926. After a 90 year absence, GlenWyvis revived the town’s lost distilling tradition, and made its own history in 2016 by running a record-breaking open share offer. More than 3,000 like-minded people invested in GlenWyvis to create the first ever 100% community-owned distillery. It was an incredible response to an extraordinary idea.
We are inspired by our beautiful landscape, and motivated to preserve it. GlenWyvis is a pioneer of sustainable distilling; wind, hydro, solar and biomass energy power our operations.
Our Team
Staff
Sarah McDonald
Sales Manager
Sarah joined the team in April 2024 as the UK Sales & Brand Manager, with a back ground in hospitality management based out of London Sarah found a passion for Scotch Whisky after re-locating to Inverness in 2020. Sarah brings with her over 10 years of experience working in and around the drinks industry within bars & restaurants, formally working for a wine merchant upon her move to Scotch Whisky Sarah immediately "geeked out" on cask maturation and has never looked back.
Karin Pedersen
Executive Administrator
Born in Norway, Karin grew up in the United States and spent many years in both Canada and France before settling in Scotland in 2016. “I am excited to be a part of a spirits business that works so hard for its local community and its members.”
Craig MacRitchie
Distillery Manager
Craig has been with us from the start. Originally working as our Head of Sales, Craig has now transitioned into production where he keeps a close eye on all of our operations.
Kev Cameron-Ross
Distillery Operator
Aberdeen-born, Kev has spent an enriching 18 years immersed in the captivating landscapes that define this remarkable region. His journey as a Distillery Operator at GlenWyvis stands as a testament to his unwavering passion for crafting exceptional spirits. Rooted in these experiences, Kev is uniquely positioned to bring the true essence of the Highlands to each and every bottle.
Volunteer Directors
Eleanor Bradford
Volunteer, Director of Corporate Comms, Muckle Media and Spey
I am an award-winning communications specialist, columnist and former BBC correspondent. I’m currently Director of Corporate Communications at Muckle Media and Spey, where I manage external and internal communications for Scottish, UK and global companies, specialising in the drinks industry and its supply chain. As someone who works closely with the drinks sector, I am looking forward to helping GlenWyvis to raise its profile; both as a producer of excellent whisky and spirit, and as the world’s first community-benefit distillery.As a trustee of the Adoption UK for seven years, I helped to steer the national charity through a severe funding crisis as well as Covid, I am a trustee of Scotland’s oldest independent museum, Elgin Museum and also sit on a local community group which improves access to the countryside. I live with my partner and son in a self-built converted steading in Moray with our dog Dot, pet pig Spotty, and our chickens.
Prof. Michael Friebe, PhD
Volunteer Director
I am deeply involved in the development and translation of Medical Technology Innovations, as researcher / founder / CEO and investor. Previously I was the Founder and CEO of Neuromed + Tomovation (bought by Alliance Medical from the UK). I received a Master in Engineering, a doctorate in Medical Physics, and a Business & Management degree. Currently I am a Board Member of several Healthtech R&D companies, as well as investment partner of a medical technology startup-fund. Besides that I am a Professor for Image Guided Therapies / Catheter Technologies at the Medical Faculty of the Otto-von-Guericke University (OVGU) in Magdeburg and since 2022 a full professor at the AGH University of Krakow, Poland. A very important interest of mine for more than 3 decades is brewing and distilling and in 2016 I received a Master of Science in that field from Heriot-Watt-University in Edinburgh, where I give annual lectures on Innovation Generation. For many years I spend a significant portion of my time in my house in the Scottish Highlands.
Alasdair Hardman
Volunteer Director
Alasdair is an advocate practicing in employment and discrimination law at the Scottish Bar. He is a Sloan Fellow of London Business School. Before calling to the Bar, he was managing partner of a major Scottish law firm and managing director of a regional newspaper company. He has a keen interest in developing Glenwyvis Distillery because of the benefits it brings to the community.
Greg Quinn
Volunteer Secretary
Greg joined the Board in 2024 and lives in Aberdeenshire. He has just retired from the Foreign Office after 29 years service around the world. An avid fan of whisky (and whiskey given his Irish upbringing) Greg has been an advocate of this glorious spirit for decades and has been an investor in GlynWyvis from soon after it began. He now runs his own political consultancy business.
David McIntyre
Volunteer Chairman
David joined the Board in 2021. He is a practicing mechanical engineer and former leader of an international team of multi-disciplined engineering experts. He sees GlenWyvis Distillery producing an acclaimed product, and being a role model for other businesses that understand the importance of looking after their people, communities and planet within the setting of a profitable and sustainable business.
Meeghan Murdoch
Volunteer Director
Meeghan has worked in many areas of the drinks industry. From buyer to importer & exporter, and from wine maker, brewer of sake and beer to distiller, Meeghan has seen it all. She has run operations for two distilleries, one in London and one in Scotland and helped set up two bonded warehouses. Born in Montreal, Canada, Meeghan has a vast network of connections and believes her international experiences and language skills can help further the GlenWyvis brand.
Dickon Sandbach
Volunteer Treasurer
Dickon joined the Board in 2019. He recently retired as Senior Partner of Moore East Midlands, Chartered Accountants then moving locally to Kiltarlity.
Andy Fisher
Volunteer Director and Head of the Standards Committee
Andy joined the Board in 2019. He is the Managing Director and co-founder of Integra Well Solutions Ltd, and has a wide range of commercial experience covering all aspects of business.
David Norcom
Volunteer Director
David joined the Board in 2020. He is a US financier with extensive experience of the capital markets. He was a substantial contributor to the first share offer and has followed GlenWyvis from the get-go. He will be advising the board on several aspects of future capital raising
Jock Ramsay
Volunteer Director and Head of the GoodWill Fund
Jock joined the Board in 2022. A retired GP currently residing in Inverness, Jock brings a wealth of experience to GlenWyvis to help promote community engagement. A key member of the GoodWill Fund, Jock will oversee and manage the application process, objectively and fairly.
Committee Members and Volunteers
Marnie Vincent
Volunteer Minutes Secretary
Marnie is the Minutes Secretary. When not otherwise engaged in doting on her new grandchildren - - who are the source of great joy - - she keeps members of the Management Committee in check and makes sure all papers are in order.
Jan Thomson
Volunteer Standards Committee
In June 2022 Jan was elected onto the Standards Committee of GlenWyvis. Before retiring Jan owned and operated a small hotel in Sutherland for 15 years, prior to that she progressed through sales and management finally running a UK company within Johnson & Johnson Healthcare. As a member, Jan is passionate about the ethics of Goodwill!
Frances Nixseaman
Volunteer GoodWill Fund Committee
Frances lives near Dingwall and was elected onto the GoodWill Fund Committee in 2022. She has been a Children’s Panel member, foster carer, youth worker and, after graduating, worked in several charities going into strategic development for children’s services in Highland and overseas.
Ann Mills-Duggan
Volunteer GoodWill Fund Committee
Semi-retired, Ann has been working for a grant-giving organisation for the past 11 years and has wide experience of assessing and reviewing funding proposals. She has been a welcome addition to the GoodWill Fund committee.
