AHAG Staff
Meet the Staff of Annan Harbour Action Group (AHAG)
Kylie Eden
Kylie Eden – Youth Worker
Kylie joined us in July 2022 as part-time youth worker, funded by the Holywood Trust, to fulfil our long-held view that Annan Harbour Action Group (AHAG) should involve young people in all aspects of our work at the Harbour. Since then, she has developed youth activities for all AHAG gatherings as well as creating new events of her own, together with sessions in the ‘Boatshed’ revolving around creativity and making. In 2024 Kylie will reduce her hours with us to accommodate her career in education, but will continue to be our liaison with youth work organisations and to deliver her popular crafting activities.
I love offering opportunities for young people to engage in the harbour and be part of shaping it’s development. As someone who grew up in Annan it is great to see young people continue to be excited by the events we organise and become regular visitors of the harbour.
Kylie Eden [ahagyouthworker@gmail.com]
Brian Hall
Brian Hall – Finance Assistant
Brian is Carlisle born and bred, but has recently relocated close to Annan and has had a long career in accountancy and book-keeping.
Since joining Annan Harbour Action Group (AHAG) part-time in September 2023 he quickly streamlined our accounting and recording systems and is creating the interrogatable management accounts that AHAG requires for it’s larger and increasingly complex projects and expanded trading activities.
I look forward to using my skills and experience to develop the activities of the Action Group. Having recently moved into the area, it is rewarding to be involved in an active community project.
Brian Hall [ahagfinance@gmail.com]
Olena Kadochnikova-Yashkina
Olena Kadochnikova-Yashkina – Project Officer
Olena and her family fled the war in her homeland and found refuge in Annan last year, but continued to work remotely for the Finnish embassy in Kyiv; before joining Annan Harbour Action Group (AHAG) as Project Officer in September 2023. Olena leads our ‘Adapting to Change’ project, which looks at the various ways our local natural environment is altered by climate change through the lens of citizen science.
I am looking forward to cooperating with active enthusiasts who have the same passion with the natural environment, inspiring people to engage with adapting our place to climate change and enjoy benefits it can bring to the local community.
Olena Kadochnikova-Yashkina [ahagprojectofficer@gmail.com]
Alan Thomson
Alan Thomson – Advancement and Development Manager
Alan joined Annan Harbour Action Group (AHAG) in 2016 as Harbour Development Officer following 20 years of arts and community development work in the region, alongside farming and events business interests. His title changed as AHAG increased it’s capacity and ambition and moved from advocating for the redevelopment of Annan Harbour to taking on the delivery mantle for that regeneration.
I was attracted to the project by the enthusiasm and determination of the trustees to make the harbour a better place, an amenity for the town and over time the catalyst for regeneration.
Alan Thomson
[Photos of Kylie Eden, Brian Hall and Olena Kadochnikova-Yashkina by Mike Evans]
Our Funders & Partners
Our funders and partners invest in us to support our local community and in the continued work to regenerate Annan Harbour. By doing so they continue to recognise the value of this work and the importance of community-led regeneration.
