Meet the Intandem team
Inspiring Scotland is proud to support the Intandem mentoring programme with a dedicated team of experts. In addition, each of the 12 partner charities delivering Intandem have at least one Intandem coordinator working with young people, families and volunteer mentors. The programme also benefits from the Inspiring Scotland Specialist Volunteer Network, a community of over 300 professional volunteers committed to enhancing Scotland's charities, building capacity, and strengthening the sector.
Julia Abel
Director of Funds
Julia draws on her extensive experience in leading charities and growing social enterprises gained as CEO of an Economic Development Agency and working as an Academic for the Scottish Poverty Information Unit.
Qualified in Marketing, Social Research and Psychology, Julia brings a rigour around evaluation and evidencing impact. She has European funding experience and worked with Save the Children in Lithuania where she lived for 2 years and established the country’s first social enterprise for vulnerable families and children.
She joined Inspiring Scotland in 2011 to lead Go2Play / Thrive Outdoors and joined the Senior Leadership Team in 2016.
Susie White
Fund Manager
Susie believes in the power of bringing people and sectors together to solve problems.
Studying social entrepreneurship ignited Susie’s interest in the third sector and the benefits of bringing different skills, perspectives and funding to help overcome challenges.
As a qualified accountant, Susie had a career in finance before joining Inspiring Scotland in 2016. Susie has helped establish, develop and grow the national mentoring programme since its inception and believes firmly in the power of working collaboratively as a portfolio of charities to deliver greater impact. She has been fortunate to see and experience the lasting difference mentoring can make.
Outside of work, Susie enjoys walking in the hills, live music and travel.
Debbie Zima
Fund Manager
Debbie joined Intandem in 2019, inspired by her passion for empowering young people to achieve their full potential. With over 20 years of experience in the social investment sector, she has held senior operational roles at IFF in Chicago and Social Investment Scotland in Edinburgh. Debbie has led strategic initiatives and managed day-to-day operations across IT, marketing, HR, and organisational development. She is particularly passionate about designing and implementing systems to measure and communicate social impact effectively.
Outside of work, Debbie enjoys baking, learning golf, and spending time outdoors. A fun fact: she launched her own coffee shop and catering business straight out of school, sparking her lifelong commitment to supporting young people and helping them succeed.
Christine Roxburgh
Fund Manager, Policy & Participation Lead
Christine leads Intandem’s policy and participation work, playing a vital role in ensuring the voices of young people are heard and valued. Drawing from her personal experience of mentoring and her close work with young people, Christine facilitates the youth forum and manages broader participation activities, including consultation responses. She is deeply committed to using the insights and feedback from young people to drive positive change in services and policies.
Before joining Inspiring Scotland, Christine successfully developed and managed charity services, including as CEO. She firmly believes in the power of listening to those being supported, building strong, trusting relationships, and collaborating to create sustainable, impactful change.
Outside of work, Christine enjoys cycling, yoga, and cold-water swimming.
Aiden Proctor
Participation Officer
Aiden Proctor grew up within the care system, an experience that shaped his dedication to advocacy and change. Through the intandem project, he found mentorship and, alongside other young people, played a key role in creating the Invoice Group — a movement committed to improving the care system. Today, he continues his work with Invoice, driven by passion and unwavering determination to create meaningful change.
Aiden firmly believes that every young person in care deserves a voice. He is committed to ensuring that Invoice’s efforts pave the way for future generations, fostering a system that listens, evolves, and remains responsive to the needs of young people. His mission is to guarantee that, from the moment a young person enters care to their transition into adulthood, they receive the support they need to thrive.
Connor Wilson
Participation Officer
Connor, a recent Edinburgh College graduate in Business and Marketing, discovered a passion for music during his studies. He now writes songs, performs at open mics, and busks as a form of self-expression. Alongside music, Connor is committed to addressing issues within the care system. With his colleagues, he aims to improve understanding and treatment of young people in care through research, direct engagement, charity events, and parliamentary discussions. Over the coming year, Connor plans to pursue a qualification in music while actively contributing to systemic change with Inspiring Scotland and intandem. He’s driven by creativity, compassion, and a deep desire to make a meaningful impact.