“If, before the week, you’d told me that a 16yr old girl from Dundee, measuring 4’10’’ would have coached me into understanding my life values and sense of purpose, I would have said you were mad. But it happened!”
- Columban Graduate
Ian Chisholm
Senior Partner
The Roy Group Consultants
www.roygroup.net
Fellow - Columba 1400
(Chief Executive 2000 - 2004)
Ian Chisholm is a Senior Partner of The Roy Group Consultants - focused on emerging leadership systems in society. He serves as the Practice Leader, People with Berlin, Eaton and Associates Ltd. (www.berlineaton.com) and a Learning Leader with The Next Institute.
Originally hailing from Saskatchewan, Ian is a well-known social entrepreneur and educator in Scotland where he guided the operational start-up of Columba 1400 between 2000 and 2004. Ian introduced The Columban Code of Responsible Leadership as the core philosophy, integrated brand and intellectual property of the organisation. With Ian as their CEO, the Columba 1400 team made an early and marked impact on the modern Scotland with its perspective on leadership and quality of delivery.
While at Columba 1400, Ian co-created of The Gemini Project - an intensive leadership and coaching development program - with Mark Bell. The Gemini Project brought together senior executives with young adults from "tough" socio-economic realities and is demonstrated by results such as the Scot 100 Expedition which departed November 1, 2004 for the South Pole. The Gemini Project was used in the leadership development programs of The Royal Bank of Scotland, Ernst & Young, Lloyds TSB and Scottish Power.
In 2003, Ian played a key role in implementing the creation of The Head Teacher Leadership Academy for The Hunter Foundation and Scottish Executive. This work in developing school leaders was researched by Paisley University to make a remarkably positive impact in the lives of participating Head and Deputy Head Teachers and indirectly touch the lives of thousands of young people in Scotland.
On his departure from Columba in August 2004, Ian was named the first Fellow of Columba 1400 as a tribute to his time and contribution as Columba's first Chief Executive.
Prior to his time at Columba 1400 on Skye, Ian served as the Director of Programs for Operation Enterprise - a division of American Management Association International headquartered in New York City, USA. There he played an integral role in pioneering an initiative to bring young talent from inner city USA to experience a regime of formal leadership development. Chisholm was instrumental in taking a site-based program to multiple venues across the U.S. and Canada. With the support of the United States Postal Service, this initiative spread to target inner-cities including Philadelphia, New York City, Oakland, and Washington D.C.
Ian is married to Anne-Marie Daniel, an independent mediator and specialist in conflict resolution. Ian is a Trustee of Pearson College. Anne-Marie and Ian live with their family on the west coast of Canada in Sidney, British Columbia.
Rod Liddon
1940 - 2005
On April 15th 2005 our long time supporter, instructor and dear, dear friend, Rod Liddon, passed away at home with his family after some months of suffering. Rod has been a powerful part of Columba 1400 for many years. We have had the privilege of working closely with him and we feel the loss keenly. Rod’s integrity, clarity of thought and incredible and enduring sense of purpose had a profound impact. He touched the lives of so many people both through his work with Columba 1400 and through his wider role within the community. Rod has contributed more than most are able to in a lifetime, as a distinguished soldier in his earlier life and as a crofter, activist and instructor. He will be sorely missed.
The thoughts and prayers of the Columban team and Board are with Rod’s family.
The many kind emails and letters which poured in from those whose lives Rod had touched are a testament to the effect he had on so many people.