The Visit West Lothian Team

Robin Chesters

Vice Chairperson

Robin is the Director of Almond Valley Heritage Centre, Livingston which was created in 1990. With such a wealth of knowledge and having worked in the West Lothian tourism industry for the last 20 years, Robin's local knowledge and tourism experience is very beneficial for Visit West Lothian. As a social enterprise, they have built a sustainable business that involves and serves both our visitors and the wider community and they have ongoing and ambitious plans for continued progress.

Geraldine Hamilton

Board Director

Geraldine is the owner of Crosswoodhill Farm Holiday Cottages near West Calder. With 4 fabulous self-catering properties, and with award success, Geraldine is known for her commitment to high standards. She is also a board member of the Association of Scottish Self Caterers (ASSC). The ASSC is committed to the principles of quality, and to promoting high and consistent standards in self-catering.

Emma Chalmers

Board Director

Emma is the founder of Mary's Meanders Tours which is based in Linlithgow and offers Outlander themed and Ancestral tours across Scotland and guided walks of Linlithgow. Emma has over 15 years of running her own businesses; Ireland's first Concierge company followed by a children's party business here in Scotland. Providing a top class level of customer service has been a theme throughout and continues with Mary's Meanders. Emma is passionate about raising West Lothian's profile and bringing more visitors to our county.

Neil Mackinnon

Board Director

Neil is a Chartered Accountant who runs Arm in Arm Accounting, a Chartered Accountancy practice based in Linlithgow. He was previously Finance Director at Sun Microsystems' computer manufacturing plant in Linlithgow, and CFO of Certus Group based in Edinburgh. He has lived almost all his life in West Lothian and will bring a wealth of financial experience to support Visit West Lothian.

Neil Christison

Non-Executive Board Director

Neil is VisitScotland’s Regional Director for West Lothian, East Lothian, Midlothian, Stirling, Falkirk and Clackmannanshire. His role involves collaborative working with tourism related stakeholders across the region, acting as the VisitScotland representative for tourism, strategically aligning with the National Tourism 2020 strategy and action plan. He has worked for VisitScotland for over 6 years; starting off his career in the Edinburgh iCentre, before becoming a Quality & Tourism Advisor, and then Regional Partnership Executive, before taking up a new role in May 2018.

Neil Hunter

Board Director

Neil Hunter is a highly experienced business professional with a multifaceted career spanning 25 years. His industry knowledge extends across such diverse business sectors as transportation, travel, tourism, hospitality, retail, FMCG and food & drink production. This extensive experience has been gained as a result of working for companies such as Kerry Specialty Ingredients (USA), VisitScotland, Gulliver's Travel Associates and Edinburgh Coach Lines, Grayline Scotland and Thistle DMC. His multidisciplinary skills cover stakeholder engagement & strategic relationship management as well as contract, commercial and sales management. Neil will bring a wealth of experience and contacts to help raise VWL's profile and drive commercial focus to increase revenue from multiple channels and further develop their brand.

Stuart Barrie

Board Director

Stuart has 20 years experience working in the media in Scotland working across brands like Capital, Xfm Scotland and Forth 1. He began his working career at NEC Semicondutors in Livingston and have has lived almost all his life in the town. Stuart is passionate telling people how much West Lothian has to offer and is a huge fan of his football team, Livingston.

Stewart Ness

Tourism & Town Centre Officer