Our trustees
David Rennie
Chair
Born and bred in Aberdeen, David was educated at Robert Gordon’s College (RGC), where is currently vice-president of its former pupils’ association and a governor of the school.
David graduated with a Bachelor of Laws degree from Aberdeen University in 1974 and since then has practised as a lawyer in Aberdeen.
He worked with a number of firms in the city, before joining Stronachs LLP in 1997, where, amongst other roles, he was head of it corporate team and then managing partner for 13 years. He stepped down as a partner of the firm in 2018, but continues to work for it as a consultant.
David played rugby and cricket in his younger days and is a low handicap golfer. He is a Past Captain, Past President and Honorary Member of Deeside Golf Club, a Past Captain of the Scottish Universities Golfing Society and also a member of Royal Aberdeen Golf Club.
John Bain
Vice-Chair
John was raised in Aberdeen, attending St Paul Street Primary Street before moving onto Middle Secondary school.
He joined All Life Chances from Aberdeen Lads Club (now ALC), which he joined as a junior member of its Gallowgate Club in 1959.
John progressed through the club from its junior to senior section, before serving as a voluntary youth leader and then a trustee of the board.
He took on the role of vice president of ALC in 1984, before becoming president in 1990, a position he held for eight years.
John spent most of career in sales, working for both Allied Brewers and Tennent Caledonian, where he was the latter’s business development manager. He retired in 2016 after 26 years in the licensed trade.
In his spare time, John enjoys watching football and plays baritone in the Salvation Army band.
Derek Stephen
Treasurer
Derek is currently managing director of Polymer Holdings, a successful business operating in the energy sector.
Initially starting as a financial controller and working up to his current position, he has played an instrumental role in developing a multi-million pound trading business and a successful investment portfolio of business interests.
A qualified chartered accountant, Derek has a keen interest in sports with a particular emphasis on football; although his involvement these days tends to involve watching from the sidelines.
Derek’s involvement in charitable youth development dates back over 40 years. He began working as a volunteer within youth football and youth clubs while still at university, before taking up the position of treasurer at local charity, Aberdeen Lads Cub.
Derek is one of the founders of All Life Chances and is committed to expanding youth support services across the city at a time when poverty levels are on the rise.
Simon Cowie
Trustee
Simon is an experienced Chartered Accountant who not only runs his own award-winning accountancy firm, Infinity Partnership, but also sits on various boards as a non-executive director.
He is an exceptional dealmaker who has spent most of his career involved in shaping businesses from start-ups to successful exits.
Simon is also an experienced investor who has brought management teams together to build new businesses.
In addition to this, he is a third-generation fruit merchant who continues to operate a successful family business.
The businesses that Simon is a director of have been recognised by various awards, including the Queen’s Award for Export. Simon has personally been recognised for his various achievements at a national level as both a dealmaker and as a practising accountant.
Simon joins as a Trustee of ALC with the ambition of replicating his business achievements for the wider local community.
Steven Dempster
Trustee
Steven is local to Aberdeen, with both him and his family growing up in the city.
As a post-graduate of Robert Gordons’ School of Engineering, he has spent the past 35 years supporting energy sector infrastructure developments in UK, Norway, Europe and Asia Pacific regions, in a both technical and commercial capacity.
Having worked for several main contractors and energy organisations over the years, Steven founded a successful energy sector consultancy in 2008, supporting a wide range of infrastructure projects.
Steven volunteers within Clan Cancer Support’s retail team and in his spare time is a keen automotive and motorsport follower, as well as a keen music lover.
Chris Grinyer
Trustee
Chris is a Managing Partner within Shepherd Chartered Surveyors. With a long career in the property sector he has amassed considerable experience covering a wide variety of property types and issues.
Having graduated with a BSc with Honours in Estate Management from Heriot Watt in 1990, Chris pursued a career initially in the public sector before moving in to private practice in 1993 with Shepherds, initially in Dundee prior to relocating to Aberdeen in 1995.
Chris provides a range of services to clients including providing investment and development consultancy, asset management, premises acquisition together with various other property advices.
He is a keen golfer, prolific reader who enjoys an active social life and highly values family time.
Ray Riddoch
Trustee
Ray is a highly respected leader in the energy industry with a career spanning over 40 years, both in the UK and internationally.
Starting out as a mechanical engineer in 1981, he has held a number of senior positions including HSE Director at Total UK, Operations Director at Nexen, and UK Managing Director & Senior Vice President Africa at CNOOC International.
His expertise covers operations management, project development, business development, HSE, and technical audit.
Ray currently serves as Chair of several organisations including Sentinel Subsea Ltd and Ballater Community Trust, and holds board advisory and trustee positions with a number of charitable organisations, The Denis Law Legacy Trust and The Archie Foundation being among them.
He brings a wealth of strategic and operational experience to the All Life Chances board and is passionate about supporting community-focused initiatives that improve access to opportunity.
Jane Barney
Trustee
Jane was raised in Aberdeen and has longstanding ties to the Northfield community. A law graduate from the University of Edinburgh, she spent 12 years in in the subsea sector, where she held senior roles across finance and leadership.
Currently working as a consultant for a global engineering firm, Jane supports strategic growth and M&A activity across the Asia Pacific and Americas regions. Her professional experience brings valuable insight into organisational development and strategic planning.
Passionate about creating opportunities for others, Jane joined the All Life Chances board to support the development of strong, inclusive community hubs that provide access to vital learning and personal development.
Outside of work, Jane enjoys spending time with her family and has a keen love for country music.