Patrick O’Hare
Patrick O’Hare is The chair of STEPS. He is a senior researcher in Social Anthropology at the University of St Andrews. He has been an active Palestine solidarity campaigner since he was a student when, as a founding trustee, he helped to establish STEPS and also undertook several educational visits to the West Bank.
Mohammed Sabbah
Mohammed is a co-secretary of STEPS and a former STEPS scholar. A Palestinian from Gaza, he is committed to helping Palestinian students pursue their studies. Mohammed is currently a researcher in ultrafast lasers at Heriot-Watt University.
Sheila Boardman
Sheila is the Treasurer of STEPS. She is a chartered accountant (now retired) who was a partner in a Fife based practice for many years. She had a particular interest in the charity sector and acted for a number of charity clients, large and small. She now serves as a trustee/treasurer on the board of a former client charity and became a trustee of STEPS in the summer of 2024. She is looking forward to working with STEPS to help widen educational opportunities for the young people of Palestine and learning more about the Palestinian cause.
Mike Orr
Mike Orr is a founding member of STEPS. He is Teaching Fellow in Education at University of Glasgow. He’s been an active supporter of justice for Palestine since a visit to Gaza and the West Bank in 1988.
Ellen Colingsworth
Ellen Colingsworth is one of STEPS’ earliest trustees. She is committed to improving the lives of Palestinians, having lived and worked in the Middle East for a number of years after earning an MA in Middle Eastern history.
Malaka Shwaikh
Malaka is a Palestinian academic from the Gaza Strip, currently based in Scotland where she teaches and researches prisons as spaces of power, resistance, and peacebuilding. Much of her research has been on the dynamics of prison hunger strikes. In addition to her research commitments, she is a trustee of Firefly International and a board member of The European Peace Research Association. In 2021, she co-founded FreelancersinGaza.com with Candace Amani to connect youths in Gaza with clients around the world and provide them with mentorship. In her spare time, she loves to spend time hiking in beautiful Scotland or swimming in the North Sea whenever it is warm enough. She finds purpose in giving back to the community, whether it is through teaching, mentorship, volunteering in organisations that fit her life purposes, or simply taking good care of loved ones and herself to be able to continue giving back.
Mohammed Alshurafa
Dr Mohammed Alshurafa is a Palestinian academic from Gaza, a father of three, and a trustee of STEPS Scholarship. He is a Lecturer in Accounting at the University of St Andrews, and has previously worked at Heriot-Watt University and the Islamic University of Gaza.
Coming from a refugee family, Mohammed understands the significance of education in creating opportunities and sustaining hope amid displacement and uncertainty. His connection to Gaza shapes his commitment to supporting Palestinian students and communities, while his experience as an educator has reinforced his belief in the importance of encouragement, mentorship, and practical support.
Hannah Curteis
Hannah became a trustee of STEPS in August 2026. She is a musician and music teacher from St. Andrews. Hannah is a longstanding supporter of Palestine and feels very fortunate to be able to help the STEPS scholars during their time in St. Andrews.