Kristopher says, "Having grown up in and around Kirkwall I’ve seen first hand the teething pains that growth has caused. Skyrocketing house and land prices, strained local services, and unsustainable levels of tourism all urgently need addressed. We need to be ambitious to tackle the challenges we face, and a fresh approach in OIC.

Born and brought up in Orkney, I’ve also known first hand the challenges many young Orcadians face today. Through My time at Glaitness and KGS, and subsequent study south at St Andrews, I have experienced the tough choices young folk face in deciding what to do after school. We need to ensure that young people get more support to make these choices, and a more diverse range of opportunities in and outwith Orkney. One such opportunity I want to see more of was the internship at EMEC I was fortunate to undertake. Access points like these are crucial to help young people feel at home in Orkney.

I worked on my Masters in renewable energy at Heriot Watt’s campus in Stromness while working part-time for the Scottish Green MSP for the Highlands & Islands, Ariane Burgess. This has provided me with invaluable experience of policy, the political landscape OIC must navigate, and insight into key issue areas for Kirkwall West & Orphir."