Dr Geoffrey Fagan, who has died aged 70, was a distinguished academic at Strathclyde University and chief executive of the charity The Cadispa Trust (Conservation and Development in Sparsely Populated Area) in Scotland. From his offices in Paisley, Dr Fagan spearheaded the Trust’s work to draw often remote and rural communities together and provide a more sustainable future. Dr Fagan had the knack of bringing together the leaders of a community to improve the quality of life throughout the area. He worked with a wide range of communities across Scotland, though most of his work focused on the most remote and rural  areas of the country. Throughout his career he set out to help communities help themselves.

Ailsa Clark was a board member of CADISPA with Dr Fagan and told The Herald, “Geoff highlighted rural development at Strathclyde and beyond. The work of CADISPA was extensive, not only in reaching rural communities across Scotland but also internationally.”

Dr. Geoffrey Roy Fagan – known always as Geoff – was born in Liverpool and brought up in various far-flung RAF stations where his father was serving. He trained as an teacher in the late sixties at Culham College, Oxford and then joined the staff of Jordanhill College which became the Faculty of Education at the University of Strathclyde in 1978. He wrote his PhD whilst working at Strathclyde University as a Senior lecturer in Community Education. 

He was an inspiring teacher – he encouraged students at all levels and gave them fresh ideas to consider and invigorating insights to pursue. One former student has written, “Geoff was a scholar and an activist from whom there was much to learn.”

In 1986 amongst other colleagues at Jordanhill Dr Fagan was instrumental in setting up a study group to discover new ways in which environmentalists, local people and industrialists could benefit rural communities. Dr Fagan wanted to find long term solutions to the problems being faced by people living in the most sparsely populated areas of Scotland.

Of the many projects CADISPA nurtured in Scotland one of the most successful was the opening of the Lismore Heritage Centre Museum on the island of Lismore in 2007. At the opening a speaker praised Dr Fagan for his help and foresight, “Geoff Fagan set the wheels in motion and Geoff and his team’s sound advice and professional assistance laid the foundation for all that has followed.

From the outset CADISPA worked for various communities. Dr Fagan was particularly keen to help schools and involve pupils’ everyday life. When the scheme (what scheme?) was adopted in Scottish schools Dr Fagan commented how the programme had helped “the kids to engage with their teachers, their parents, and their grandparents.” (I don't really know what this refers to). 

Dr Fagan was a passionate environmentalist and wanted the countryside to work with the community. As he stated in a keynote speech in 2012 at Strengthening Communities at Boat of Garten, “A healthy community is one that is engaged, open to new learning and more sustainable than it once was. Power and control over the destiny of local communities is being shaped increasingly by those who live there.

Similarly the investigatory work at Colintraive and Glendaruel in 2007 Dr Fagan was keen to ensure that any development was owned by the community and not imposed by outsiders.  This was a key facet in all the work that he, and CADISPA, would undertake. 

Dr Fagan was invited to be part of President Clintons’ Council on Sustainable Development and was the only non-American president of the International Association of Public Participation. All of which enabled him to become an international authority and a global ambassador for Scottish sustainable development.

The work of CADISPA was recognised when in 1994 after the Earth Summit in Rio, the European Union focused on sustainable development. It asked CADISPA to move from the formal educational sector to look at the challenges to enhance individual communities. 

The benefits he brought to rural Scotland were considerable and he often provided invaluable advice to the Scottish government. This was confirmed by Margaret Curran (former MP and MSP) who worked with Dr Fagan at Strathclyde University. She told The Herald, “Geoff’s considerable contribution to education in Scotland was of enormous significance. Students adored Geoff and I knew, from my time in Government, that he had a notable significant impact on policy thinking. He was charismatic and always an innovative and creative thinker.

Dr Fagan and his wife Linda moved to Lochwinnoch in Renfrewshire when he joined Jordanhill. “They picked it off the map” their daughter Kylie recalls, “as a place that sounded lovely. The village quickly became home.” It also allowed Dr Fagan to pursue one of his life-time passions – sailing. He was a longstanding member of Troon Cruising Club. He had obtained mountain leadership qualifications and was a keen skier and instructor.

Dr Fagan is survived by his wife Linda, his son Andy and his daughter Kylie.