MARNIK VAN CAUTER

Managing director

Born and raised in northeastern Belgium, I relocated to Scotland in 2019 to join my partner and pursue a career focused on conservation and ecological restoration. I joined the Kilchoan initiative in December 2019 as the marine rewilding lead. Currently I serve as the Charity Director of the Kilchoan Melfort Trust (KMT), where I provide strategic leadership and long-term vision to ensure the Trust delivers meaningful and measurable impact across its core charitable objectives.

At KMT, I oversee and coordinate together with the heads of departments three key focus areas: Restoration & Conservation, Education, and Spirituality. I work closely with dedicated teams to develop and implement mission-driven initiatives that foster ecological resilience, community engagement, and spiritual connection with nature.

With a degree in coastal and marine management, I have led the design and delivery of several marine conservation and restoration projects on the Kilchoan Estate. These include a native oyster restoration project and the development of an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) system—demonstrating our commitment to sustainable, innovative approaches for enhancing marine ecosystems while supporting local communities.