Jill McAlpine, Founder

Having started her career in hospitality management, Jill learned early in her career how to lead under pressure, get the best out of people, and deliver results when it counts.

From there, she moved into the public sector - first leading corporate improvement projects, then spending nearly a decade as Chief of Staff to a Member of Parliament. Her work spanned strategy, policy, and delivery at the highest levels, with a focus on navigating complexity, driving change, and building relationships that matter.

Through inpurpose, Jill now works directly with founders and leadership teams inside their businesses. She helps them get clear on what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to shift. Then she leads that change with them, bringing together clear strategy, embedding systems, and building team capacity so the business can grow without everything resting on the founder.

Iris Thompson-Burton, Associate Director

Iris is a strategist, mentor, and champion of purpose-led businesses and the third sector, with over 25 years of leadership experience spanning environmental health, business development, and the creative and tourism industries.

She began her career in public service as an Environmental Health Officer before moving into business development, where she has spent two decades helping charities, start-ups, and social enterprises build strong governance, operational resilience, and sustainable growth.

Alongside her role at inpurpose, Iris manages Highland-Escape.com, an award-winning luxury property on the banks of Loch Ness, and serves as President of Highland Business Women. She also plays key roles with Highland Action for Little Ones (HALO) and Vivid Roots Collective.

Iris heads up the delivery of our support for start up and early stage founders.