Lesley graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1966 after majoring in printed textile design. She worked as a freelance designer and taught in Winchester School of Art, Croydon College of Art and Bournemouth College of Art. Lesley later taught sixth form art A level students and in adult education centres. She has been a director of the Institute since its beginning and is married with one son.

Hiroko grew up in Japan and has lived, studied and worked in UK since the mid 80s. She has a masters degree in Visual Islamic and Traditional Art, specialising in Japanese screen painting. She first visited Chisolme in the late 90s and since completed two six-month retreat courses. She subsequently joined the staff at the Institute, supervising courses, and working as housekeeper. She and her husband have two children and they currently live in Hawick.

Julia has been a student, volunteer and guest at Chisholme since 1976. On completing the second 6-month retreat course studied Fine Art with philosophy, sociology, history and archaeology. After researching Persian 'paradise gardens', a period of painting, teaching and working in archaeological illustration, she followed a love of gardening to study horticulture and worked as a professional gardener. She has a practical knowledge of accounts, and has worked in the charitable sector.

Hamid van Koten has been involved with the Chisholme institute since 1978 when Chisholme House was still a building site. He gained a degree in Design from Glasgow School of Art in 1993 and has worked as a Design Consultant on a number of listed buildings and small architectural commissions. He also lectured extensively and was programme Leader for History and Theory at the Design School of the University of Dundee. He lives with his family in an intentional community in Devon where he looks after the estate as well as the legal and financial matters.

Tim has been a director since 2004 and has been involved with the Chisholme Institute for over 30 years. He is a professional musician and works mostly as a teacher, privately and in schools, although he is also a founder member of the nearly-famous Vastearth Orchestra. Tim lives with his partner in Worcestershire, where they have a house and three allotments. When Tim isn't at Chisholme, meeting visitors from all over the world , he likes to travel around it as much as possible.
He has long been interested in environmental issues, and this is the area he is most concerned with as a director.

Sylvain was born in Dakar, Senegal and has a mixed cultural background. He has lived in Scotland since 1998 where for the last 20 years he has worked in the field of mental health and wellbeing. Sylvain holds a postgraduate degree in counselling and psychotherapy and works in private practice in Edinburgh. He is the founder of Recovery Through Music, an initiative aimed at using music as a catalyst for healing and recovery from addictions. Sylvain has been involved with the Chisholme Institute since 2006 having undergone a six-month course. He has also co-facilitated a Discovery Unity course alongside Peter Young in Edinburgh.