This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Royal Botanic Garden Board of Trustees
15/03/2005
Deputy Minister for Environment & Rural Development today announced the reappointment of two members to the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
The two members are:
Lord Charles Howickfarms in Northumberland and has financial expertise as a non-Executive Director of a Building Society. He also maintains a private arboretum and is a keen amateur collector.
David Mathewson's background is in Corporate Finance. He leads the Board's Investment Committee and contributes significantly to audit and governance issues.
The reappointments are for four years and run from 1 March 2005 to 28 February 2009.
The posts are part-time and do not receive any remuneration.
There is a time commitment of four Board meetings per year. Currently neither Lord Howick nor Mr Mathewson holds any other ministerial appointments.
Under the terms of the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, the functions of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh include maintaining and developing the collection of living and preserved plant material. They also carry out research into plant science, provide public access to the Garden and a wide and varied education programme.
The Garden comprises the main garden at Inverleith, Edinburgh and 3 regional gardens at Benmore (Argyll), Logan (Wigtownshire) and Dawyck (Peebleshire).
The Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Neither of the re-appointees have carried out any political activity in the last five years.
These re-appointments bring the number of Board members up to eight. There is one Trustee vacancy which will be advertised. The other members of the Board are: Dr Paul Nicholson (Chair), Professor Paul Broda, Professor Dianne Edwards, Mrs Barbara Kelly, Professor Michael Usher, Mr David Nicholson.