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National Park Authorities
06/08/2010
Minister for Environment Roseanna Cunningham today announced the appointment of new members to Scotland's National Parks.
Five members have been appointed to both the boards of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs and Cairngorms National Park Authorities. These appointments will take effect from October 2, 2010. There were over 170 applications for these ten board positions.
The members appointed for Cairngorms National Park Authority are:
Duncan Bryden lives on the northern edge of the Cairngorms National Park. He works throughout Scotland as a self employed rural development consultant and is a university lecturer. Previously he was director of the Tourism and Environment Forum and pioneered sustainable tourism policy in Scotland. He has degrees in Ecological Science and Heritage Management and is a Chartered Biologist. Duncan brings expert knowledge of nature conservation and planning to this NPA. An experienced mountaineer he has a keen interest in the nature and culture of Scotland.
Angela Douglas is a Chartered Forester with over 22 years professional forestry and environment skills, knowledge and experience. She has benefitted from working across each of the private, public and third sectors, often in partnership. Angela is skilled at working constructively with others across operational, policy, relationship development, fundraising, communication and engagement work. She has recently established her own forestry and environmental freelance business ' A Douglas Consultancy', having previously been Scotland Director for the Woodland Trust for 12 years and managing a very varied 8,500 estate.
Gregor Hutcheon, a resident of Strathdon on the eastern fringes of the National Park, brings nearly 20 years of experience of the environmental, heritage and voluntary sectors. A graduate of Aberdeen University he has recently returned to Aberdeenshire after a varied career championing the countryside and wider environment and its role in underpinning our quality of life. This included stints with the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) and the National Trust. He brings knowledge of rural business development, planning and land use.
David Paterson is a Chartered Environmentalist. He was employed by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for 30 years, attaining the position of Deputy Director, and spent much of his career working in the mountainous regions of SW China. His work focused on habitat conservation through capacity building to bring about sustainable land use in remote mountain communities. He was awarded the MBE in 2004 and an OBE in 2010 for services to Sino-British collaboration on biodiversity conservation. He has returned to Scotland to develop a freelance career in writing and environmental consultancy. He brings specialist knowledge in nature conservation and land management conservation.
Brian Wood recently retired following a 38 year career in secondary education, Brian initially taught Physics at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh and Mackie Academy in Stonehaven. Brian was then appointed Rector of Mearns Academy in Laurencekirk and for the last 16 years has been rector of Hazlehead Academy in Aberdeen. He remains involved in promoting international Education particularly with China. For the past 25 years Brian has been a Justice of the Peace and honorary Sheriff for Grampian, Highlands and Islands regularly presiding in the JP court in Stonehaven. Brian brings expert knowledge in education and business management.
The members for Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority are:
Colin Bayes has an extensive career dealing with environmental issues, latterly as Director of Environmental Protection and Improvement and a member of the executive management team of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. He has held similar posts in policy and operations and led the introduction of river basin management planning in Scotland, and, the agency's focus on tackling environmental crime. He is a Chartered Environmentalist and a fellow and past chairman of the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management. Colin brings extensive experience of hydrology and water environment issues, as well as an awareness of issues.
Petra Biberbach is Chief Executive of the award-winning national charity, Planning Aid for Scotland, a post which she has held since June 2005. With a career spanning the public, private and third sector, Petra brings a wealth of expertise to the post in the fields of planning, sustainable development, renewable energy, and community engagement and action research.
Petra has lived and worked in continental Europe (Germany & Switzerland) and most recently helped to develop a sustainable tourism business in the Harz National Park in rural Germany. While working for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) she gained considerable experience of land use management and an in-depth understanding of the uniqueness of National Parks.
Linda McKay is Principal of Forth Valley College and is responsible for the delivery of high quality and cost effective further education services to 18,000 learners across Forth Valley and Central Scotland. She brings significant experience of leading strategic change and is a member of the Scottish Funding Council Skills Committee which advises on priorities for public investment in skills, with a particular interest in workforce development. Linda works closely with local community partners and local schools to enhance educational opportunity and experience for young learners and has a particular interest in the role the National Park can play in the development of young people. She is currently responsible for two major estates projects with an estimated value of £55 million bringing new campus developments to Alloa and Stirling. Linda has significant expertise in education and has wide experience of working in the public sector.
Lindsay Morrison has gained extensive business experience, over the past 25 years, in the aerospace and telecommunications industries in engineering, operations and human resources, and is currently responsible for international employee benefits. During this time Lindsay has managed a large UK pension scheme, and served as a trustee for over eight years, which has provided experience in the design, operation and management of formal committee structures. Lindsay's skills are in business management, recognising the critical importance of strong leadership, clear direction and measurable progress and achievement.
Kate Sankey's contribution to the National Park combines her established academic and research background in environmental and conservation science and regional and community sustainable development with her practical experience of farming for biodiversity and conservation and rural diversification into cultural and sustainable tourism. Kate Sankey is currently an honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of Glasgow. She runs an organic farm on the edge of Flanders Moss National Nature Reserve in Stirlingshire with an arts & crafts learning centre and venue, with eco-accommodation. She is the Vice Chair of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Community Partnership and Chair of Forth Environment Link. Kate brings a wide range of knowledge in nature conservation, management of natural resources, education, and rural business development.
Background
The appointments are for four years and will run from 2 October 2010 to 30 September 2104.
The appointments are part-time and are remunerated with a daily fee for Loch Lomond and The Trossachs NPA of £199.35 (under review), and for Cairngorms NPA of £199.82 (under review) for a time commitment of a minimum of two days per month.
These Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
Brian Wood holds two positions in the Scottish Courts Services as a Justice of the Peace (unremunerated) and as an Honorary Sheriff (unremunerated). None of the other nine members hold any other Ministerial appointments.
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 within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.
Colin Bayes has undertaken political activity on behalf of the Scottish Labour Party.
Petra Biberbach served as a member of the Steel Commission from 2003 to 2006.
None of the other members have undertaken any political activity within the last five years.
Both National Park Authorities are non-departmental public bodies (NDPB). LLTNPA was established in 2002 and CNPA in 2003 under the National Parks (Scotland) Act 2003. Each NPA is funded by the Government and Ministerially appointed Board members are a part of the full board, in conjunction with directly elected and local authority nominated members.
The purpose of the National Park Authority is to deliver the four statutory aims for the National Park in a collective and co-ordinated way.