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Back to Social/Economic/Political
Who runs Scottish Natural Heritage?
Editorial
(Filed 17 October 03)
www.land-care.org.uk
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is having an increasing
influence on how land in Scotland is managed.
Land-Care readers may wish to know how SNH is
run. This article, which concentrates on the membership of the main
Board of SNH, simply lists information obtainable on the SNH website
(www.snh.org.uk) as of 17 October 2003 unless otherwise stated.
Land-Care readers may want to ask themselves
if the constitution of the Board reflects a sufficiently wide experience
in land management for SNH to properly fulfil such a wide ranging
influence.
Who appoints the SNH Board?
Appointments to the Board are made by Scottish
ministers. That is to say the members are appointed by Ministers
of the Scottish Parliament: that is to say, those in senior positions
within the ruling political party or coalition of parties. SNH is
an agency of government and is funded by government. No one should
mistakenly think that SNH is some sort of independent body with
independence of mind and action.
Who was the first Chief Executive of SNH?
Professor Roger Crofts was the first Chief Executive
of Scottish Natural Heritage, a position he held from 1992 –2002.
Prior to that he spent 17 years at the Scottish Office (Now the
Scottish Executive) advising on rural policy development (1).
He lost his appeal against dismissal (2) and was
appointed to the Board of the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC)
in October 2002 (www.sac.ac.uk) which raised some eyebrows (3).
It is interesting to note what the SAC states
as it mission: "to enhance the sustainability of our land-based
industries". SAC also states that "Certain of its services
in Scotland are assisted by the Scottish Executive Environment and
Rural Affairs Department through its Grant-in-aid programme as part
of the national provision for research and rural advisory services".
SAC's slogan is "Enhancing the sustainability of our land-based
industries" (www.sac.ac.uk).
The following is a statement form the SAC:
SAC is a company limited by guarantee, not a Non-Departmentalised
Public Body. As such the Government has no formal role in the
Appointment of non-Executive directors to the SAC Board. SAC recruits
members to its Board through a process of advertising. A nominations
committee of the SAC Board sets criteria in advance and applicants
are reviewed against these criteria. This process adheres to recent
Codes of Practice relating to Corporate Governance.
While at SNH Roger Crofts gave a number of lectures,
two of which give a clear indication of his views and presumably
the direction in which he was steering SNH.
Whose land is it? An agenda for the Scottish Palriament (4)
Geography matters for the environment
of the 21st century (5)
Who is the present Chief Executive of SNH?
Ian Jardine was born in Edinburgh and educated
at the Royal High School. He has a degree in Ecology and a Doctorate
in Zoology. He worked for the Scottish Office for seven years in
a wide range of policy areas ranging from housing and industry to
criminal justice. In the late eighties he led the Castlemilk Partnership
Team as part of an initiative to regenerate deprived housing estates.
He joined the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland
in 1991 as Regional Director for the North East, based in Aberdeen
and continued in that role with the formation of SNH in 1992. Following
the reorganisation in 1997 he moved to his previous role as Director
of SNH East Area based at Battleby. He took over as Chief Executive
in April 2002
(Source: www.snh.org.uk)
Who is the present Chairman of SNH?
John Markland, CBE, MA, PhD, took up his
appointment as chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage, the government's
advisory and executive body on the natural heritage on 1 April 1999.
He was Chief Executive of Fife Regional Council from 1986 until
September 1995 and Chief Executive of Fife Council from 1995 until
1999.
At Fife Council he played a major role, not only in bringing together
the four previous local authorities but in developing new themes
for the Council, including promoting the Council's aims and values,
developing decentralisation initiatives and encouraging public and
staff participation in Council decision-making.
He is a non-executive director of a number of not-for-profit organisations
in the environmental sector. He is also Chairman of the Scottish
Leadership Foundation and a member of the Court of Edinburgh University.
His interests include climbing Scotland's mountains, photography
and music
(End date of current term of appointment is 31.03.04)
(Source: www.snh.org.uk)
Who is presently on the SNH Board?
The following are copies of what can be read directly
on the SNH website (www.snh.org.uk)
Michael Scott is SNH’s Deputy Chairman.
He works part-time as Co-ordinator of Plantlife Scotland, the wild
plant conservation charity, and as a freelance natural history writer
and consultant. He has a strong interest in all environmental issues,
particularly biodiversity and marine. He represents SNH as a Director
of Highland Birchwoods. He is also a member of SNH’s Scientific
Advisory Committee and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee.
(End date of current term of appointment is 31.03.05)
Peter Chapman is a farmer in Buchan with
almost 30 years experience, having formerly been Vice President
of the National Farmers Union for Scotland. Like many farmers, he
is very interested in, and protective of, our diverse and beautiful
environment. His aim is to help build strong partnerships between
SNH and the agricultural community to the benefit of both.
(End date of current
term of appointment is 31.03.03 On 16th Oct 2003 the SNH website
had not been updated on this matter and no newer information could
be obtained from SNH while this entry was being written**)
Simon Fraser is the Chairman of the North Areas Board. He
is a full-time solicitor and part-time crofter in the Western Isles
and is Director of several companies, including the Isle of Eigg
Heritage Trust. A fluent Gaelic speaker with a lifelong interest
in the social and natural history of the Western Highlands and Islands,
he has a particular interest in rural development.
(End date of current term of appointment is 31.03.04)
Keith Geddes has extensive experience in
local government, having been until May 1999, a Leader of the City
of Edinburgh Council and President of the Convention of Scottish
Local Authorities. He is also a former member of the Scottish Arts
Council, Scottish Enterprise and Livingston Development Corporation.
He currently works as Policy Director with Pagoda Public Relations.
He chairs Greenspace Scotland, an umbrella body whose aim is to
create new greenspaces and improve the management of existing greenspace
in Scotland’s urban communities.
(End date of current term of appointment is 31.03.04)
Lady Isabel Glasgow is the Chairwoman of the West Areas Board.
She is co-founder of Kelburn Country Centre in Ayrshire. She is
a Member of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority
and is also, amongst other involvements, Chairwoman of Scottish
Council for National Parks, the Moorland Forum, the Firth of Clyde
Forum and the Arran Access Trust.
(End date of current term of appointment is 31.03.04)
Alice Lambert is a past shellfish farmer, now an environmental
and shellfish consultant with a working knowledge of, and involvement
in, West Coast and Island matters, both human and environmental.
She runs a successful holiday accommodation business and is involved
in various community organisations on Mull. She is a recently appointed
member of the West Regional Board of the Scottish Environmental
Protection Agency.
(End date of current term of appointment is 31.03.05)
Nick Kempe is a Social Work Services Manager in Glasgow with
a keen interest in outdoor recreation and access, mountains, wild
land, and landscape. He developed expertise on these issues through
8 years involvement with the Mountaineering Council of Scotland,
Scottish Environment Link and as a member of the Access Forum 1994-9.
He has written various articles / papers on access and wild land
and is currently co-editing a book for hillwalkers on Scotland's
Mountain Environment. He is an active hillwalker / runner, climber,
skier and cyclist and is SNH's new Director on the Paths for All
Partnership.
(End date of current term of appointment is 31.03.06)
Professor Jeremy Rowan-Robinson is the Chairman of the East
Areas Board. He is Emeritus Professor of Law at Aberdeen University
with expertise in Planning Law, Environmental Law, Countryside Law
and the Law relating to Compulsory Purchase and Compensation. He
has a strong interest in outdoor recreation, and is currently Chairman
of the Access Forum.
(End date of current term of appointment is 31.03.04)
Janet Sprent is the Chairwoman of SNH’s Scientific Advisory
Committee. She is Emeritus Professor of Plant Biology at the University
of Dundee, with particular expertise in plant nutrition and over
30 years research in the field of nitrogen fixation. She is a member
of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. She has extensive
experience in management of science and research in a variety of
organisations, and of research overseas. She has a particular interest
in the management of protected areas, including Nature Reserves,
National Parks and SSSIs.
(End date of current term of appointment is 31.03.04)
Susan Walker has extensive experience in the water and environment
sector. Currently she is a part time Professor in Geography and
Environment at the University of Aberdeen specialising in integrated
river basin management, and is a Director of Sue Walker Management
Ltd. She is in addition to SNH a member of two other public bodies:
the Deer Commission for Scotland and the Fisheries (Electricity)
Committee. She is also a keen mountaineer.
(End date of current term of appointment is 31.03.03 On 16th
Oct 2003 the SNH website had not been updated on this matter and
no newer information could be obtained from SNH while this entry
was being written**)
** The following statement was recieved from SNH after the above
text had been completed:
Thank you for your email and telephone call. I apologise for
not responding earlier. The list of current board members is
as detailed on our website, however as you point out a number
of pages or references require some updating. Peter Chapman
and Susan Walker have been appointed until 31 March 2006. I
am copying this reply to Iain Rennick, who will be able to provide
more information about the procedures for appointing members
to the SNH Board. Our website is currently undergoing redevelopment
and we will forward your comments to the Internet Development
Manager as part of this work.
References
1. http://www.sac.ac.uk/info/external/about/publicns/press/press2002/october/02n60.asp
2. Editorial (2003). Professor
Roger Crofts loses appeal against dismissal from Chief Executive
Post SNH
See Social/Economic/Political Homepage,13 Feb 03, www.land-care.org.uk,
Click
here to view
3. Editorial (2002). Scottish
Agricultural College - what is going on?
See Science Homepage, 17 Oct 03, www.land-care.org.uk, Click
here to view
4. Crofts, Roger (1999). Whose
land is it? An agenda for the Scottish Parliament.
www.snh.org.uk/news/speeches/rc/wlis01.htm
5. Crofts, Roger (1998).
Geography matters for the environment of the 21st century.
www.snh.org.uk/news/speeches/rc/speech1.htm
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