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This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007

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Historic Environment Advisory Council

10/07/2003

The membership of the new Historic Environment Advisory Council for Scotland (HEACS) has been announced.

Tourism and Culture Minister Frank McAveety said:

"The formation of HEACS is an important step forward. The remit of HEACS is a far-reaching one and the 11 members and chair have a range of skills with which to enrich the historic environment.

"The new Council will work in partnership with everyone who cares about our historic environment.

"I look forward to receiving advice that will provide a valuable input to the decision making process. The historic environment is a varied and inter-dependent resource. I am sure that HEACS will have an important role to play in safeguarding its future."

HEACS will beis an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) the function of which is to provide Scottish Ministers with strategic advice on issues affecting the historic environment. The historic environment includes structures and places of historical, archaeological and architectural interest.

HEACS was created under the terms of the Public Appointments and Public Bodies (Scotland) Act 2003 and came into being on June 1.

Members appointments are for a period of three years from June 1 to May 30, 2006. Members are not remunerated.

They are:

Mr Peter Burman MBE, Director of Conservation and Property Services for the National Trust for Scotland since January 2003. He is an architectural historian, trained in conservation, author and speaker with a broad range of experience and knowledge relating to the historic environment. He was Director of the Centre for Conservation, Department of Archaeology at the University of York (1990-2002) and Head of Council for the Care of Churches/Cathedrals Fabric Commission for England (1977-1990). He is a council member of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland.

Mr Neil Galbraith OBE, formerly Director of Education and Leisure Services (1979-1999) and Acting Chief Executive (1999-2000) of the Western Isles Council. He is currently an education systems consultant and policy adviser. While Director of Education he was responsible for the museum service in the Western Isles and oversaw the establishment of the local authority Archaeological Service. He is currently Director of the Scottish Coastal Archaeology and Palaeoenvironmental Trust and Director of the Lewis and Harris Buildings Preservation Trust.

Mr Mark Hopton, a partner in Law & Dunbar-Nasmith Architects since 1999. He is an accredited conservation architect and has worked almost exclusively on projects involving the repair and adaptation of historic buildings. He led, or is leading, the design teams on several major conservation projects including Stanley Mills, Newhailes and Parliament House. He serves on the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland Conservation Committee and was Member of the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland 2000-2003.

Mr Martin Hulse, Director of the Cockburn Association since 1999. The Association is the Civic Trust for Edinburgh, is involved in local, national and regional policy issues, and also campaigns on a wide range of issues for improvements to the amenity of Edinburgh. Mr Hulse has extensive experience of the planning system, particularly in regard to the conservation of the built heritage. He is engaged in promoting the built heritage in education at varying levels, and has a good deal of experience in working with the media. He is also involved in a number of other conservation bodies, including the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust.

Mr Ian Johnson, manager of the Ayrshire Joint Structure Plan and Transportation Committee since 1996. He has been a local authority planner since 1970, serving as Principal Planner (Heritage) for Strathclyde Regional Council (1985-1996). He has worked on a variety of heritage projects including Kilmartin Glen and Arran, the development of industrial museums in Strathclyde, and numerous historic settlement projects. He is a member of the Scottish Gardens Advisory Group and the Historic Landscape Assessment Group and has a strong personal interest in industrial archaeology.

Mr Finlay Lockie, presently engaged full-time in the renovation of a category A-listed house, Northfield House, Prestonpans. He was previously: Director of Phoenocean, a small private shipping company (1997-2001); and assistant then partner in a City of London commercial law firm (1988-1997). In addition to his legal and business experience he has practical experience of conservation work and a general interest in architectural history.

Ms Eleanor McAllister, managing director of Clydebank Re-Built Ltd, an urban regeneration company since 2002. She has considerable experience of urban regeneration and conservation projects. She was head of Economic and Social Initiatives, Glasgow City Council (1999-2002); Depute Director of Glasgow 1999 Festival Company (1996-1999); Project Manager, Strathclyde Regional Council (1992-1996); and Director, Glasgow Building Preservation Trust (1984-1991). She is a Board Member of Glasgow Building Preservation Trust and the Scottish Urban Regeneration Forum, and lay adviser to the Architects Registration Board.

Professor Charles McKean, Professor of Scottish Architectural History at the University of Dundee since 1997. He was Head of Duncan of Jordanstone School of Architecture (1995-97) and Chief Executive, Secretary and Treasurer, of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (1979-1994). He has researched and written extensively on Scottish architectural history and is a well known public speaker. He has chaired the National Trust for Scotland's (NTS) Building Committee for 8 years and is a Council and Executive Committee member of the NTS.

Mrs Clare Meredith, an independent conservator since 1977, whose studio is based at Hopetoun House, South Queensferry. She is a specialist in easel paintings but has a general knowledge of conservation. She has been a committee member and then chair of the Scottish Society for Conservation and Restoration, was a member of the Museums and Galleries Commission Conservation Advisory Committee and is currently administrative co-ordinator of the National Council for Conservation-Restoration.

Mr Ross Noble, recently retired after serving as Curator of the Highland Folk Museum at Kingussie/Newtonmore for many years (1976-2003). He was responsible for transforming the museum into an award-wining leader in heritage interpretation. He has a specialist knowledge in traditional buildings and their furniture and has published extensively in this field. He has been involved with a variety of organisations relating to museums, tourism, and training including the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions, Tourism Training Scotland, and the Museums Training Institute. He was President of the Society for Folk Life Studies of Great Britain and Ireland.

Mr Andrew Wright OBE, a chartered architect and heritage consultant recently retired as chairman of Law & Dunbar-Nasmith. He has been a leading player in the field for more than 20 years. He was President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland from 1995-1997 and has been a Member of the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland (1996-2003) and a Commissioner of the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland since 1997. He has held posts in a number of other bodies concerned with the built heritage.

None of the appointees have been involved in any political activity within the last five years, apart from Ms Eleanor McAllister who has declared that she has canvassed on behalf of the Labour Party and has also made a recordable donation. Only Mr Andrew Wright OBE holds a Ministerial appointment as a Commissioner of the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland for which he is not remunerated.

The Chair of the Council is Mrs Elizabeth Burns who was appointed in March 2003. Her career includes extensive experience as a member and chair of numerous committees, boards and working groups at local, national and international levels. She is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Association for Volunteering, a body with members from over 90 countries. She has also been a Board member of Community Learning Scotland and of the Learning and Teaching Scotland Advisory Council. She started her career as a language teacher.

The post of Chair, which receives an annual remuneration of £2,600, was advertised widely in the press and relevant organisations, including the Scottish Parliament, were notified of the vacancy.

Appointments to HEACS fall within the remit of the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Mrs Burns' appointment has been made in accordance with the requirements of the Commissioner's Code of Practice.

Page updated: Wednesday, July 21, 2004