This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Deer Commission for Scotland
17/01/2005
Three re-appointments and eight new appointments to the
Deer Commission for Scotland (DCS) were announced
today.
The re-appointments are: Sir Michael Strang Steel,
Professor Susan Walker and James Duncan Millar.
The new appointments are: Dr Andrew Barbour, James Earl
of Dalhousie, Andrew Hamilton, Dr Peter Mayhew, Dr
Josephine Pemberton, Simon Pepper, Niall Rowantree and Dr
Colin Shedden.
Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development
Lewis Macdonald said:
"These individuals have been selected from a very strong
field of candidates. I am sure they will make a positive
contribution in the development and promotion of effective
deer management in Scotland."
Of the re-appointees, Sir Michael Strang Steel and
Professor Susan Walker will serve for a further three
years, and James Duncan Miller for one year, from January
1, 2005.
All the newly appointed members will serve for three
years with the possibility of re-appointment subject to
satisfactory performance assessments.
The DCS is a non-departmental public body responsible
for the conservation, control and sustainable management of
wild deer and to keep under review all matters including
deer welfare.
Appointments are made in accordance with the Code of
Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner for
Public Appointments in Scotland. Each part-time post
attracts a remuneration of £4,194 for a time commitment of
three days per month.
None of those re-appointed or newly appointed have been
involved in any political activity within the last five
years.
Of the re-appointees, Sir Michael Strang Steel and James
Duncan Miller hold no other Ministerial appointments while
Susan Walker is also a Board member of Scottish Natural
Heritage and the Scottish Environment Protection
Agency.
The only new members holding Ministerial appointment are
Andrew Hamilton who is a member of the Scottish Ministers'
Panel of Agricultural Arbiters and Simon Pepper who is a
member of the Forestry Commission's National Committee.
Re-appointments:
Sir Michael Strang Steel CBE has farming
and forestry interests in the Borders. He was a Forestry
Commissioner from 1988 to 1999 and Chair of the Native
Woodlands Advisory Panel during this period. Sir Michael is
Chair of the Timber Marketing Group, the Scottish Forestry
Trust and was, until recently, Chair of Alba Trees plc. He
is a Member of the Forestry and Timber Association, the
Scottish Rural Property and Business Association, the Royal
Society for the Protection of Birds and is President of the
Royal Scottish Forestry Society.
Professor Susan Walker OBE lives in
Braemar and has particular interests in integrated land and
water management. She is a part-time Professor of Geography
and the Environment at the University of Aberdeen and a
freelance consultant specialising in sustainable and
integrated river basin management. She serves as a Board
Member of Scottish Natural Heritage, receiving remuneration
of £8,587 and is a Board Member of the Scottish Environment
Protection Agency for which she receives remuneration of
£5,909.
Prof Walker is also a Member of the Fisheries
(Electricity) Committee receiving remuneration of £130 per
meeting and the Cairngorms National Park Authority at
£182.50 per day.
James Duncan Millar LVO lives in Aberfeldy
and has served as a Company Commander, Training Officer and
Staff Officer at the Ministry of Defence. He returned from
service to manage his family's Remony Estate in 1985. In
1987 he became Chair of the South Loch Tay Deer Management
Group and was appointed Chair of the South Perthshire Deer
Management Group in 1993. Mr Duncan Millar is Convenor of
Atholl and Breadalbane Agricultural Society sheep section
and Chair of Kenmore and District Community Council.
New appointments:-
Dr Andrew Barbour is a farmer and forester
at Atholl Estates in Blair Atholl. He is a member of the
Perth and Argyll Regional Forestry Forum and is active in
the West Grampian Deer Management Group. Dr Barbour is also
Chair of the British and Irish Hardwoods Improvement
Programme's birch breeding group.
James Earl of Dalhousie is the landowner
of Dalhousie Estates in Brechin. He is President of the
British Deer Society, Chairman of East Grampian Deer
Management Group and of Scottish Woodland Ltd and
vice-Chair of The Game Conservancy Trust.
Andrew Hamilton is a surveyor and land
agent based in Banchory. He is a member of the Scottish
Ministers' Panel of Agricultural Arbiters with no
remuneration and is a member of the Executive's
Consultative Panel on Crofting and Land Reform. Mr Hamilton
also served on the Expert Working Group on the Nature
Conservation (Scotland) Bill and is an active member of
various deer management groups.
Dr Peter Mayhew is a senior conservation
manager at RSPB Scotland, a role which includes the
development of deer management at Abernethy Forest Reserve.
He is Chair of the Capercaillie Biodiversity Action Plan
Steering Group and member of the Deer Commission for
Scotland's Round Table.
Dr Josephine Pemberton is a university
lecturer at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology at the
University of Edinburgh. She researches deer and their
biology and has conducted research for various bodies
including the Deer Commission for Scotland.
Simon Pepper OBE is Director of WWF
Scotland and is a leading figure in the environmental
movement in Scotland. He is a landowner in Aberfeldy
managing deer and forestry. Mr Pepper is a member of the
National Committee of the Forestry Commission receiving
remuneration of £4,000 per annum and the Cabinet
Sub-Committee on Sustainable Scotland. He was also founding
Chairman of the Millennium Forest for Scotland.
Niall Rowantree is the head stalker and
manager of Corrour Estate in Fort William. He has managed
open range and woodland deer species all over Scotland
being employed as a deer manager and wildlife ranger.
Dr Colin Shedden is a Director with the
British Association for Shooting and Conservation Scotland
(BASC). He was previously a deer advisory officer with BASC
and Scottish Natural Heritage. Dr Shedden is currently a
member of the Access Forum and the National Goose
Management Review Group.