This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scottish Natural Heritage
27/07/2006
The appointment of a new Chair and three new Board members at Scottish Natural Heritage has been announced by Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Rhona Brankin.
Andrew Thin will take up the Chairmanship while Julia Sturrock, David Crawley and Andrew Campbell will join the SNH Board.
Ms Brankin said:
"This is an interesting time for SNH following the successful completion of their relocation project and their recent strategic review.
"These new appointments give us the necessary breadth and depth of experience to meet the challenges ahead. I extend a warm welcome to Andrew, Julia, David and Andrew and am looking forward to working with them all in the future."
The new Chair:
Andrew Thin has a strong track record in the public and voluntary sectors as Chair of the John Muir Trust, Member of SNH North Area Board, Member of Crofters Commission Board and Convener of Cairngorms National Park Authority. Andrew has an Honours degree in Agricultural Science and Masters degree in Business Administration.
The new SNH Board members are:
Julia Sturrock - has been a councillor in Dundee since 1988. Her responsibilities have included being Leader of the Council, convener of the Protective Services Forum at COSLA for four years, a member of SEPA East Board and a member of Forward Scotland. She chairs the Dundee Furniture Project and Sustain Dundee Environmental Trust. She is vice chair of the Dundee Solar City Project, a board member of Recycling Institute and is currently Convener of Environmental Services and Sustainability. Ms. Sturrock does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
David Crawley - is a former senior civil servant with wide experience of Government and European affairs. After joining the Scottish Office in 1972 he worked in many different areas of Scottish public policy, in particular as Head of Food and Agriculture Group from 1999 to 2002. He has also worked in Whitehall and Brussels. He is currently Chair of the Audit Committee of the Wales Office and a Commissioner of Queen Victoria School Dunblane. Mr. Crawley does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
Andrew Campbell - is a farmer by profession with a long record of service with National Farmers Union Scotland (NFUS) at an area level. He chaired the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group whilst doing considerable conservation work on his own farm. Andrew was elected to local government, as an independent and served as Convener/Leader of Dumfries & Galloway Council during the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak. He is also the Vice President of the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and acts as their rural affairs spokesman. He has received an OBE for services to agriculture and a CBE for services to local government. Mr. Campbell does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
All these appointments will be for three years and will run from August 1, 2006 to July 31, 2009.
The Chair post is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £44,195 p.a. for a time commitment of 12 days per month.
Andrew Thin will resign from the Crofters Commission with immediate effect. He will remain as Convener of Cairngorms National Park Authority until the end of August in order to facilitate a smooth transition. The remuneration received as Convener of Cairngorms National Park Authority is £187.08 per day for a time commitment of 2 days per week.
The Board posts are part-time and attract a remuneration of £8,001 p.a. for a time commitment of two to three days per month.
SNH is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body established under the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991. Its primary aims are to secure the conservation and enhancement of and to foster understanding and facilitate the enjoyment of, the natural heritage of Scotland. It receives Grant in Aid of £61.195m (for 2006/2007) and employs over 750 staff.
These 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.
David Crawley and Andrew Thin have not declared any political activity within the last five years.
Julia Sturrock has undertaken political activity for the Labour Party as a Councillor for Dundee City Council within the last five years
Andrew Campbell has undertaken political activity as an independent councillor on Dumfries & Galloway Council within the last five years.
The first SNH Board meeting following these appointments will be on 5th September 2006. There is a Board summer tour in August based in Argyll.