This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scottish Natural Heritage
02/04/2007
The Deputy Environment and Rural Development Minister Sarah Boyack has appointed four new members to the Board of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). She has also re-appointed Amanda Bryan and Jim Hunter whose first terms of appointment as Board members ended on 31 March 2007.
The new SNH Board members are:
Keith Geddes CBE - was first appointed to SNH in April 2001 and has been its Deputy Chairman since May 2005, formerly chairing its Audit and Risk Management Committee. He chairs Greenspace Scotland, an umbrella body whose aim is to create new quality greenspaces and improve the management of existing greenspace in Scotland's urban communities. He has extensive experience in local government, having been until May 1999 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 for a public relations company. Mr Geddes is a Member of the Accounts Commission for Scotland (October 2002 to September 2008) for which he receives remuneration of £4,500 p.a.
Patrick Hunter Blair - is a former Director of Policy and Standards for the Forest Service in Northern Ireland. He was founding chairman of the Northern Ireland Native Woodland Group, a cross-sectoral, inter-disciplinary body which co-ordinates the delivery of the woodland Biodiversity Action Plan targets. He was also Northern Ireland representative on the UK Native Woodland Habitat Action Co-ordinating Group until 2004. An experienced land manager in both the public and private sector, he returned to Scotland in 2005 and now owns and manages a small estate in south Ayrshire. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters; Director of Forward Scotland, a charity supported by the Scottish Executive developing innovative approaches to sustainability; a member of the South Scotland Forestry Forum; and Member of the River Girvan District Salmon Fishery Board. Mr Hunter Blair does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
David Mackay OBE - is a member of the north region Board of SEPA and was previously Director of the region before retiring. He is shortly to step down as Chairman of EnviroCentre, an environmental consultancy company, established from an offshoot of the University of Strathclyde, where he was visiting professor from 2001 to 2004. He has particular skills in marine science and is Chairman of the Sea Trout Group and past President of the Scottish Anglers National Association. He was a founder Chairman of the Moray Firth Partnership and past Member of the Scottish Coastal Forum. He is currently a member of Cairngorms National Park Outdoor Access Forum and Grampian Regional Forest Forum. Dr Mackay does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
Joan Mitchell - has been an elected member of Dumfries and Galloway Council since 1994, serving as Deputy Leader between 1997 and 2003 and Chair of the Planning and Environment Committee between 2003 and 2006. She presently serves on a number of public bodies aimed at encouraging tourism and access to the countryside. These include: Chair, Dumfries and Galloway Access Forum; Vice-Chair, Dumfries and Galloway Area Tourism Partnership; Director Southern Upland Partnership; and, Member, South of Scotland Regional Forestry Forum. She was also Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board from 2001 to 2003. Dr Mitchell is a member of the Board of South of Scotland Regional Transport Partnership and member of South of Scotland European Programme Monitoring Committee. Both posts are Ministerial appointments, but attract no remuneration.
The reappointed members are:
James Hunter CBE FRSE - is Director of the UHI Centre for History and Vice-Chairman of Highland 2007. He formerly chaired Highlands and Islands Enterprise. He is an extensively published author. He has been a journalist and broadcaster. He was the first director of the Scottish Crofters Union (now the Scottish Crofting Foundation) which he helped establish. Professor Hunter does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
Amanda Bryan - is Chair of the SNH North Areas Board. She is a consultant specialising in rural and community issues in the Highlands. She is Principal of Aigas Associates and was Chair of BBC Scotland's Scottish Rural Affairs and Agriculture Advisory Committee from 2001 to 2006 and former Development Manager with Ross and Cromarty Enterprise. She was employed by SNH as the Minch Project Officer 1993-1995. She has served on the North Areas Board since 1997 and was previously the depute Chair of that Board. Ms Bryan does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
All these appointments and re-appointments will be for three years and will run from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2010.
The Board posts are part-time and attract a remuneration of £8,141 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. The SNH Board has up to 12 members.
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.
Keith Geddes has canvassed on behalf of the Scottish Labour Party at local and national elections within the last five years.
Joan Mitchell has undertaken political activity for the Scottish Liberal Democrats as a Councillor for Dumfries and Galloway Council within the last five years, including speaking on behalf of the party, acting as a political agent and canvassing at elections.
Amanda Bryan, Jim Hunter, Patrick Hunter Blair and David Mackay have not declared any political activity within the last five years.
Keith Geddes has served two terms as an SNH Board member and under the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice was eligible to apply in open competition for a third or subsequent term with the same public body.
The first SNH Board meeting following these appointments will be on April 3, 2007.