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Scottish Natural Heritage
31/03/2008
Minister for Environment Michael Russell, has re-appointed Michelle Francis and Phil Thomas to the Board of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Their first terms of appointment as Board members ended on March 31, 2008.
Michelle Francis is a member of SNH's Audit & Risk Management Committee and was, until 31st March 2007, Chairman of SNH's East Areas Board. She is a freelance consultant specialising in environmental and sustainability management for business, in particular in the transport sector. She is also a Senior Associate to consulting firm Arthur D. Little. Michelle was previously Head of Environment for Network Rail, covering the whole of the UK and prior to that Environment Manager for Railtrack in Scotland. She is a member of the MS Society Strategic Advisory Board and sits on the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's Council. Mrs Francis does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.
Professor Phil Thomas is Chairman of SNH's Audit and Risk Management Committee. He is Director of a multi-disciplinary consultancy he established in 1999. He is presently Chair of the Scottish Finfish Aquaculture Code of Good Practice Management Group and a member of Linking Environment and Farming Scottish Advisory Council and the UK Pig Health and Welfare Council. He is a past Principal and Chief Executive of the Scottish Agricultural College. Professor Thomas has also been appointed as a board member of Quality Meat Scotland which becomes a Non Departmental Public Body from 1 April. This Ministerial appointment attracts remuneration of £155 per day for a time commitment of 8-12 days per year.
These re-appointments will be for three years and will run from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2011.
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 £67.182 million (for 2008/2009) 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.
Neither Michelle Francis nor Phil Thomas has declared involvement in any political activity.
The first SNH Board meeting following these reappointments will be on April 8, 2008.