Cabinet Secretary announces new appointments to the HES board

The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus Robertson, today announced the appointment of Susan Deighan and Ray Macfarlane as Members of the Historic Environment Scotland board on an interim basis.

The new members are:

Susan Deighan is a highly experienced Chief Executive Officer within the public and charity sectors. She has dedicated her career to championing the power of culture, events and active living to transform lives and communities in Glasgow, alongside building the city’s global profile as a world-class destination. Susan has held senior positions for over more than three decades with Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Life and has helped shape a vibrant, ambitious and inclusive city through the development and delivery of important city strategies for libraries, tourism, culture, events, community learning and physical activity and sport. Susan has extensive experience in the management of large public sector organisations and working within complex political environments and remains a passionate advocate of public services.

Ray Macfarlane was awarded an MBE for services to heritage. She has served two terms as Chair of the Scotland Committee of the National Lottery Heritage Fund and was Deputy Chair of its UK Board and of the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Ray was Chair of Museums Galleries Scotland for six years after serving a similar period as chair of the Scottish Government's Recognition Committee, which formally recognises and invests in collections which are considered to be of national importance though not held in the National Museums and Galleries. She was a Trustee and Deputy Chair of the National Galleries of Scotland and a Trustee of the National Galleries of Scotland Foundation. Ray Macfarlane graduated MA, LLB, MBA from the University of Glasgow and began her executive career as a solicitor in private practice. She is now chair of the Hopetoun House Preservation Trust and a Trustee of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

The appointments will be for one year and will run from 10 November 2025 to 9 November 2026.

For further information visit the Scottish Government website.

We're the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. We are at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future. Across Scotland, we investigate and record architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes and care for more than 300 properties of national importance. HES is also working with sector partners to deliver Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.

Historic Scotland, trove.scot, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Stòr are sub-brands of HES.

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