New members appointed to the Board of HES

Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development and Minister with Special Responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine, Neil Gray MSP, today announced the appointments of six new members to the HES Board.

The newly appointed members are:

Gemma Butterfield, an operational leader, and manager within cultural and natural heritage visitor attractions, focusing on commercial sustainability, culture change, and visitor journey. Gemma is currently a Business Manager for the National Trust for Scotland responsible for planning and analysis and previously worked for National Museums Scotland and the Science Museum Group.

Joe Dooganha s over 40 years’ experience in manufacturing and engineering across various industries and is currently employed by Babcock International as Director of Operations at Rosyth Dockyard. He brings extensive experience in delivering major capital programmes, infrastructure investment, site maintenance and supporting the introduction of innovative recruitment and training programmes.

Simon Hodge, a forester by training, has a life-long interest in the historic environment with previous roles including Chief Executive of the Crown Estate Scotland and Forest Enterprise Scotland. Simon also has extensive experience in working with local communities, sustainable land use and public commercial activity.

Gary Jebb, is a Director of Place at the University of Edinburgh with extensive experience in the management, operation, and development of a large, complex historic property portfolio, including the delivery of major estates projects and facilities management. He is also a Professional Associate of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors and was elected a Fellow in 2001.

Ann Leslie, a former commercial lawyer, Ann is Chief Executive of Lar Housing Trust, growing the charity from a start-up to a fully operational charity with hundreds of homes across Scotland and a number of further sites in construction or planning – many involving reusing derelict and abandoned buildings - some of which are listed -and transforming them into good quality, affordable homes and community use buildings.

Anne-Marie O’Hara has worked in various property, charity, and grant-giving roles mainly in the heritage sector and was Head of the Capital team at The BIG Lottery Fund and led the Property Planning, Projects and European Funding team at the National Trust for Scotland. Recently retired as CEO of an Edinburgh-based charity and social enterprise, she is on the Board of The Ethical Property Company and chairs its Governance & Human Resources Committee. She is also a non-executive Director of Eala Impacts CIC and Chair of the charity Co-Housing for Independent Living, as well as a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland.

Commenting on the appointments, Dr Hugh Hall, Chair of Historic Environment Scotland (HES) said:

"I am delighted to welcome our new Board members. All of us at HES are looking forward to working with them. Each bring impressive and varied skills and a wide range of experience which will hugely benefit the organisation and all that we strive to achieve.

"They join us at an exciting time with so many opportunities on the horizon as we emerge from the various challenges of the last few years. They will undoubtably contribute hugely to the ongoing successes and continued development of HES and our role as Scotland’s lead body for the historic environment.”

The appointments will be for four years from 20 March 2023 to 19 March 2027.

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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