Board members

Board Chair Jane Ryder is a specialist in corporate governance and regulation.

Her recent roles include establishing the new charity regime in Scotland, as the first Chief Executive of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR). Before this, she was the Chief Executive of the Scottish Museums Council, a Board member of the Museum and Galleries Commission and was one of Scran’s original Board members.

She is an experienced non-executive director particularly in the public and not for profit areas. She was awarded the OBE in 2012 for services to the arts and to charity in Scotland.

She is a Board member of Revenue Scotland, the tax authority, and the Scottish Police Authority.

Her appointment as Chair of Historic Environment Scotland started on 19 January 2015 to 18 January 2019 (now extended until 18 January 2021).

Board member Janet Brennan. — Dr Janet Brennan

Dr Janet Brennan is a former Chair of the Scottish Castles Association, and a lecturer and author.

Her book, Scotland’s Castles: Rescued, Rebuilt and Reoccupied, published July 2014, details the stories of more than 100 restored castles. From 2003 to 2005, Dr Brennan and her husband oversaw the restoration of Barholm Castle, Galloway from a ruinous state.  

Dr Brennan is a passionate champion of the historic built environment and gives regular lectures on restoring Scottish castles and castles at risk. 

She has a broad portfolio of trusteeships in the arts, heritage, education and tourism, and much experience in successfully managing people, managing change and working in teams. Dr Brennan is a member of the Board of Management at Dumfries and Galloway College.

Dr Brennan does not hold any other ministerial appointments. Her reappointment is from 19 January 2017 to 21 January 2021.

Board member Coinneach Maclean — Dr Coinneach Maclean

Dr Coinneach Maclean is an archaeologist and former Deputy Chief Executive of the National Trust for Scotland. He is a Gaelic speaker, brought up on the island of South Uist.

A career spanning deer farming, community business development and housing investment has given Dr Maclean an understanding of the economic and cultural challenges facing many communities – particularly those north of the ‘Highland Line’.

Whilst at the National Trust for Scotland, Dr Maclean developed a deep appreciation of the complexities involved in the stewardship of natural and heritage assets.

His doctoral thesis examined Gaeldom’s place in the grand narrative of Scotland as it is presented in its mass tourism industry.

Dr Maclean is a member of the Scottish Committee of the National House Building Council and a trustee of Auchindrain Trust.

Dr Maclean does not hold any other ministerial appointments. His appointment is from 19 January 2018 to 18 January 2022.

Board member Fiona McLean — Dr Fiona McLean

Dr Fiona McLean is Vice Chair of the Board of Governors for the University of the Highlands and Islands.

She has worked in recent years with more than 40 community groups on local and national historic environment projects.

Dr McLean was previously Professor of Cultural Heritage Management at Glasgow Caledonian University. Her international reputation led to invitations to speak at conferences worldwide. Dr McLean’s main research focus was the role of heritage in negotiating identity and in reducing social exclusion.  

Dr McLean does not hold any other ministerial appointments. Her appointment is from 19 January 2018 to 18 January 2022.

Board member Paul Stollard — Dr Paul Stollard

Dr Paul Stollard is an architect who has specialised in the fire safety of buildings for more than 30 years.

He was responsible for the reform of the Scottish building standards and has also been a Regional Director of the Health and Safety Executive (Scotland and Northern England).

Dr Stollard has written extensively about fire safety, technology and architectural history, and has taught architectural design and history in several universities. He has also run an architectural technology company and held various Senior Civil Service posts.  

Since 2017, Dr Stollard has been employed part-time by Scottish Ministers to chair the Review Panel into the consequences for the Scottish fire standards of the Grenfell fire.

His appointment to our Board is from 19 January 2015 to 18 January 2019 (now extended until 18 January 2023).

Board member Ken Thomson — Dr Ken Thomson

Dr Ken Thomson is Principal and Chief Executive of Forth Valley College.

Prior to becoming Principal and Chief Executive of Forth Valley College, he held posts of Depute Principal, Director of Learning and Head of Science. He is also a Board member and Trustee of JISC. Dr Thomson is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors.

Innovative partnerships led by Dr Thomson have helped to progress plans for the Engine Shed, our education centre for building conservation in Stirling, and to support the college’s unique training facilities for facilities management – in Alloa, with Scottish Power, and in Falkirk, with INEOS. Forth Valley College was awarded the prestigious Association of Colleges Beacon Award for Innovation in Further Education in 2014.

Dr Thomson is a senior countryside ranger and began his teaching career in 1994 at the then Falkirk College lecturing in environmental studies. He went on to become head of science before joining the senior management team in 2003.

He has a degree in zoology from the University of Nottingham and a PhD in veterinary entomology from the University of Edinburgh.

Dr Thomson does not hold any other ministerial appointments. His appointment is from 19 January 2017 to 18 January 2021.

Ian Robertson is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and former Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President for Royal Dutch Shell’s global downstream business. He retired in 2014.

His career spans more than 30 years in the international energy business, with extensive experience in business strategy Mr Robertson has held appointments as both executive and non-executive director.

He is a Trustee and President of the Shell Trust Bermuda.

Mr Robertson does not hold any other ministerial appointments. His appointment is from 1 November 2016 to 31 October 2020.

Ian Brennan is Director of Finance and Risk at the Scottish Housing Regulator.

He was a member of the Board of Cardonald College for eight years, serving as Vice Chair for two years. He also chaired the Audit Committee, the Remuneration Committee and the Organisational Development Committee.

Previously holding positions in higher education, the NHS and the Accounts Commission, Mr Brennan also holds a degree in Business from Strathclyde University and an MBA from the University of Glasgow. He has been a member of the Board of Glasgow Kelvin College and of the Board of Colleges Scotland.

Mr Brennan does not hold any other ministerial appointments. His appointment is from 1 November 2016 to 31 October 2020.

HES Board Member Andrew Davis — Andrew Davis

Andrew Davis is Commercial Director at TSB

Andrews is a qualified accountant and an experienced Strategy and Commercial Director in the Scottish Financial Services sector.

Prior to becoming Commercial Director at TSB, he has worked for, amongst others, Scottish Widows and Bank of Scotland.

He brings to the role a passion for Scotland’s history and environment combined with his experience of executive, audit and risk committees.

His appointment is from 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2024.

Emma Herd is Head of Corporate Enablement and Control at Aberdeen Standard Investments.

She is responsible for managing operational risk globally, as well as change management and property management.

Emma trained as a chartered accountant with KPMG and has worked in financial services for 20 years in the UK and Australia.

Her appointment is from 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2024.

HES Board Member Jane Williamson — Jane Williamson

Jane Williamson is a Group Manager of Project Management and Surveying within a multi-disciplinary design team in Glasgow City Council.

She is responsible for managing multi-million pounds complex construction projects. An Architect by background, she primarily works on Health and Social Care projects.

Jane is passionate about the built environment and understands the importance of historical fabric in enhancing the quality of place for all citizens of Scotland and visitors.

She brings knowledge, skills, drive and commitment in the public sector to the Board of HES.

Her appointment is from 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2024.

HES Board Member Terry Levinthal — Terry Levinthal

Terry Levinthal is a senior Executive and Non-Executive Director experienced in the governance and management of quasi-public and charitable organisations in the heritage and environmental sectors.

Terry is currently the Director of the Cockburn Association in Edinburgh, one of the oldest conservation organisations in the UK

He has held senior roles in heritage organisations in Scotland, including the National Trust for Scotland as Director of Conservation Services & Projects; Scottish Civic Trust (Director) and as a Member of the Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority, where he chaired its Planning Committee.

He brings expertise in complex multi-site, multi-disciplinary environments.

His appointment is from 6 April 2020 to 5 April 2024.

Board members

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