Our board

Intro

Historic Environment Scotland’s Board members bring a wide range of skills and experience to the organisation. They have backgrounds in areas such as law, conservation, marketing, archaeology, architecture and education.

Board members act as ambassadors for the organisation and the historic environment more broadly.

The role of the Board

The Board is responsible for setting the vision, values and strategic direction of the organisation, and ensuring performance and financial stewardship.

The day-to-day operation of HES is the responsibility of the Chief Executive, and the Board holds the Chief Executive to account. The Board is in turn accountable to Scottish Ministers and to the Scottish Parliament.

As HES is a Scottish charity, regulated by OSCR, the Board members are also the charity’s trustees.

The Board holds regular board meetings to discuss the way forward for the new lead public body set up to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment.

Information about these meetings, including minutes, is available to download in Corporate information.

Appointments to the Board

HES can have between 10 and 15 Board members. Board members are appointed by Scottish Ministers following an open process, and these appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. Board members are entitled to fees in line with Scottish Government Pay Policy. Actual payment to Board members is disclosed in the Annual Report each year.

Current Board members are appointed for a term of between two and four years. Board members may be reappointed but the total period of appointment of any individual will be no more than eight years.

Board members must abide by a Code of Conduct during their appointment.

Board members

Professional head-and-shoulders studio portrait of a person wearing glasses, a blue blazer, and a checked shirt, facing the camera against a plain light grey background. The image is well lit, with the subject positioned slightly off-centre and looking directly at the camera. — Ronnie Hinds MBE

Ronnie Hinds

Ronnie Hinds MBE was appointed Interim Chair of Historic Environment Scotland for up to one-year term, until July 2027.

Ronnie brings extensive leadership and public service experience, having served as Chief Executive of Fife Council until his retirement in 2013. Since then, he has held a number of senior public appointments, including Chair of Boundaries Scotland, Lead Non-Executive Director for the Scottish Government, and Deputy Chair of the Accounts Commission, where he also served as Acting Chair for two years.

More recently, Ronnie has been appointed by Scottish Ministers as Interim Chair of both the Accounts Commission and the Water Industry Commission for Scotland, leading organisational reset and improvement programmes. He has built a strong reputation for effective governance, strategic leadership and supporting organisations through periods of change.

Throughout his career, Ronnie has worked closely with local and national government, helping to strengthen public services and promote high standards of accountability and performance across the public sector.

His appointment as Interim Chair started on 13 July 2026 for a period of up to one year. Ronnie does not hold any other public appointments.

Andrew Davis

Andrew Davis is Chief of Staff and Director of Strategy at TSB.

Andrew is a Chartered Management Accountant, an experienced Management Consultant, and Company Director in the Scottish Financial Services sector.

Prior to joining TSB, he has worked for, amongst others, PwC, McKinsey, 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 2028.

Emma Herd

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 2028.

Gemma Butterfield

Gemma Butterfield is currently a Business Manager for the National Trust for Scotland responsible for planning and analysis

Gemma is an operational leader and manager within cultural and natural heritage visitor attractions, focusing on commercial sustainability, culture change, and project management. Gemma is currently General Manager for Cowdray Heritage Trust, responsible for the upkeep and development of Cowdray Ruins, and previously worked for National Trust for Scotland and National Museums Scotland.

Joe Doogan

Joe has 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.

His appointment is from 20 March 2023 to 19 March 2027.

Simon Hodge

Simon Hodge has extensive experience in working with local communities, sustainable land use and public commercial activity.

Simon 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.

His appointment is from 20 March 2023 to 19 March 2027.

Gary Jebb

Gary 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.

His appointment is from 20 March 2023 to 19 March 2027.

Ann Leslie

Ann, a former commercial lawyer, 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 of these sites involve reusing derelict and abandoned buildings - some of which are listed - and transforming them into good quality, affordable homes and community use buildings.

Her appointment is from 20 March 2023 to 19 March 2027.

Nkosana Mafico

Nkosana is a Lecturer in Strategy at the University of Edinburgh Business School and a member of the school’s Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability Committee. He brings governance expertise across the social, government, and commercial sectors, having served as a non-executive director and statutory advisor in Australia, including roles with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Queensland State Government.

In addition to his role with Historic Environment Scotland, he currently serves as a non-executive board member of the Student Awards Agency Scotland.

Ian Baxter

Ian Baxter is an industry focused senior academic with wide involvement in strategic and governance issues in heritage-sector NGOs, and in tourism experience development.

Ian is Professor of Historic Environment Management at Heriot-Watt University and teaches heritage management, tourism and visitor experience development. His professional practice and research is focused on knowledge management and strategy within heritage and conservation organisations, and enhancement of the visitor experience at historic sites. He originally trained as an archaeologist at the University of Edinburgh and completed a PhD at the University of Cambridge investigating strategic management within heritage and conservation organisations.

He chairs the Built Environment Forum Scotland's Historic Environment Working Group (and was previously BEFS Vice-Chair) and is a current member of Council (Trustee) of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He co-chairs the Skills, Education & Engagement Advisory Group for The Heritage Alliance (the national NGO heritage advocacy organisation in England) and is a member the Institute for Historic Building Conservation's Education, Training & Standards Committee.

David Richardson

David is Chief Operating Officer at the Centre for AI in Assistive Autonomy at the University of Edinburgh and a Board Member of Historic Environment Scotland.

He brings over 18 years of experience in technology, innovation, and commercialisation, with a proven track record of building international partnerships and supporting the creation and growth of start-ups. He is deeply committed to Scotland’s historic and natural environment and has played an active role in advancing place-based partnerships that drive inclusive and sustainable growth.

David began his career at EY in technology risk and assurance before moving into senior roles within academia, where he led major initiatives to enhance business engagement and secure large-scale R&D funding and investment. He has worked internationally across Europe, Asia, and the US to establish strategic collaborations and has played a key role in supporting early-stage ventures through spin-outs, accelerators, and national programmes.

Throughout his career, David has worked across academia, industry, and public sector to drive inclusive innovation and economic growth.

Ray Macfarlane

Ray is an experienced non-executive director who has just completed two terms as Chair of the National Lottery Heritage Fund’s Scotland Committee and was awarded an MBE for services to heritage. She was also Deputy Chair of its UK Board and of the National Heritage Memorial Fund. Ray was Chair of Museums Galleries Scotland from 2018-2024 and of the Scottish Government’s Recognition Committee, which identifies and supports collections of national importance, from 2011-2018. Other roles she has held include being a Trustee and Deputy Chair of the National Galleries of Scotland and a Trustee of its charitable foundation. She began her executive career as a solicitor in private practice, specialising in property law.

Susan Deighan

Susan Deighan is a highly experienced Chief Executive Officer within the public and charity sectors.

Susan 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 for public services.

Susan's appointment is for one year from 10 November 2025.

Board papers

If you would like minutes from previous years, please contact us board@hes.scot.

Additional Board information

Board Members’ Code of Conduct [PDF, 378KB]

Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee

Our Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee provides advice and support on financial integrity and sustainability.

Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee

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Our board

Intro

The role of the Board

Board members

Ronnie Hinds

Andrew Davis

Emma Herd

Gemma Butterfield

Joe Doogan

Simon Hodge

Gary Jebb

Ann Leslie

Nkosana Mafico

Ian Baxter

David Richardson

Ray Macfarlane

Susan Deighan

Board papers

Board meeting minutes 2026

Board meeting minutes 2025

Board meeting minutes 2024

Board meeting minutes 2023

Additional Board information

Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee

General enquiries

Our head offices