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Minister for Environment today announced the appointment of Mr Sid Patten; Dr Susan Walker, Prof. Keith Nicholson and Mr Simon Pepper as new members to the Board of SNH. The Minister also announces the reappointment of Sir Patrick Hunter Blair, Dr David Mackay and Dr Joan Mitchell to serve a further term on the Board.

Roseanna Cunningham MSP said:

'I am delighted to welcome Simon, Sue, Keith and Sid onto the SNH Board. I hope the fresh talent and experience of these new appointees will add another dimension to the excellent and valuable work of the SNH Board. I am also pleased that Joan, Patrick and David have agreed to serve a further term with the Board. I commend their hard work and commitment shown so far and trust they will continue to enjoy their time on the Board.'

The new SNH Board members are:

Mr Simon Pepper OBE LLD - was founding director of WWF Scotland 1985-2005 and was awarded an OBE for services to sustainable development in 2000. He was appointed by First Minister Jack McConnell MSP as an external member of the Cabinet sub-committee on Sustainable Scotland also in 2005 Simon was elected for a three year term as Rector by the students of University of St Andrews.

Simon is now Chairman of the Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund Panel and he has recently completed 6 years on the National Committee of Forestry Commission Scotland. Simon also holds a Ministerial public appointment as a Board member of Deer Commission for Scotland with a daily remuneration of £127.

Simon and his wife run a small farm and woodland property in Highland Perthshire. Simon has skills and knowledge of wildlife management and sustainable management of the marine environment and he has the capacity to effectively manage the medium and long-term strategy of an organisation.

Dr Susan Walker OBE - has worked in environmental and natural resources management for over 30 years. She was awarded an OBE in 1997 for services to water management.

She has had a number of non executive roles in the environment and rural sector in Scotland over the last 10 years and was for a time Professor of Geography and Environment at Aberdeen University. Sue was previously Chair of the North Region Board of Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Currently, Sue holds two other Ministerial public appointments as a Board Member of Cairngorms National Park Authority with a daily rate of £199.82 and as a Board member of SEPA with a daily rate of £270.90.

Sue is also an adviser to the Board of Deer Commission for Scotland, a member of the North East Panel of Waterwatch Scotland and Chair of the Co-ordinated Agenda for Marine, Environment and Rural Affairs Science (CAMERAS).

Sue lives on Deeside with her two children and is a keen skier and hill walker. Sue has skills and knowledge of governance, strategy and communications and also has strengths in wildlife management.

Professor Keith Nicholson FRSC - Keith is an internationally-recognised scientist with 30 years' experience in environmental surveys and data modelling on energy and environmental systems.

He has lived in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand and Denmark where he worked at the University of PNG, the UN-funded Energy Institute in Auckland and at the Environmental Engineering Institute of Aalborg University in Denmark.

After returning to Scotland he held a professorship at Robert Gordon University, a visiting fellowship at University of Paisley and directorships in a range of companies across multiple sectors.

He is presently a Professor at Edinburgh Napier University and Director of the Institute for Science and Health Innovation. Keith has skills and knowledge of Renewable Energy Development and Environmental Education and Interpretation. Keith does not hold any other Ministerial public appointments.

Mr Sid Patten - began his career in the public sector in the Treasury and Audit divisions of Local Government followed by the NHS. He later moved to the private sector with appointments at Chief Executive level for national organisations serving and representing the built environment and marine based operations.

He is a former Chairman of the Scottish Council of National Training Organisations and of a leading mental health charity. Sid has had extensive experience of working with Local and National Government.

He has been an active and enthusiastic participant in several public/private sector partnership forums including the Best Value Task Force, Sustainability of our Seas Task Force and the Ministerial Working Group for Aquaculture.

His commitment in these and related areas was acknowledged in 2006 in a ceremony to recognise those who had made a significant contribution to local and national life in Scotland. Sid does not hold any other Ministerial public appointments.

The reappointed members are:

Sir Patrick Hunter Blair bt - Sir Patrick Hunter Blair Bt is a former Director of Policy and Standards for the Forest Service in Northern Ireland. He was founding Chairman of the Northern Ireland native Woodland Group.

He was also Northern Ireland representative on the UK Native Woodland Habitat Action Co-ordinating Group until 2004. An experienced land manager in both the public and private sector, he returned to Scotland in 2005 and now owns and manages a small estate in south Ayrshire.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Foresters; a Trustee of Kinloch Castle Trust, and Director of Forward Scotland a charity developing innovative approaches to sustainability.

He is also a Director of the Scottish Wood fuel Group; and Chair of the South Scotland Forestry Forum, and of the River Girvan District Salmon Fishery Board. Sir Patrick brings a wide range of experience to the Board including skills in leadership, land management and conservation management.

Sir Patrick does not hold any other Ministerial appointments. Sir Patrick Hunter Blair is Chair of the South Scotland Regional Forestry Advisory Forum (unremunerated).

Dr David Mackay OBE - Dr David Mackay OBE has spent his working life in the fields of environmental management and fisheries research.

Following the award of a Winston Churchill Fellowship he became an acknowledged international expert on marine pollution issues and was appointed as a consultant to the World Health Organisation.

He was later recruited by the government of Hong Kong for three years to assist in drafting legislation and establishing the Environmental Protection Agency.

As marine survey officer and depute director with the Clyde River Purification Board he led the team which provided the scientific basis and drive for the recovery of the River Clyde estuary from pollution and the re-introduction of salmon to the catchment.

Dr Mackay also served as visiting professor for nearly two decades at the Universities of Stirling and Strathclyde, in the institute of aquaculture and department of Civil Engineering respectively. Prior to his retiral he was the founder Director of the North region of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and thereafter served as a local member until December 2009.

In his non-professional life David was President of the Scottish Anglers National Association, Chairman of the Sea trout Group, and cultivates native Scottish woodland on his farm in Aberdeenshire.

Dr David Mackay brings extensive experience to the Board including skills and knowledge in sustainable management of the marine environment. Dr Mackay does not hold any other Ministerial appointments.

Dr Joan Mitchell - Dr Joan Mitchell served as a councillor in Dumfries and Galloway from 1994 to 2007, her posts including deputy leader (1997 - 2003) and Chair of Planning and Environment (2003-2006). A partner in a family farming business, her main interests have been in rural development and countryside affairs.

She formerly chaired Dumfries and Galloway Tourist Board (2001 to 2003) and Dumfries and Galloway Access Forum (2003 to 2007).

She is currently a director of Southern Upland Partnership and Chair of Dumfries and Galloway Area Tourism Partnership. She is also involved with the South of Scotland Regional Forestry Forum.

Dr Joan Mitchell is a valued member of the Board who brings experience in a number of areas including land management and countryside access. Dr Joan Mitchell is also a member of the South of Scotland Regional Forestry Advisory Forum (unremunerated)

The appointments to Scottish Natural Heritage are part-time and the core appointment is for 30 days per annum, for which members are paid a daily fee of £282.

These appointments will be for three years and will run from April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2013.

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is a non-departmental public body (NDPB). SNH is funded by the Government and Board Members are appointed by Scottish Ministers.

SNH is the Government's advisor on all aspects of nature and landscape across Scotland. SNH's role is to help everyone understand, value and enjoy Scotland's nature now and in the future.

These Ministerial public appointments are 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 within the last 5 years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.

Dr Joan Mitchell was a Liberal Democrat Councillor on Dumfries and Galloway Council from 1994-2007. She is also currently Vice-Chair of Galloway and upper Nithsdale Liberal Democrats Local Party.

The other appointed members do not have any political activities to declare.

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