WIREDGOV

The make-up of the board of Scotland's two national parks has been announced by Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham.

Seven members have been appointed to the board of the Cairngorms National Park Authority and six to the board of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority.

The appointments will run until September 2012 and require board members to commit a minimum of two days each month. The daily fee for the Cairngorms National Park Authority (NPA) is £199.82 and for the Loch Lomond and Trossachs NPA £199.35.

Appointments to the Cairngorms NPA are: Councillors Peter Argyle and Marcus Humphrey from Aberdeenshire Council, Councillors Jacqueline Douglas and Gregor Rimell of Highland Council, Councillor Ian Mackintosh of Angus Council, Councillor Allan Wright of Moray Council and Councillor Kate Howie of Perth and Kinross Council.

Appointments to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs NPA are: Provost William Petrie and Councillor Ron Simon of Argyll and Bute Council, Provost Fergus Wood and Councillor Tony Ffinch of Stirling Council, Councillor Bob Ellis of Perth and Kinross Council and Councillor Craig McLaughlin of West Dunbartonshire Council.

Individual biographies:

Cairngorms

Councillor Peter Argyle (Aberdeenshire Council) is currently chair of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee and also the Marr Area Committee and has considerable experience in planning matters. He previously owned and operated a rural nursery, managed a 10 acre croft on Donside and worked as a Countryside Ranger. Mr Argyle is an enthusiastic hill walker with particular love of the Cairngorms.

Councillor Marcus Humphrey (Aberdeenshire Council) was a member of the original Cairngorms Working Party, has worked in local government for over 40 years and represented many interests at local and national level. A chartered surveyor, he has Chaired the North East Scotland Preservation Trust (Built Heritage) since 2005 and instigated the Muir of Ainnet National Nature Reserve. He is a Director of AWP Harvesting - a timber marketing cooperative - as well as Senior partner of Dinnet Farms which runs an extensive Hill livestock business within the National Park. Marcus is also involved as a Director of Cairngorms Outdoor Access Trust.

Councillor Ian Mackintosh (Angus Council) is a third generation farmer and member for Kirriemuir and Dean ward. He is a member of NFUS Environment and Land Use Committee, has been president of Angus NFU twice, is a land manager member of Angus Local Access Forum. Mr Mackintosh has over 16 years experience in local government, is currently Depute Leader of Angus Council and Convener of Council's Civic Licensing Committee. He is Convener of Tayside Joint Police Board, Chair of Police Staff Council (Scotland) and is involved with a number of local Kirriemuir organisations, including being a trustee of Kirriemuir Day Care.

Councillor Jacqueline Douglas (Highland Council) was elected to Highland Council in May 2007 as an Independent councillor. She was a founding member and organiser of the Cairngorms Farmers Market and worked for Grantown Initiative, an organisation which supported local community groups. Ms Douglas sits on the council's committees for Education Culture and Sport, Housing & Social Work, Gaelic, and Joint Committee for Children and Young People. She is the Children's Champion for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey; Transitions Champion for Highland and Political Champion for Drugs and Alcohol.

Councillor Gregor Rimell (Highland Council) has close ties to the Badenoch and Strathspey area of the National Park, going back generations. Gregor was a retailer in Kingussie for over twenty years and his wife has taught in Kingussie High School for more than twenty years. His particular interest is in how the separate communities of the National Park retain their identities, but come together to develop the Park as an internationally recognised destination. Mr Rimell's skills are particularly suited to the Finance Committee within the Cairngorms National Park Authority.

Councillor Allan Wright (Moray Council) is currently Deputy Convener, a lifelong supporter of National Parks and the responsible land management they bring to fragile areas. From 2007-10 he chaired the Speyside Way management group on which the Park was a major player. In Moray Council he is closely involved in economic development and considers the Park to have a key role in marrying tourism, economic development, and environmental protection.

Councillor Kate Howie (Perth & Kinross Council) was elected as a Local Authority Councillor to the Highland Ward of Perth and Kinross Council in February 2008 and has been heavily involved in all aspects of the proposed inclusion of Highland Perthshire and the Angus Glens in to the Cairngorm National Park. She is also Chair of Perth and Kinross Rural Forum. Ms Howie previously had an army career where she developed strong leadership and communication skills, gained experience in human resources and managing public funds as well as expertise in transportation and logistics. She has a keen interest in the culture of Scotland and is Vice Convenor of the Scots Language Centre.

The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority

Provost William Petrie (Argyll & Bute Council) has been the postmaster at Rhu for 52 years, is Chair of Argyll and The Isles Tourist Forum, Commissioner of the Northern Lighthouse Board, a trustee of the Loch Katrine Steamboat Project and Vice Chair of the West of Scotland Archaeology Committee. Provost Petrie is Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dunbartonshire.

Councillor Ron Simon (Argyll and Bute Council) is the former owner of a Booksellers and Valuers business and was involved with the National Park as a director of Benmore and Kilmun Community Development Trust prior to becoming a board member in 2007. Mr Simon is Chair of Argyll and Bute Sustainable Design forum, Chair of Cowal Council on Alcohol and Drugs and a board member of Argyll Lomond and the Isles Energy Agency. He sits on the Argyll and the Isles Strategic Tourism Partnership and chairs both the Council's Economic Policy and Performance Group and the Community Planning Partnership's Economy Thematic Group. His interests include event management, photography, politics, music and culture.

Councillor Bob Ellis (Perth and Kinross Council) is the Chair of the Camping Issues sub committee on Perth & Kinross Outdoor Access Forum and is now serving his third term as Chairman of the highly regarded Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust. He is currently Vice Chair of Perth & Kinross Duke of Edinburgh's Award Association and is scheduled to become Chair in early November 2010.

Provost Fergus Wood ( Stirling Council) is member for Trossachs and Teith ward. A farmer and tourist operator in the Trossachs he has had a long connection with the military and was awarded the Territorial Decoration (TD) in 1978. His hobby, which is now a profession, is Celtic Music.

Councillor Tony Ffinch (Stirling Council) is member of Trossachs and Teith ward and previously ran a bed and breakfast from his home in Callander. He was a member of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs Interim Committee, chaired the Trossachs Tourist Association and the Strathyre Association. Mr Ffinch serves on Stirling Council's Planning Panel and is Chair of the Regulation Functions Panel.

Councillor Craig McLaughlin (West Dunbartonshire Council) is member of Lomond ward, has been a councillor since 1995, is Finance Convenor and serves on the West Dunbartonshire Council committees for Planning, Economic Regeneration and Housing & Leisure. Mr McLaughlin is also a director of the Environmental and the Maid of the Loch Trusts.