RBGE - Key Persons
Amanda has over 25 years of experience working in the public, private and third sectors. She is currently employed by Envision Pharma Group, supporting pharmaceutical companies with global programmes of work, to engage with patient communities in a responsible and informative way. Prior to this she was the national programme lead for an early diagnosis of cancer initiative. This was a partnership with Department of Health, Public Health England, NHS England, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan. It included partnering with the devolved nations to ensure best practice and learning could be shared across the different geographies. Amanda is passionate about removing barriers and making science accessible to all. Her skill set is around stakeholder engagement, communication strategy and developing integrated programmes of work. Amanda is a member of the Boardroom Apprentice programme for 2024.
C.J., Crittenden, P.D. & Scrimgeour, C. & Ashcroft, C.J. (2003) The natural abundance of 15N in mat-forming lichens. Oecologia, 136: 115-123
Job Titles:
- Nature Based Solutions Scientist
Caitlyn is a naturalist specializing in lichens and ecosystem interactions with a particular interest in biodiversity.
Her work seeks to understand the intricacies of ecological interactions and use that research to optimize how humans interact with their surroundings for the benefit of people and nature. Her environmental impact and engagement cover broad ecological areas including the interactions of environmental contaminants, adaptive blue-green infrastructure, and the impact of native and nonnative plants on other organisms.
Caitlyn is an ecologist specializing in lichens and ecosystem interactions with a particular interest in biodiversity.
Job Titles:
- Fund Project Officer
- the Wild Line. Biodiversity Challenge Fund Project Officer
has had a successful career as an Executive and Trustee spans retail, energy, the public sector, social mobility and the arts. He has over 30 years of experience in senior, strategic communications roles working with the Boards of large, complex and high profile organisations. Most recently as Director of Communications & Investor Relations for Marks & Spencer, Dominic's responsibilities included the communication of M&S' ethical and environmental Plan A during a decade on the M&S Management Board. Dominic combines strategic thinking with the conviction to get things done. He has proven influencing skills across issues, media, and reputation management, as well as a wide network of influential contacts in the UK and internationally. Dominic has strong commercial experience and has been involved with successful fundraising campaigns for several charities as a Trustee.
Job Titles:
- Research Associate Lichenology
Brian is RBGE's senior lichenologist with research interests in the taxonomy and biogeography of north-west European lichens, and with particular expertise in the genus Micarea.
Brian's research on British lichens focusses on the identification of difficult crustose species (especially sterile crusts), using morphological and chemical characters. His academic interests are, however, wide-ranging: e.g. including the South-East Asian Thelotremataceae, Lobarion epiphytes in the Eastern Carpathians, lichen ecology in native Scottish woodlands, and comprising expeditions to and species inventory for Borneo and Chile.
Brian's taxonomic expertise is applied in UK biodiversity conservation, towards which he contributes specialist advice and maintains key resourses, e.g. the British Lichen Checklist and Taxon Dictionary, the Synonym List and the UK Conservation Evaluation. In addition Brian maintains the BLS catalogue of unpublished 'Grey Literature', e.g. site and species accounts, conservation reports etc.
Job Titles:
- Head of Cryptogamic Plants and Fungi Section
I am an ecologist and lichenologist with a particular interest in woodland epiphytes.
I am an ecologist. I use my research to understand how habitat management can offset negative impacts of global change. I work mostly on lichen bioindicators, with a particular interest in woodland epiphytes.
Job Titles:
- Research Associate Bryology
Job Titles:
- Research Associate Cryptogam Conservation
Dahlberg, A., Genney, D.R. & Heilmann-Clausen, J. (2010) Developing a comprehensive strategy for fungal conservation in Europe: current status and future needs. Fungal Ecology, 3: 50-64.
I work within a team of species specialists as a Policy and Advice Officer for Scottish Natural Heritage. I am national advisor on all Scottish bryophytes and fungi/lichens. To deliver this remit, I draw on research skills developed through my PhD and five years of post-doctoral research on mycorrhizal function and ecology.
I completed my PhD on the role of mycorrhiza and root foraging strategies in determining plant competition in heathlands. This interest in mycorrhizal fungi continued through post-doctoral studies investigating the ability of EcM fungi to degrade organic pollutants followed by work to determine the below-ground fine-scale distribution of pinewood fungi.
The scope of my interests widened considerably when I joined Scottish Natural Heritage as their national advisor on bryophytes and fungi/lichens. I am interested in the development of monitoring techniques for each of these species groups and I contributed to setting up the Scottish Snowbed Vegetation Monitoring Network and I managed SNH's Site Condition Monitoring work for cryptogams.
Improving the body of conservation evidence is vitally important; I have recent involvement in researching bryophyte recovery following invasive Rhododendron management, investigating translocation success for the restricted mountain lichen Flavocetraria nivalis, improving our understanding of lichen dispersal and establishment at a landscape scale, and assessing the potential impact of beaver on oceanic lichen populations.
I have a significant policy role and have recently co-authored guidelines for the selection of SSSIs for bryophytes, non-lichenised fungi and lichens. I currently sit on the Council for the British Lichen Society.
has a degree in Botany from the University of Glasgow and a doctorate from Imperial College, London. Since completing them, he has worked in the private sector where he owns and runs a management consultancy specialising in financial services. Dr Hamilton has a wide range of experience covering plant science, strategy, project management, and partnership ventures. He is currently the Vice-Chair of the Rock Trust, a Scottish homelessness charity headquartered in Edinburgh. Dr Hamilton is a member of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's Investment Committee.
Job Titles:
- Research Associate Bryology
I am a taxonomist with expertise in bryophytes, and in the vascular plant flora of the Sino-Himalayan region.
Job Titles:
- Research Associate Bryology
Job Titles:
- Urban Biodiversity Officer
Emma's priority is to develop core and applied research to help us address the ecological and climate emergency.
Emma has a diverse publishing record ranging from socio-ecological survey of small-scale fisheries and global reviews of the exotic pet trade to conservation theory and practise but her main love is for plant ecology. In recent years she has been focussed on the impacts of climate change on the phenology of tropical trees in African rainforests and climate adaptation for improved agroforestry in east African drylands. She has published a number of papers analysing the longest continuous phenology recording program in Africa (from Lopé National Park, Gabon) and she founded the African Phenology Network.
has degrees in ecology and zoology and was Chief Executive of Scottish Natural Heritage from 2002 until 2017, having worked for the organisation since 1992. He has extensive experience of biodiversity, conservation and environmental education, including at international level. From 2017 to 2019 Dr Jardine was National Adviser on Environmental Policy working with the Scottish Government.
Job Titles:
- Research Associate Mycology
Jo is an ascomycete taxonomist and foliar fungal endophyte researcher. Her studies are currently focused on forest pathology and the potential role of beneficial fungal endophytic partners. She also contributes to the Scottish Plant Health Centre website.
Prior to working at RBGE, Jo worked as a post-doc at Stellenbosch University, South Africa, researching diseases of Proteaceae and as a lecturer at the University of Botswana investigating post-harvest pathogens of grains. Jo has been involved for a long time with mycology in Asia, since her PhD at the University of Hong Kong on Arecaceae microfungi, and she maintains links with researchers in Thailand and China.
Job Titles:
- Research Associate Bryology
Juan-Carlos is an evolutionary biologist and bryologist with research interest in symbiosis, based at the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systèmes, Université Laval.
I am interested in the evolution of plants and lichens. I use electron microscopy, DNA sequences and genomic data to resolve deep and shallow divergences in plants, especially bryophytes. My recent interests are the functional genomics of cyanobacterial-plant symbioses, especially cycads (Zamia) and the hornwort Leiosporoceros dussii. I am developing genomic resources for hornworts, particularly the species Leiosporoceros dussii. I am also interested in plant-microbial interaction in Canadian Arctic bryophytes and lichens, in particular the genus Stereocaulon.
Juan Carlos is an evolutionary biologist and bryologist, based at the Institut de biologie Intégrative et des systèmes, Université Laval.
Katy is an evolutionary ecologist and RBGE's Quarantine and Plant Health Officer. Her research is focused on the evolutionary changes that may drive or be driven by new host-microbe associations, and on appropriate management responses. Her work bridges Science and Horticulture, investigating best practice for biosecurity for a conservation organisation, and communicating her work to practitioners and the public.
Katy came to RBGE after a postdoctoral fellowship working with the Tree-Microbe Interactions Group at INRA Nancy, and postdoctoral and doctoral work in the Forest Pathology & Mycology Lab at UC Berkeley. Her first experiences in the intersection of plant and fungal ecology were with the Parker and Gilbert Labs, as an undergraduate at UC Santa Cruz.
I am an evolutionary ecologist and the Quarantine and Plant Health Officer for RBGE. I research rapid evolutionary change in plant-pathogen interactions, such as when pathogens are introduced to new lands and new hosts, and how to use this knowledge to protect plants and livelihoods.
Job Titles:
- Plant Health and Biosecurity Scientist
It is important that research provides evidence that can be used by policy makers and practitioners to improve plant health and biosecurity. My research therefore provides cross-sectoral practical management advice for land managers and plant producers to both prevent future pest and disease incursions and manage the introduced species we already have.
Specific research interests include: clarifying the pathways which enable novel species to enter a new region; gauge their spread once introduced; quantifying the impact of pests and diseases and the vulnerability of native habitats to invasion; the non-market costs of introduced species; evaluating the regulatory actions that are, and could be, used to improve biosecurity; predicting the potential impact of climate change on plant pest and disease distributions.
I work closely with Scotland's Centre of Expertise for Plant Health to ensure that my research has relevance for horticulture, forestry, agriculture, and the natural environment in Scotland.
The introduction of novel non-native species into new regions is one of the primary causes of global biodiversity loss. My research therefore aims to improve our understanding of a) the drivers that cause the introduction of plant pest and disease species into new regions, b) how to prevent invasions, and c) how to manage the novel species that have already been inadvertently introduced.
Truong, C., Divakar, P.K., Yahr, R., Crespo, A. & Clerc, P. 2013. Testing the use of ITS rDNA and protein-coding genes in the generic and species delimitation of the lichen genus Usnea (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota): Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 68: 357-372.
Yahr, R. (2000) Ecology and post-fire recovery of Cladonia perforata, an endangered Florida-scrub lichen. Forest, Snow and Landscape Research 75: 339-356.
Job Titles:
- Research Associate Mycology
I do research on parasitic microfungi, their biodiversity, taxonomy and distribution.
I am interested in fungus-plant interactions and their effect on natural communities. I mainly use microscopic techniques for identification and basic investigation. I also have looked at the influence of climate on parasitic interactions; this is clearly relevant in the development of plant and fungal communities, including extinction and establishment events and invasiveness.
Job Titles:
- Research Associate Ecosystem Services
Vladimir has a diverse academic and professional background in natural sciences. His main interest is in understanding indirect interactions in ecological and environmental systems.
Vladimir's ecological studies have encompassed a wide range of biological organisms, including plants and fungi. He has been collaborating with RBGE since 2000, and his current research with Heriot Watt University is examining the biodiversity benefits of blue-green infrastructure.
Job Titles:
- Forest Cover Loss of Rainforest Specialist Species for IUCN Red List Assessments. University of Edinburgh
Job Titles:
- Generalist Species More Able to Cope Than Specialist Species - Snow - Bed Species. ClimateXChange Report, Scotland 's Climate Change Adaptation Programme
Ellis, C.J., Yahr, R., Belinchón, R. & Coppins, B.J. (2014) Archaeobotanical evidence for climate as a driver of ecological community change across the anthropocene boundary. Global Change Biology, 20: 2211-2220
Ellis, C.J. & Yahr, R. (2011) An interdisciplinary review of climate change trends and uncertainties: lichen biodiversity, arctic-alpine ecosystems and habitat loss. In: Hodkinson, T.R., Jones, M.B., Waldren, S. & Parnell, J.A.N. (eds) Climate Change, Ecology and Systematics: 457-489. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Ellis, C.J., Yahr, R. & Coppins, B.J. (2011) Archaeobotanical evidence for a massive loss of epiphyte species richness during industrialisation in southern England. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 278: 3482-3489
Lisewski, V. & Ellis, C.J. (2010) Epiphyte sensitivity to a cross-scale interaction between habitat quality and macroclimate - an opportunity for range-edge conservation. Biodiversity & Conservation, 19: 3935-3949
Ellis, C.J. & Coppins, B.J. (2009) Quantifying the role of multiple landscape-scale drivers controlling epiphyte composition and richness in a conservation priority habitat (juniper scrub). Biological Conservation, 142: 1291-1301
Ellis, C.J. & Coppins, B.J. (2007) Changing climate and historic-woodland structure interact to control species diversity of the 'Lobarion' epiphyte community in Scotland. Journal of Vegetation Science, 18: 725-734
Ellis, C.J., Coppins, B.J., Dawson, T.P. & Seaward, M.R.D. (2007) Response of British lichens to climate change scenarios: trends and uncertainties in the projected impact for contrasting biogeographic groups. Biological Conservation, 140: 217-235
Ellis, C.J., Coppins, B.J. & Dawson, T.P. (2007) Predicted response of the lichen epiphyte Lecanora populicola to climate change scenarios in a clean-air region of northern Britain. Biological Conservation, 135: 396-404
Lisewski, V. & Ellis, C.J. (2009) Evidence that browsing animals can have a significant effect on epiphytic populations of Sphaerophorus globosus in Scotland. British Lichen Society Bulletin, 104: 6-9
Ellis, C.J. (2008) The only constant is change: climate as an emerging feature in a lichenologist's worries. British Lichen Society Bulletin, 102: 60-66
Ellis, C.J. (2004) The lichen ecology of aspen woods - a preliminary analysis. British Lichen Society Bulletin, 94: 23-27
Job Titles:
- Director of Development and Communications
Emma Lacroix was appointed Director Development in May 2018. Previously, she was Head of Philanthropy for the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Edinburgh where she was responsible for leading the major gifts fundraising for eleven schools. Charged with oversight of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh's fundraising and membership operation, Emma provides leadership for development programmes and initiatives across the four gardens. She works closely with Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh staff, trustees, and the Botanic Foundation to identify fundraising priorities and define strategies that support the Garden's mission 'to explore, conserve and explain the world of plants for a better future'.
Job Titles:
- Director of Resources and Planning
Joanne Hannah was appointed as Director of Resources and Planning of RBGE in January 2021. Prior to that she was Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, committed to positively influencing healthcare, professional standards and health policy both nationally and internationally. Previously Joanne has worked as a director, executive advisor, head of commercial services and change and organisational development consultant in professional and higher education institutions across the UK, and in senior management roles within the hospitality and leisure sectors in Hong Kong. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Commerce and Manufactures, Chartered Manager and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, and holds an MBA in International Business Management.
Job Titles:
- Director of Innovation Projects
Kari Coghill joined the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in July 2018 as the Director of Enterprise and Communication. With over 30 years' experience in tourism, marketing and visitor attractions, Kari previously held a number of posts at Historic Environment Scotland/Historic Scotland. Most recently she was Head of Business Development & Enterprise at Historic Environment Scotland, with responsibility for driving visitors to and generating income at over 70 historic visitor attractions across Scotland, including Edinburgh Castle. She also led on the setting up of the trading subsidiary, Historic Environment Scotland Enterprises (HESe) Ltd. Previous work experience includes 10 years at the Scottish Tourist Board (now Visit Scotland) in visitor services and international marketing. Kari is also a trustee of the Association of Cultural Enterprises (ACE) and a previous board member of the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA).
Job Titles:
- Research Associate Mycology
Job Titles:
- Director of Science and Deputy
Pete Hollingsworth is Director of Science and Deputy Keeper at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, a Visiting Professor at the University of Edinburgh, a visiting Professor at the University of Johannesburg, and an Honorary Professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Kunming Institute of Botany. His research focuses on understanding and conserving plant biodiversity. In recent years he has contributed to the international efforts of building a unified DNA based-index of life on earth, including various roles within the International Barcode of Life project and the Consortium for the Barcode of Life. He has a strong interest in linking scientific research to practical conservation outcomes, with particular interests in plant health, reintroductions/translocations and the integration of genetic data into conservation planning.
Professor Cara Aitchison retired as President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University in January 2024 following a 36-year career in higher education. A geography graduate of Edinburgh University, she is Professor Emerita of Geography and Cultural Economy focusing on tourism and rural sustainability. She was previously Vice-Chancellor of Plymouth Marjon University, Head of Moray House School of Education and Professor of Social and Environmental Justice at the University of Edinburgh, Professor in Human Geography and Director of the Centre for Leisure, Tourism and Society at the University of the West of England in Bristol, Chair of the UK Research Excellence Framework Sub-Panel for Sport and Exercise Sciences, Leisure and Tourism, and has held Council positions with the Academy of Social Sciences, UK All Party Parliamentary Group for Universities, and CBI Wales. Professor Aitchison is also a member of the Board of Visit Scotland.
is Chief Scientist at Scottish Water and is responsible for their Scientific and Research and Innovation Services. Prior to that she was Professor of Water Technology and Director of Environmental Technology at Cranfield University. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Royal Society of Chemistry and is on the Boards of UK Water Industry Research and Scottish Water Horizons. Professor Cartmell is a chemist with a BSc (Hons) from the University of Edinburgh and a PhD from Imperial College, London.
Roy is an RBGE mycologist (retired). He received an MBE for contributions to mycology, particularly recognising his teaching and support for amateurs as well as professional mycologists based in the global south. He received the Royal Society of Edinburgh Patrick Neill medal for contributions to Science. He was the first recipient of the Outstanding Contribution Award of Nature of Scotland 2012 for mycological contributions, and the first recipient of the Plant Life International Smart Award 2011 for activities in conservation.
Roy graduated from Sheffield University with a 1st Class BSc (1960) before completing a PhD at Edinburgh University, and then joining the staff of the RBGE as Scientific Officer progressing to Senior Principal Scientific Officer and submitting a successful DSc to Sheffield University. He became Head of RBGE's Mycology & Plant Pathology on the appointment of D.M. Henderson to Regius Keeper.
Roy has published over 150 academic and popular science papers. He has collected fungi and lectured throughout North America and Europe, with stays in both, initially studying arctic/alpine ecosystems. He has made three trips to Cameroon, and visited diverse sites over a period of twenty years in Thailand and Malyasia. He has made extensive trips to Australia and one to India and Zambia. Roy is currently carrying out co-operative work with researchers in Spain (Madrid Bot. Garden) and Thailand (Nakhan Panon University). He is also cataloguing and data-basing the old collections of fungi held in the Edinburgh herbarium and is custodian of the valuable and extensive fungal collections by the late E.J.H. Corner.
Roy is a Former Acting Regius Keeper RBGE, during the inter-regium between Prof. J. McNeill & the appointment of Prof. D. Ingram. He is an Associate Professor Strathclyde University, an Honorary Associate of Aberdeen University, and Visiting Professor at Ramkanhaeng and Suraneree Universities, Thailand. Roy is also an Honorary Member of the Mycological Association of America and an Honorary Member the German Mycological Society. He is a corresponding member of the Nederlandse Mycologische Vereniging.
Roy is a former Editor of the Biological and Medical Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh; Past President of the British Mycological Society; Former Chair of the Institute of Biology Scottish Branch, the Yorkshire Naturalists Union and the South East Scotland Fungus group. He is the President of Clyde and Argyll Fungus Group.
holds the Chair in Food Security at Exeter University. Sarah studied at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (BSc, ARCS, DIC and PhD (Plant Pathology)) where she was awarded the Huxley Medal for her outstanding record of achievement. Sarah was a post-doctoral fellow at St Andrews University and a Reader and Professor at Oxford University where she held a Leverhulme Trust Royal Society Senior Research and a NESTA Fellowship. Sarah was the first woman President of The British Society of Plant Pathology (2011), and was recently appointed to The International Advisory Board at SLU University, Uppsala, and as Advisor to the Scottish Government on Plant Health (RESAS 2018). Sarah was a curator of the Oxford Botanic Garden for 20 years and is a Fellow of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. In 2019 Sarah was listed amongst the most highly cited researchers into plant pathology worldwide and has authored or co-authored over 170 publications including 12 high profile papers in Science, Nature and Nature Journals. Sarah lectures on plant disease - with particular emphasis on fungal infestations - all over the world and is a regular contributor on the topic across a wide range of international and national media. Sarah has great empathy for RBGE's mission and ethos and will make a significant contribution to the team as we continue to counter the twin threats of biodiversity loss and the climate emergency.
Job Titles:
- Director of Horticulture and Visitor Experience
Raoul Curtis-Machin has 33 years of experience in horticulture and heritage. He has been Director of Horticulture at the Horticultural Trades Association, a National Trust Gardens and Parks Adviser, landscape historian, private estate manager, garden designer, publisher, author, lecturer and more. Born in Dundee he developed his childhood interest in horticulture through studying for a degree in landscape management at Reading University.
He has a wealth of heritage, politics, communications and landscape management experience. Raoul also helped protect some of the Scotland's most valuable landscapes when he was the Landscape Historian with Historic Environment Scotland. In his twenties, he managed Sir Winston Churchill's former estate in Sussex and run a successful garden design business in London. In his early thirties he set up and launched The Northern Garden Magazine, for gardeners in Scotland, Northern England and Northern Ireland.
As the HTA's Director of Horticulture, he helped lead the UK garden industry by playing a key role in developing the Ornamental Horticulture Roundtable Action Group and he represented the UK Government as Commissioner-General at the Antalya Expo 2016. In 2018, Raoul returned to Scotland to be the National Trust for Scotland Operations Manager for Culloden Battlefield, which has given him hands-on experience of Scottish heritage tourism, as well as conserving one of Scotland's iconic heritage assets. He has been a Trustee of RBGE since 2019, and has a Certificate in Company Direction from the Institute of Directors, as well as Postgraduate Diplomas in Journalism and Public Affairs.
Simon Milne's passion is nature conservation, plants and leadership. He was appointed the 16th Regius Keeper of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh in 2014 (post established 1699) and plays a leading and international role in the development and management of botanical collections. He was educated at the University of St Andrews and in 1976 commissioned into the Royal Marines with subsequent worldwide operational commando service. In 2000 he became Director of the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens and Arboretum and in 2004 he was appointed Chief Executive of the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Simon is a member of His Majesty's Body Guard of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, is an Honorary Professor of the University of Edinburgh, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and sits on three international garden advisory committees and numerous charitable trusts. He was appointed MBE in 1996. Simon was voted Scotland's top public sector leader by the Institute of Directors in 2020.
is the Chair of Eden Mill, the spirits company working in partnership with the University of St Andrews to create a new sustainable Distillery at St Andrews. She has had a long career in finance and strategy at Board level in consumer businesses including Heineken UK. Most recently supporting organisations to innovate and increase customer engagement as a NXD for the specialist whisky retailer The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and the UK's largest fully certified organic supermarket. She has a lifelong interest in the world of plants and previous Trustee experience spanning fundraising, creative learning work, and community engagement.