SCOTTISH LAND & ESTATES - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner of Forneth Estate
- Vice - Chair ( Operations )
Andrew has over 25 years business management experience principally in the retail industry. Having completed a retail graduate course in America, he returned as a menswear buyer for Jenners department store in Edinburgh. He spent the following 18 years maintaining its reputation as a leading UK retail establishment, occupying several...
Since 2015, Andrew has been the Managing Partner of Forneth Estate, near Blairgowrie. The 2,000 acre mixed farm has an Aberdeen Angus cattle herd, along with sheep, spring barley and potato operations. In addition, the estate manages residential lettings and is also extending its forestry operations both commercially and via natural regeneration. The ethos of the estate is very much one where agricultural activities work in harmony with wildlife. He is passionate in sharing the message about the value of rural businesses and how sensible diversification can enhance rural enterprises.
Calum joined Scottish Land & Estates in November 2019 as a Digital Communications Officer. While studying for a degree in Film and Media at Queen Margaret University, he participated in freelance work for a variety of brands, photographers and individuals. Following his graduation in 2017, he joined a small North Lanarkshire business in a marketing role, which provided him with a different set of challenges and opportunities. In February 2022, Calum stepped up as SLE's new Digital Projects Manager.
Job Titles:
- Wildlife Estates Scotland Project Officer
Caroline joined Scottish Land and Estates as a Project Officer for Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES). She made the jump from ITPEnergised where she undertook the role of Environmental Consultant, managing environmental impact assessment and due diligence projects for clients in the energy industry. Her role is to evolve WES and to secure...
Clare started at SLE in July 2018 as Regional Support Officer for the South East region as well as Regional Coordinator of the other four regions. Clare joined SLE from the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs (SAYFC), where she served as Agri and Rural Affairs Manager. Prior to her time at SAYFC, Clare worked for Members of...
Dee owns and runs Rottal Estate in the Angus Glens. Rottal is accredited by Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) and is a mixed upland estate with the focus very much on wildlife and biodiversity balanced alongside a traditional sporting estate. The estate activities include sheep farming, holiday lets, grouse shooting, deer stalking, a hydro...
Derek has owned and run the Drimnin Estate, on the western tip of the Morvern peninsula, just north of the Isle of Mull, since 2002. The estate has played a key role in the regeneration of the Drimnin community, with a continuous programme of restoring its buildings, constructing new affordable houses, restoring the natural environment...
After graduating from Reading University with a BSc in Land Management, Evelyn joined Savills plc in 1988, initially based in the Brechin office before moving to the Rural Agency Team in the Edinburgh office in 1995. Evelyn was appointed as a Director of the business in 2014 and has recently been appointed Head of Rural Agency for...
Job Titles:
- Our North - East Regional Support Officer
Fiona joined Scottish Land & Estates as our North-East Regional Support Officer to support and enhance member activities in the region, including engagement with politicians, stakeholders and assistance in organising events and estate visits. In October 2021, Fiona took on the role of North of Scotland Regional Coordinator. A business...
Hamish owns and runs Pitlour in Fife, a mixed farming, woodland, and sporting estate managed with particular emphasis on restoration - and sustainable conservation of - historic buildings and landscape, and on wildlife friendly farming and forestry practices. Hamish was educated at Glasgow Academy and University of Stirling, where he is a...
Job Titles:
- Business Development Manager
Hannah joined Scottish Land & Estates in November 2021 having worked for GLM as their Marketing Manager and Associate Director. During her time at GLM Hannah relocated and opened a second office for the business in Inverness becoming a well known face in the Highland business community as well as mentoring the technical team to develop...
Joanna has joined SLE for the Summer, as our communications intern. She has just finished her 3rd year at Napier University where she is studying Social Sciences and hoping to go into public relations or media. She has been working with Calum, our Digital Projects Manager, and the rest of the team on the Helping it Happen awards and will...
Joyce joined the organisation in 2006, having previously been employed as a legal secretary. Joyce is PA to our Executive Director, and provides support to the Chair and Vice-Chair. If you were a Scottish animal, which would you be and why? I would be a lamb - because they are young! What do very few people know about you? I like to read...
Job Titles:
- Policy Advisor ( Forestry, Conservation & Wildlife Management )
Karen joined Scottish Land & Estates from Scottish Natural Heritage where she was involved in ensuring the positive management of areas designated for their habitats, species and geological interest. Prior to this, Karen worked on the Saving Scotland's Red Squirrels Project where she developed landowner and volunteer engagement to protect...
Laura is a partner of Minuntion in South Ayrshire, a hill farm and sporting estate which includes tourism and woodland alongside other interests with an emphasis on the restoration of habitats and farming for wildlife and biodiversity. She has a degree in Scottish Literature and History of Art and spent her early career as a producer of...
Job Titles:
- Legal Adviser
- Legal Advisor
As Legal Adviser, Leanne will lead on our legal and tax work, advising members and colleagues on a range of topics.
Leanne joined Scottish Land and Estates in June 2022 as our Legal Advisor. Having completed a BA in Business Studies at Napier University, Leanne went on to complete the LLB and Diploma in Legal Practice at the University of Edinburgh before qualifying as a solicitor in 2012.
Leanne spent her early legal career in Perthshire before returning to Edinburgh and latterly spending over 6 years within the Rural department of an Edinburgh law firm providing land owning clients with advice covering a range of rural matters including property work, crofting law, agricultural tenancies and voluntary registration.
After graduating from Aberdeen University in 2006, Lucy spent her early career at one of the UK's leading public relations consultancies working with high profile brands including O2, AirFrance, KLM, Famous Grouse and The Scottish Government. Lucy developed a passion for marketing and communications, implementing highly targeted national...
Marie is a qualified bookkeeper (IAB) with 13 years of experience. Marie provides bookkeeping & accounts preparation for Scottish Land & Estates and looks after any member queries. If you were a Scottish animal, which would you be and why? A wildcat because I'm firery! What do very few people know about you? I sucked my finger until I was...
Mark's career has ranged from tending refugees to investment banking. His working life began in nursing with the NHS, which included a period in a Tibetan refugee camp in India. Mark then joined the Scots Guards before moving into a career in the City of London in 1974. Over the next 43 years he held various roles including running the...
Michael works in the investment management industry, originally in London and now in Edinburgh. While looking after clients' investments he also helps in the running of Douglas & Angus Estates. This company looks after the family's homes in South Lanarkshire and the Borders. Both estates are fully diversified and include agricultural...
Nadia has joined Scottish Land and Estates as the Membership Co-ordiantor. Having been brought up just outside of the Angus Glens, she has great rural knowledge and loves the Scottish countryside and all it has to offer. One of Nadia's favourite past times being getting out with her working dogs during the shooting season. After studying...
Job Titles:
- Clydeside Regional Support Officer
Nic joined Scottish Land & Estates in April 2022. Growing up on a farm in Uplawmoor, East Renfrewshire, Nic has always had a love for the countryside, animals, and farming. Following on from school she spent many years working across multiple industries including landscaping, construction, and property, progressing with each opportunity...
Job Titles:
- Policy Advisor ( Agriculture & Climate Change )
Paul joined Scottish Land and Estates in July 2021. Growing up in Northumberland, Paul was first introduced to agriculture by his late grandfather, before choosing to pursue a career as a British Army Officer. On leaving regular service and settling with his wife in the Scottish Borders, he has gained experience working in investment...
Ross was appointed as Director of Moorland at Scottish Land & Estates in July 2022.
Ross, who lives near Comrie in rural Perthshire, previously worked as public affairs manager for the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) in Scotland. He successfully represented the interests of shooting and country sports in the Scottish Parliament, and was jointly responsible for securing £1 million of Scottish Government funding to support country sports businesses badly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. He also led a high-profile campaign to highlight abuse being directed towards Scottish gamekeepers, and produced the government-endorsed guidance that allowed country sports to legally take place between Covid-19 lockdowns.
Ross holds a first-class honours degree in Geography from the University of St Andrews, as well as a masters degree in sustainable mountain development (with distinction) from the University of the Highlands and Islands. He researched grouse moor and deer management extensively at both institutions.
Outside of work, Ross enjoys game shooting, deer stalking, hill walking and skiing. He is also a warfare officer in the Royal Naval Reserve specialising in submarine operations.
Job Titles:
- Central Regional Support Officer
Ruth joins Scottish Land and Estates from the rural frontline at Glenprosen Estate where she has looked after the Estate Administration since 2013. Home is the Angus Glens where the family settled in 2012 making this home after life in HM Armed Forces. Ruth is a retired army officer, her commission with the Corp of Royal Engineers posting...
Job Titles:
- Policy Advisor ( Rural Communities )
Sarah joined Scottish Land & Estates in October 2021. She is a graduate of the University of Stirling with a BA (Hons) in History and Politics and MSc in Human Rights and Diplomacy, delivered by the UN Institute of Training and Research. Sarah previously worked for parliamentarians in both the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments, having...
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive
- Director
- Events & Publications Coordinator
Jane joined the organisation in 1999 after 13 years in the electronics industry. She has had various roles in the organisation over the years, becoming Communications Officer in 2006 and then Events & Publications Co-ordinator in 2015. Jane is responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of the SLE Spring Conference and all other HQ...
Sarah-Jane was appointed as Chief Executive of Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) in December 2019, the first woman to hold this role in the organisation's 110 year history.
Sarah-Jane, who lives on the family farm in Hume in the Scottish Borders, has steadily climbed the ranks at the rural business organisation over the past fifteen years, starting out as housing strategy officer before moving to the role of Head of Policy and then Executive Director in 2017, before her current role as Chief Executive. Sarah-Jane was also reappointed as a Board Director at our online Annual General Meeting in April 2020.
Leading a team of 25 SLE colleagues based across Scotland, Sarah-Jane's role includes influencing the UK Government on a wide range of issues that will impact rural Scotland. At Holyrood, her focus is on addressing climate change, increasing the supply of quality, affordable rural homes and developing a post-Brexit land-use policy which delivers resilient businesses and thriving rural communities as well as increased environmental resilience and wider societal benefits.
She is also responsible for encouraging Scotland's landowners, whether they are communities, private individuals or charities, to be open, inclusive, enabling and responsible, through SLE's Landowners' Commitment. The Landowners' Commitment sets out how landowners can continue to operate their businesses, while contributing to the public good and all SLE members sign up to it.
Prior to joining SLE she spent over 10 years in housing and planning with local authorities and housing associations.
Sarah-Jane represents SLE on a large number of external stakeholder groups, is a member of the Scottish Government's Women in Agriculture Taskforce, the Climate Change Emergency Response Group as well as a recipient of the Farmers Club Windsor Leadership bursary.
Job Titles:
- Policy Advisor ( Access and Visitor Management )
At the age of 14 Simon secured his first job on a farm in Kent during the school summer holidays. Since then he has consistently worked in the rural industries and estate management sectors. Based at the White Cliffs of Dover for many years, he managed all National Trust countryside locations across Kent and South East London, welcoming...
Job Titles:
- Press & Public Affairs Manager
Simon is a proud Borderer hailing from Peebles, and an alumnus of the University of St Andrews, where he graduated in French and German in 2011. Following an Erasmus year in France, Simon developed a keen interest in Scottish and European politics which has shaped his career. Simon worked with several senior Scottish politicians between...
Stephen Young joined SLE in August 2019 from the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society (SAOS), where he was project manager. In his new role, Stephen is responsible for managing SLE's policy team at its Musselburgh HQ, as well as leading development of SLE's policy positions and guiding the provision of member advice. Stephen studied Rural Business Management at Aberdeen University and went on to work in an assistant manager's role at the Borders Machinery Ring, dealing with member requests and purchasing farm inputs on their behalf. From there, Stephen joined SAOS, where he was tasked with providing co-operative solutions for a wide range of industry issues as well as facilitating three monitor farms and benchmarking groups for farmers. Brought up on a dairy and arable farm in Kinross-shire, Stephen remains a partner in the family dairy farm. In 2018, he graduated with a Master's degree in Management from St Mary's University, Nova Scotia.
Job Titles:
- North East Regional Support Officer
Prior to starting as SLE's North East Regional Support Officer, Sue was the Regional Co-ordinator for the Strathdearn and Speyside Moorland Group. Sue particularly enjoyed the Community Engagement side of this job and arranged several educational days for Young Carers and Secondary Schools as well as coordinating the group to provide a large number of free meals in December as part of the national Game for Giving initiative.
Sue grew up on the Isle of Skye so has a good understanding of rural communities and the issues faced, particularly housing shortages. Both of her parents ran Hospitality businesses during that time and her Mum continues to do so in Moray. She has had several jobs in the Hospitality industry, including recruitment for a Chef Agency and Business Development for a tourism based membership organisation.
In 2014 Sue qualified as an Equine Physiotherapist and still works at this part time, with a good client base in the North East and the Highlands.
Sue now lives on a Sporting Estate with her partner who is a Grouse Keeper. In her spare time during the shooting season she goes beating on her own and neighbouring estates with her working cocker spaniel. In the spring and summer, she enjoys getting out hiking in the surrounding mountains.
Job Titles:
- Director of the Scottish Moorland Group
- Senior Policy Advisor
- SLE As Our Senior Policy Advisor
Tim Baynes joined SLE in 2012 originally as Director of the Scottish Moorland Group (SMG), and later as Director of Moorland when the SMG became fully integrated into SLE. This role found Tim specialising in moorland management, particularly grouse moors and related sporting and conservation issues. He managed the Gift of Grouse campaign and coordinated a network of seven regional moorland groups of owners and hill keepers, as well as an informal coalition of sporting and land management bodies. He has been closely involved in stakeholder groups such as the Moorland Forum, PAWS Scotland and projects such as the British Game Assurance, Aim to Sustain and the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership.
As of July 2022, Tim now works with SLE as our Senior Policy Advisor.
Tony has been involved with the organisation since 2010, initially as a contractor arranging logistics for some of SLE's major events, before being appointed as Head of Business in 2018. Tony works alongside our Vice Chair Operations and Executive Director to increase new business, improve member services and increase business effectiveness. This includes the day-to-day management of finance, membership, IT and infrastructure.