Public appointment: Chair and Member appointment extended on the Scottish Land Commission

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands today announced the extension to the appointment of Andrew Thin as Chair and a Member of the Scottish Land Commission.

Chair and Member

Andrew Thin is Chair of the Scottish Land Commission (since December 2016) and was recently appointed as a Board Member of the Crofting Commission (since September 2022). He is also an Independent Prison Monitor within HMIPS (since Sept 2020). He has almost thirty years of experience in leadership roles in the public, private and third sectors, and has a particular interest in strategic and cultural leadership. He has a Masters Degree in Business Administration and has worked extensively in board level roles. His previous public sector board roles have included Crofters Commissioner, Children’s Hearings Scotland, Chair of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, Chair of Scottish Natural Heritage and Chair of Scottish Canals. He lives near Inverness with his wife and two children, and in his spare time enjoys hill walking and cycling.

Extension

This extension will be for 3 months and will run from 19 December 2023 until 18 March 2024.

This extension is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

This extension is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £275.52 per day for a time commitment of 4 days per month.

Other ministerial appointments

Andrew Thin is a Member of the Crofting Commission, for which he receives remuneration of £8000 per year, for a time commitment of 1 day per week.

Political activity

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 five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. 

Andrew Thin has had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

The Scottish Land Commission is an executive non-departmental public body established on 1 April 2017 by the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2016. The Commission is led by a Board of Commissioners comprised of five Land Commissioners and the Tenant Farming Commissioner, who are appointed by Scottish Ministers. The Board of Commissioners is chaired by Andrew Thin, and is supported by a team of staff led by Hamish Trench, the Chief Executive.

The Commission’s remit is to review the effectiveness and impact of laws and policies, and provide advice and recommendations to Scottish Ministers on matters relating to land in Scotland. The Tenant Farming Commissioner also has a range of statutory powers and has a vital role in improving relationships between tenants and landlords. In addition to these functions, the Commission conducts a programme of engagement, produces guidance and supports good practice in land ownership, management and use.

The Commission published their Strategic Plan 2020 to 2023, in September 2020, which sets out their key priorities over the next three years: reforming land rights, embedding responsible land ownership and use, and reforming land markets. They will deliver these priorities through a combination of leadership and non-regulatory culture change, alongside their statutory functions to review and advise on legislative and policy change. The Strategic Plan reflects the commitments on land reform in successive Programmes for Government, is consistent with the Scottish Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement, and supports work to deliver a green and inclusive economy and meet climate change targets.