Public appointment: Members reappointed to NatureScot Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs Gillian Martin MSP, today announced the reappointment of Jill Robbie, Jaboury Ghazoul, and Margaret Davidson as Members of the NatureScot Board.

Members

Margaret Davidson has worked as a professional nurseryman on Loch Ness side for forty two years. She stood for election in 1995 as an Independent Councillor for the Highlands and served for twenty seven years. She brings power of scrutiny and political awareness to the NatureScot Board and has a constant ambition for community involvement.

Jaboury Ghazoul is a Professor of Ecosystem Management at ETH Zurich. He was a member of the Expert Committee on Forest Science for Forest Research from 2013-2021. He has led research in Scotland, Europe, and the tropics on forest and landscape restoration, and social-ecological systems analyses of landscape change with a focus on conservation.

Jill Robbie is Professor of Property Law and the Natural Environment at University of Glasgow. Her expertise includes sustainable management of natural resources, particularly water and wetlands, and the role of law and policy in encouraging good land management. Throughout her time at NatureScot, she has taken an active role in relation to beaver reintroduction as Chair of the Scottish Beaver Advisory Group.

Reappointment

These reappointments will be for 2 years and will run from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2028.

These reappointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

These reappointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £354.14 per day for a time commitment of 42 days per year.

Other ministerial appointments

Margaret, Jaboury and Jill do not hold any other public appointments.

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.   

Margaret has served as Leader of Highland Council from 2017 to 2022 and as an Independent Councillor within the last five years.

Jaboury and Jill have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

Scotland’s nature, land- and sea-scapes are a superb inheritance and internationally renowned.  Through their life-giving processes they sustain all our lives and wellbeing: a healthy natural environment not only provides food and water, minerals and energy, flood protection and climate regulation, it also sustains our mental and physical wellbeing. 

NatureScot is an Executive Non Departmental Public Body which advises the Scottish Government on all aspects of nature and landscape across Scotland.  NatureScot’s role is to help secure the sustainable management of Scotland’s natural heritage for the benefit of all.  It delivers its purpose by providing advice to Scottish Ministers and Local Authorities, promoting good practice, and by working in partnership with others in the public, private and voluntary sectors to help secure the enhancement of, and benefits from, our natural assets for society.