The Minister for Environment and Climate Change, Paul Wheelhouse has announced the council-nominated appointments to the boards of Scotland's two national parks.
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 2017 and require board members to commit a minimum of two days each month. The daily fee for the Cairngorms National Park Authority is £199.82 and for the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park Authority £199.35.
Cairngorms National Park Authority
Councillor Peter Argyle (Aberdeenshire Council) represents the Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside ward, is currently chair of Aberdeenshire Council's Infrastructure Services Committee and has considerable experience in planning economic development. He has lived and worked in rural Aberdeenshire for some 25 years, which included various land based enterprises and for a period as a Countryside Ranger. Mr Argyle is an enthusiastic hill walker with particular love of the Cairngorms.
Councillor John Latham (Aberdeenshire Council) represents the Huntly, Strathbogie and Howe of Alford ward. He was born in Aberdeen and brought up on Deeside. Councilor Latham served as a countryside ranger for 27 years. Latterly he was the senior ranger with Aberdeenshire council covering the Aberdeenshire part of the National Park. He worked closely the Cairngorms Partnership and subsequently with the Cairngorms National Park Authority. He brings practical and professional experience in visitor management, conservation and ecology to the National Park.
Councillor Jeanette Gaul (Angus Council) represents the Kirriemuir and Dean ward. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. As well as bringing her skills in personnel management, she has experience in working with community groups, organising community events, tourism and budget monitoring.
Councillor Bill Lobban (Highland Council) is the councillor for the Badenoch and Strathspey ward. He has lived and worked in Aviemore for over 20 years and gained an in-depth knowledge of the area. Councillor Lobban cares passionately for the area and has a strong interest in ensuring local communities in the national Park are fully involved in the decision making process.
Councillor Gregor Rimell (Highland Council) is a member for Badenoch and Strathspey and has close ties to the area, going back generations. He has served as a directly elected and council nominated board member. His particular interest is in making sure local communities are fully involved in park life. Mr Rimell's skills are particularly suited to the Finance Committee within the Cairngorms National Park Authority which he has been a member of for much of the time since its inception.
Councillor Fiona Murdoch (Moray Council) is the member for the Speyside – Glenlivet ward which includes the Tomintoul and Glenlivet part of the park. Councillor Murdoch is returning to the board after an absence of two years. She is currently chair of Moray council’s Economic Development & Infrastructure Committee with a special interest in sustainable rural economy and tourism. Councillor Murdoch is a farmer’s daughter from Banffshire and had a career in journalism & small business before joining Moray council in 2007.
Councillor Kate Howie (Perth & Kinross Council) was elected in February 2008 as the member for the Highland Ward of Perth and Kinross Council and since that time has been much involved in all aspects of the proposed inclusion of Highland Perthshire and the Angus Glens in to the Cairngorm National Park. Her former career in the Army has given her considerable experience in strong leadership, good communication skills, human resources and managing public funds as well as expertise in transportation and logistics. She is Chair of Perth and Kinross Rural Forum which comments and inputs into a wide range of both Government and EU policy documents, supports the development of renewable energy/green tourism and encourages educational and farm links with the schools education curriculum. Kate has a keen interest in the culture of Scotland and is Vice Convenor of the Scots Language Centre.
Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Authority
Councillor George Freeman (Argyll & Bute Council) is originally from South Queensferry, just outside Edinburgh although he has now lived in Garelochhead for over 31 years. He has served as an elected councillor within Argyll & Bute since 1999 where he is the lead councillor for housing and Chairman of the Argyll & Bute Strategic Housing and Communities Forum. A large section of his Lomond North ward is within the National Park boundary. He was a civil servant having worked in logistics filed for 30 years prior to taking early retirement in 1999. George is also a former Chairman of Gairlochhead Community Council.
Councillor James Robb (Argyll and Bute Council) represents the Helensburgh Central ward, lives on the boundary of the park and is a frequent user of its facilities. He is Lead Councillor for Strategic Finance and European Affairs Area Leader for Helensburgh and Lomond Chair of Helensburgh and Lomond Area Committee, Helensburgh and Lomond Community Planning Group and Helensburgh Public Realm Improvement Project Board. He has had a broad ranging career that has given experience in project management, financial and business analysis, sales and marketing.
Councillor Bob Ellis (Perth and Kinross Council) is the member for Blairgowrie and The Glens ward is on Perth & Kinross Outdoor Access Forum and is Chairman of the highly regarded Perth & Kinross Countryside Trust. He is also the current Chair of Perth & Kinross Duke of Edinburgh's Award Association and a member of the Blairgowrie & East Perthshire Tourist Association. Councillor Ellis has experience in partnership working, bringing communities and landowners in the park together on joint projects.
Councillor Fergus Wood (Stirling Council) represents the 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. Councillor Wood represented the National Farmers Union on the advisory committee setting up the park.
Councillor Martin Earl (Stirling Council) represents the Trossachs and Teith ward. For the last twelve years he’s lived and worked running his own business in the small community of Brig o’Turk, in the heart of the National Park. He is chair the of Trossachs community council a position he has held for the last seven years and for the last four years has been the treasurer of the local community trust.
Councillor Hazel Sorrell (West Dunbartonshire Council) represents the Lomond ward. She has lived her entire life on the doorstep of the National Park and as a child often played in the Balloch Country Park. She is currently a member of the Councils Planning Committee and will bring her experience in planning matters to the National Park. She is interested in access for local communities and attracting visitors to the National Park from around the world, which she regards as the most beautiful place on the planet.