Jane Ryder to chair Historic Environment Scotland

A solicitor with extensive boardroom experience has been chosen to chair the new public body Historic Environment Scotland (HES).

Jane Ryder OBE, former chief executive of the Office of the Scottish Charities Regulator and chair of Arts & Business Scotland, has been appointed for a four year term as head of a 10-strong board which also includes one other solicitor.

The chair appointment, which is unremunerated, requires a time commitment of up to 24 days per annum. It will run from 19 January 2015 until 18 January 2019.

Trudi Craggs, a partner in CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, has also been appointed to the board, along with Dr Janet Brennan, chair of the Scottish Castles Association; Alan Clarke, former CEO of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board; Professor David Gaimster is director of The Hunterian at the University of Glasgow; Andrew Holmes, former director of city development for Edinburgh City Council; Dr Coinneach Maclean, former deputy chief executive of the National Trust for Scotland; Dr Fiona McLean, vice chair of the board of governors for the University of the Highlands & Islands; Dr Paul Stollard, an architect and specialist in the fire safety of buildings; and Dr Ken Thomson, principal of Forth Valley College. 

Announcing the appointments, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Europe & External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said: “Jane brings with her immense experience in setting up a new body from her time with the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and in-depth knowledge of Scotland’s museum and historical assets. The new board contains the breadth and strength of the skills and knowledge required to make the most of Scotland’s rich heritage."

HES, which takes up its full powers on 1 October 2015, combines the functions of Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.

Ms Ryder, who is also a board member of the new Revenue Scotland tax authority, commented: “It is a huge privilege to be the first chair of Historic Environment Scotland. The opportunities identified by [strategy document] Our Place in Time and its shared vision, the expectations placed on HES and the skill and enthusiasm of the staff who will come together to form that body all add up to an exciting time for the historic environment.

“I look forward to working with my fellow board members and the excellent staff of the two existing bodies to make the ambitious vision set out in Our Place in Time a reality.”