Staff and board
The Park Authority staff team and board play a key role in ensuring that both the natural environment and the local communities within the National Park are cared for and sustained for current and future generations to enjoy.
Working together, staff and board develop a National Park Partnership Plan, which is the key document that shapes all activity in the National Park for a five-year period.
The overall purpose of the Park Authority board individually and collectively is to provide leadership, direction, support and guidance to ensure the Park Authority delivers its functions effectively and efficiently, and in accordance with the aims, policies and priorities of the Scottish Ministers. The board is made up of 19 members. Five are elected locally, seven are appointed by Scottish Ministers, and a further seven are nominated by the five councils in the Cairngorms National Park, these being Highland (two), Aberdeenshire (two), Moray (one), Angus (one) and Perth and Kinross (one). Members normally serve between 18 months and four years and are currently paid a day rate of £250.67 (for 2.6 days per month).
Related
Board committees
The Cairngorms National Park Authority board meet formally throughout the year, and have a range of committees that help to steer the work of the Park Authority and ensure accountability.
Becoming a board member
Find out more about the possible routes to becoming a board member with the Park Authority
Meet our board members
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Sandy Bremner
Sandy is Convener of the Park Authority board and has a strong focus on working with communities, and a determination that nature and people should thrive at a time of major challenges for both.
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Eleanor Mackintosh
Eleanor Mackintosh was born and brought up in Glenlivet and is a directly elected board member, and former financial advisor.
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Geva Blackett
Geva Blackett has lived in Braemar for almost 30 years. Having served as a directly elected board member, she is now an Aberdeenshire Council nominee to the board.
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Jackie Brierton
Jackie is a passionate advocate for Scotland’s diverse rural economy and was previously CEO of GrowBiz Scotland and founder of Women's Enterprise Scotland. She chairs the Cairngorms Economic Steering Group and Cairngorms Tourism Partnership.
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Dr Peter Cosgrove
Peter has lived and worked in the Cairngorms since 1998, and in that time has sought to demonstrate and communicate that climate change threatens livelihoods and important biodiversity across the Cairngorms.
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Kenny Deans
Kenny used to be a teacher at Kingussie High and is a local community leader and outdoor enthusiast who skis, bikes and climbs. He is a keen gardener and allotment holder.
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Paul Gibb
Paul is an experienced geologist who is keen to support the local economy and address areas such as affordable housing and improved transport links.
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Dr Hannah Grist
Hannah is a researcher and lecturer in ecology and the environment, with experience in conservation and climate change. She has a strong background in science communication, stakeholder engagement and citizen science.
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Russell Jones
Russell Jones is an independent councillor, elected in May 2022, representing Highland Council’s ward 20, Badenoch and Strathspey.
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John Kirk
John was directly elected to represent ward three of the National Park including the communities of Carrbridge, Cromdale, Grantown-on-Spey and Nethy Bridge. He farms at Nethy Bridge with his wife.
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Bill Lobban
Bill has lived with his family in Aviemore for over 40 years. He is an experienced councillor who was first elected to represent local people in Badenoch and Strathspey in 2012.
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Lauren MacCallum
Lauren is a passionate advocate for community and climate action, and takes a leading position in mobilising the outdoor sports community for climate action.
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Ian McLaren
Ian McLaren is an independent councillor, elected in May 2012, representing Angus Council, Forfar and District.
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Dr Fiona McLean
Dr Fiona McLean has extensive experience as an academic leader, with an international reputation for research and teaching in cultural heritage and tourism marketing.
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Steve Micklewright
Steve is an ecologist and has worked in nature conservation for over 30 years. He is passionate about nature restoration and its benefit to the community.
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Duncan Miller
Duncan is a fourth generation Strathspey farmer with a keen interest in sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices that can help boost biodiversity and cut down on a farm’s carbon footprint.
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Ann Ross
Ann has a connection with the area going back generations, and a deep rooted love for the mountains, rivers and glens of the National Park.
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Derek Ross
Derek is a former teacher and independent councillor representing Speyside Glenlivet. As a keen outdoor enthusiast, he wishes to preserve the National Park’s distinctive character.
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Mike Williamson
Mike is a councillor for Perth and Kinross Council and holds a diploma in Amenity Horticulture.
Achieving the ambitious aims set out in the National Park Partnership Plan is only possible with a dedicated team of staff. From countryside rangers and conservation experts to planning officers, our specialist teams are passionate about delivering on the ground, with a shared vision to make the Cairngorms National Park an outstanding place where people and nature thrive together.
We have around a hundred members of staff operating out of our headquarters at Grantown-on-Spey and our office in Ballater, working across our Nature and Climate Change, Planning and Place and Corporate Services directorates. They are led by our Chief Executive and three directors.
Meet our senior staff
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Grant Moir, Chief Executive
Grant grew up in Perthshire and joined the Cairngorms National Park Authority as Chief Executive in March 2013.
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David Cameron, Deputy Chief Executive
David is a qualified accountant and an experienced human resources practitioner.
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Andy Ford, Director of Nature and Climate Change
Andy has built up more than 30 years’ experience in countryside management after graduating from Sunderland University with a degree in ecology.
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Gavin Miles, Director of Planning and Place
Gavin grew up in Royal Deeside and is a graduate of Glasgow and Strathclyde universities and has been a chartered town planner since 2003.
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Louise Allen, Head of Finance and Corporate Operations
Louise leads a team that takes responsibility for financial management and governance, information technology and security, and procurement.
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David Berry, Head of Planning and Chief Planning Officer
David Berry studied town planning at the University of Sheffield and has been a chartered town planner since 2005.
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Kate Christie, Head of Organisational Development
Kate first joined the Park Authority in 2004, working as a project manager to identify, arrange, and support training and development for people working for land-based businesses.
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David Clyne, Head of Cairngorms 2030
David is the Programme Director for Cairngorms 2030, a pioneering initiative delivering transformational change across the Cairngorms National Park.
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Oliver Davies, Head of Communications and Engagement
Olly manages a cross-disciplinary team of media, digital, publications, community engagement and economic development / tourism specialists.
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Dr Sarah Henshall, Head of Conservation
Sarah leads the nature team on a range of exciting conservation projects from the reintroduction of beavers to the National Park to strategic habitat work and building species resilience.
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Colin McClean, Head of Land Management
Colin has been involved in various forms of practical land management, specialising in deer management, pinewood and upland management.
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Colin Simpson, Head of Visitor Services and Active Travel
Colin leads on work across welcoming visitors, including infrastructure, and oversees ranger and volunteer activity.
Get in touch
You can contact the Park Authority board by emailing [email protected] or calling 01479 873 535. Please note that board members are not able to respond on live planning matters.
To contact a member of the Park Authority's staff, email [email protected] or call 01479 873 535. All correspondence addressed to individual staff or board members will then be passed to them directly.