Senior Leadership Team
Our CEO, directors and heads of unit provide the executive leadership, and strategic and operational management of NatureScot.
Find out what each member of the Senior Leadership Team is responsible for and the skills that each individual brings to the role.
You can view the salaries paid to our Chief Executive, directors and heads of unit in our Annual Report and Accounts.
Last updated:
Interim Chief Executive, NatureScot
Nick Halfhide
Nick brings over 30 years of experience in environmental stewardship to his role as Interim Chief Executive of NatureScot. Previously serving as Director of Nature & Climate Change, he's lead efforts to reverse the decline in nature, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from Scotland’s land and sea, and support nature’s adaptation to climate change.
His priorities include protecting 30% of Scotland’s land and sea by 2030, restoring habitats and species across the country, and fostering greater appreciation of nature’s essential benefits. Nick’s extensive career includes leadership roles at the Cairngorms National Park Authority, the Deer Commission for Scotland, and South of Scotland Enterprise.
With a deep commitment to Scotland’s nature, Nick is dedicated to building a sustainable future for both people and the environment.
Telephone: 01463 725224
Email: nick.halfhide@nature.scot
Director of Green Economy
Robbie Kernahan
Robbie is the Director of Green Economy at NatureScot. Working across government and with a range of externals, a key theme throughout his work is the need to deliver multiple benefits from land, establish a more integrated approach to land management and improve the links and understanding between people and Scotland's natural capital.
Telephone: 01463 725353
Email: robbie.kernahan@nature.scot
Director of Business Services and Transformation
Jane Macdonald
Jane is the strategic lead on organisational transformation and the delivery of excellent business and corporate services. Working collaboratively across the organisation, she and her teams provide the expertise, functions and facilities to empower colleagues to deliver for nature and the people of Scotland. Her focus is on enabling NatureScot, Scotland’s nature agency, to be a successful, innovative and inclusive organisation.
Telephone: 01463 725054
Email: jane.macdonald@nature.scot
Director of Nature and Climate Change
Eileen Stuart
Eileen is the strategic lead for work with Government and stakeholders to protect and restore nature and enhance our resilience to the changing climate. Eileen’s mission is to ensure that the actions arising from the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy are taken forward in an integrated way - across all society - to ensure they improve nature while also enhancing people’s wellbeing, alongside the wider social and economic benefits that arise from a healthy environment.
Telephone: 01463 725227
Email: Eileen.stuart@nature.scot
Deputy Director of Green Economy
Claudia Rowse
Claudia is Deputy Director of Green Economy for NatureScot. She provides senior leadership on supporting transformative land use and investing in natural capital to address the twin challenges of biodiversity and climate change. With over 20 years of experience on land use policy and practice, she now leads NatureScot's peatland restoration team, and NatureScot's Farming with Nature Programme working with farmers and crofters to enhance nature and tackle climate change while producing high quality food.
Telephone: 01463 725319
Email: claudia.rowse@nature.scot
Deputy Director of Nature and Climate Change
Stuart MacQuarrie
Stuart is NatureScot’s lead for science, monitoring and surveillance on sea and land, ensuring that national and international commitments for nature recovery are progressed in Scotland. Stuart drives forward action to enhance people’s connection with nature, promoting our work on landscape, recreation as well as overseeing our development of nature restoration funding streams to support the creation of a nature-rich and resilient future.
Tel: 01463 725274
Email: stuart.macquarrie@nature.scot
Deputy Director for Business Services and Transformation
Marie Hernandez
Marie is NatureScot’s Deputy Director of Business Services and Transformation supporting Jane with the strategic direction and leadership of NatureScot’s People & Organisational Development, Workplaces and External Funding Teams. She works closely with our extended leadership team, trade union partners and our employee networks and forums to enact our People, Estates and Net Zero Strategies. Her focus is on supporting all our colleagues to do their best work, by ensuring our organisational culture supports us all to thrive while we work.
Tel: 01463 725159
Email: marie.hernandez@nature.scot
Head of External Affairs
Jason Ormiston
Jason leads on strategic PR, stakeholder engagement and brand. His goal is to position NatureScot as a key partner with people and organisations across Scotland which share the ambition of a fair, bold and effective plan for nature recovery and the pursuit of net zero carbon emissions.
Tel: 0131 3162650
Email: jason.ormiston@nature.scot
Contact
Executive Office
Email: Executive_office@nature.scot
