Directors are appointed to the Board because of the skills and experience they have in relation to greenspace, relevant policy areas and across a range of sectors and professional backgrounds. The composition of the Board ensures that we keep a focus on the grass roots issues affecting practical delivery of greenspace projects, as well as enabling us to work in partnership with other national organisations with related remits to ensure that greenspace is fully integrated into wider policy agendas. The board meets quarterly. Copies of meeting agendas, board papers and minutes are available on request.
board members
Pam Whittle CBE (Chair)
Pam is a former Director of Public Health & Health Improvement for the Scottish Government and a lifelong keen gardener. Since retiring from the Civil Service at the end of 2008 Pam has continued to be actively involved in a range of activities and issues. She became Chair of Greenspace Scotland in August 2009, is a non-executive Board member of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, a Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society council member, a Board member of Stevenson College Edinburgh and a member of the Scottish Government’s National Food and Drink Leadership Forum. In 2009 Pam was awarded the CBE for her services to public health in Scotland.
Howard Pearce CVO (Deputy Chair)
Howard was a member of HM Diplomatic Service from 1972 to 2006. His overseas postings included Argentina, Kenya and Hungary. From 1999 to 2002 he was High Commissioner to Malta, and from 2002 to 2006 Governor of the Falkland Islands and Commissioner for South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. Since his retirement in 2006 he has been involved in charity work. He chairs the South Georgia Heritage Trust and the Exhibiting Societies of Scottish Artists, is Deputy Chair of Greenspace Scotland, and is a Board Member of the New Island Conservation Trust. His interests include classical music, opera, history and the countryside.
Merrill Smith (Financial Director)
Merrill is a Chartered Landscape Architect and Head of Business Development and Support Services in Dundee City Council’s Leisure & Communities Department. She has previously worked for Merseyside Metropolitan Council in Liverpool, the Parks and Recreation Department in Johannesburg City Council – South Africa, Perth and Kinross District Council in the Leisure & Parks Department, and in private practices in both Zambia and South Africa. During her time with Dundee City Council, Merrill has worked on a number of major strategies, including Dundee’s Ambassador Routes, Public Open Space Strategy, Sports and Physical Recreation Strategy and Pitch Strategy. She is the Chair of the Dundee Partnership for the Environment, which is one of the community planning themes in Dundee, and is the Manager of Dundee's Flower and Food Festival. She had given papers to a number of Conferences on the benefits of Public Open Space and Parks and was the Chair of Tayside Biodiversity Forum for 3 years. She is also a director of Sensation (Dundee Science Centre) and the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions and treasurer of VOCAL (Voice of Chief Officers of Cultural and Leisure Services in Scotland). Her interests are sport, gardening, cooking and travel.
Mary Allison
Mary started out in life studying music and drama before gravitating to a degree in leisure studies. She has worked in the Centre for Leisure Research in Edinburgh and as research manager for the Sports Council GB and has undertaken a wide variety of research in the areas of sport, arts and outdoor recreation. The overall theme of ‘quality of life’ was strong throughout her research and led to an interest in health and wellbeing. Mary took up her first post in Health Scotland as research specialist for physical activity, older people and the environment. Following a secondment to the Scottish Executive to support the delivery of the Physical Activity Strategy for Scotland, she returned to Health Scotland in 2005 to be Head of Health Topics. In October 2008, Mary took up the post as Director of Programme Design and Delivery. Mary is passionate about the role of our built and natural environments in shaping how we feel about ourselves and our connections to others.
Cathy Johnston
Cathy is a regeneration professional, who has a background as a landscape architect and planner. She has a keen interest in ensuring that the landscape of our towns and cities plays a pivotal role in the local distinctiveness of the place, as well as the health and well-being of those who use it. Cathy currently works for Glasgow City Council, is a member of the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Green Network Partnership Board and is also a former Director of the Central Scotland Forest Trust.
Chris Lewis
Chris has been Chief Executive of the Edinburgh & Lothians Greenspace Trust since 2000 and a greenspace scotland board director since its formation. ELGT is an independent charity that delivers a wide range of community-based projects to create and improve access to quality greenspace within Edinburgh and the Lothians. As a member of their steering groups, Chris was closely involved with the creation of greenspace scotland and, more recently, the Central Scotland Green Network and the Lothian and Fife Green Network partnerships. He is also a trustee of the Mavisbank Trust which is working to restore the historic Mavisbank House in Midlothian. Prior to moving to Scotland, Chris worked in the public, private and voluntary sectors for over 25 years, progressing through lecturing, tourism development and marketing, directing several national visitor management projects, consultancy and charity management.
Sheena Wurthmann
Sheena was Senior Lecturer at Glasgow Caledonian University where she was involved in teaching and research on the environment and ecology of urban areas. She retired six years ago but continues to do some teaching. Sheena is a Member of the Heritage Lottery Fund Scottish Committee. She is also on the Conservation Committee of Scottish Wildlife Trust and is a director of Eco-Congregation Scotland. In her spare time she enjoys quilting, reading and travelling.