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New Staff join the Scottish Land Commission

Two new members of staff have joined the Scottish Land Commission.

Joining the growing organisation, which was officially established in April 2017, are Katherine Pollard and James Mackessack-Leitch as Policy Officers.

Chief Executive of the Land Commission, Hamish Trench, said:

“I am delighted to welcome Katherine and James to the Land Commission. They will play a key role in delivering our programme of work and Strategic Plan.

“Katherine and James have diverse experience of land issues in both an urban and rural context, important to achieving our objectives in the four priority areas of land for housing and development, land ownership, land use decision-making and agricultural holdings.

“This is an exciting time for the Land Commission and adding to the wealth of skills and knowledge the team has will help us successfully work towards making more of Scotland’s land.”

Katherine Pollard – Policy Officer

Katherine joins the Commission from a Development Officer role at the Lothians & Fife Green Network Partnership. Here she developed a variety of projects and activities around priorities such as woodland management and creation and green infrastructure improvements in both urban and rural areas. Previously, she was Policy and Networks Adviser at the Royal Town Planning Institute.  Katherine has experience working with a wide range of organisations including local authorities, consultancies and community groups to coordinate projects and events.

James Mackessack-Leitch – Policy Officer

James comes from an arable family farming background in Moray and holds an MSc in Sustainable Rural Development. James has a range of experience in the private and public sector as well as with voluntary organisations.  As a director of the Forres Area Community Trust since 2013, he has been heavily involved with projects from ambitious local renewable energy developments to Community Asset Transfer.