Links to meeting minutes are on the right hand side of the page.
Forum Members
Chair: Bob Stubbs (Inverness)
Bob Stubbs is a Forestry graduate from Aberdeen University in 1977 and has worked in the private sector in both the processing industry and in estate management.
The bulk of Bob’s career was spent in economic and rural development where he worked for Highlands and Islands Enterprise and its predecessor, the HIDB. His responsibility there took his interests into other sectors including agriculture; food and drink; and the aquaculture and sea fishing industries in addition to forestry.
Now semi-retired, Bob retains an active interest in rural development across Scotland through his role as an independent Rural and Forest Industries consultant.
In addition, he is the Executive Director of the Scottish Forestry Trust; the leading charitable trust providing funds for research and education in support of the British Forestry industry. Bob is also:
- Former Chair of the Scottish Forest Industries Advisory Board.
- Panel Member of the National Forest Land Scheme.
- Associate, Rural Analysis Associates.
Margaret Davidson (Abriachan):
- Partner in Abriachan Garden Nursery on Loch Ness Side.
- Worked overseas in New Zealand and Falkland Islands as Horticultural adviser and Market Gardener.
- Highland Councillor for Aird and Loch Ness.
- Chair of Housing and Social work Committee.
- Chair Joint committee for Children and Young People.
- A life long interest in land reform.
- Founder member of Abriachan Forest Trust.
- Director Community Woodland Association.
Diane McPherson (Isle of North Uist):
- Team Leader of Strategic Planning and Projects team with Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.
- Specialises in land use planning policy, countryside access, biodiversity including woodland strategy, archaeology, Townscape Heritage Initiative.
- Previous experience includes working with Strathclyde Regional Council on development of land use policy for Loch Lomond Regional Park (now Loch Lomond And Trossachs National Park).
Sheila Nairn (Ardnamurchan):
- Crofter on the family croft in Kentra, Ardnamurchan.
- Rural development worker with a particular interest in the social, economic and cultural development of remote rural areas.
- Keen interest in sustainable and innovative rural development, local heritage, Gaelic language and culture.
Mike Thompson (Maryburgh):
- Partner in timber merchants Munro Harvesting, Dingwall Sawmills.
- Ornithological surveyor.
- Core member of the British Trust for Ornithology’s Highland Ringing Group.
Neil Sutherland (Inverness):
- Partner in Neil Sutherland Architects.
- Director of specialist timber building firm MAKAR Ltd.
- designed and built a range of ecologically sound buildings from locally sourced timber across the Highland area.
Eleanor Garty (Dingwall):
- Woodland Trust Officer for the Highlands, engaged in the conservation management of woodlands and the restoration of ancient woodland sites.
- Former department head and senior lecturer of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Greenmount College, Northern Ireland.
Becky Shaw (Golspie):
- Rural Development Consultant.
- Former programme manager for the Scottish Crofting Foundation.
- Was a member of the Forestry For People Panel and of the Shucksmith Committee of Enquiry on Crofting.
John McGlade (Inverness):
- Private forestry consultant.
- 26 years experience in managing privately-owned woodland in all areas of the Highlands and Islands.
- Chair of the Forestry Advisory Committee of the Scottish School of Forestry.
- Wide experience of grant-aid support for forestry.
- Particular interest in crofter forestry.
Amanda Bryan (Aigas)
- Rural and Community Development consultant working across the Highlands and Islands.
- Former Member of SNH Board and Chair of North Areas Board.
- Former Member and Chair of BBC Scotland's Rural Affairs and Agriculture Advisory Committee.
- Director of Kilmorack Community Hall.
- Part Time Student at Scottish School of Forestry.
Dr Michael Foxley (Fort William)
- Highland Regional Councillor for Mallaig, Ardnamurchan and the Small Isles 1986-1996.
- Highland Councillor for Ardnamurchan and Morvern 1995 -2007, now Fort William and Ardnamurchan.
- Chair of Highland Council’s Land and Environment Committee 1986 – 2003. Led for the Council on Land Reform.
- Vice Convener Highland Council 2003-2007.
- Leader of the Administration of Highland Council 2008 – current.
- Chairman of Budget Working Group 2003 – Lochaber Area Chair of Education 1998.
- Chair of Climate Change Working Group 2008.
- New Schools; Gaelic.
- Affordable Housing, European Funding, Rural Health.
- Member of 8 Community Boards/Trusts.
- Chair of Sunart Oakwoods Initiative 2000 to current.
Steve Conolly (Cawdor)
- Managing Director of Cawdor Forestry's forest management and consultancy services.
- Specialist skills include information technology, management planning, budgetary control, timber marketing and forest certification.
- Was responsible for developing an integrated database, GIS and photo real visualisation to provide an invaluable day to day forest management resource available to all Cawdor Forestry clients.
- Experience includes working for large forest management companies, timber processors and has also worked overseas in Australia, Tanzania and Russia.
- Has been involved in the wider forest industry, the Scottish Forest Industry Cluster and until recently chaired the Highlands and Islands Forestry Industry Cluster and represented CONFOR on the Forestry Commission Customer Representative Group.
