We are delighted to welcome Laura MacLeod who joins us to take over from Nina as Administrator and Office Manager. In addition we welcome Graeme Purves and Suzie Saunders as our new Trustees. You can read more about them below.
Laura MacLeod
Laura has worked in the charity sector for over eight years, initially for a membership organisation supporting community pharmacies, and most recently as Operations Manager for a national grant-giving music charity where she led on all operational and administrative activities. She has a BA Hons degree in Business Studies as well as further professional development qualifications in bookkeeping and professional marketing.
Laura is delighted to join the APRS team, particularly at such an exciting time with the centenary next year! As Office Manager, Laura manages all aspects of the administrative and office functions, including finance, governance and membership management. She works Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. She is looking forward to meeting APRS members at upcoming events and joining in the centenary celebrations.
Outside of work, Laura lives in the Scottish Borders, having returned to the area where she grew up after 10 years working in the Central Belt. In her spare time you will find her out walking in the Borders countryside, or more often than not at the local play parks with her young family. She loves spending time in her garden when she gets the chance and this year has been having a go at growing some fruit and vegetables. She also enjoys travelling and discovering new places, whether that be sightseeing in a new city or hiking in the Scottish hills.
Graeme Purves
Graeme has many years experience in the development of strategic planning policy, development management and the environmental assessment of policies and proposals. He led the national and territorial planning team at Scottish Government and was responsible for the preparation of Scotland’s first and second National Planning Frameworks. He brings to APRS experience in urban regeneration and rural development and has been actively involved in encouraging community participation in land and environmental management. He has served on many advisory committees and boards including being part of a group of international experts advising on good practice in spatial planning in the Celtic and Baltic countries, Chair of the Built Environment Forum Scotland, a Director of the Sir Patrick Geddes Memorial Trust and a member of the RSPB’s Scottish Advisory Committee. Between October 2019 and November 2020 he was an expert advisor to the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee of the Welsh Senedd. Between 2018 and 2021 he was a member of the UK2070 Commission examining regional inequality across the United Kingdom.
Suzie Saunders
Suzie is currently a Senior Planning and Environmental Policy Analyst at ScottishPower Renewables, focusing on securing sustainable development that protects and enhances the natural environment. She previously worked in Policy and Public Affairs at the Woodland Trust Scotland, where she led their campaign on the National Planning Framework 4, achieving protection for Scotland’s precious ancient woodlands. During this time, she also held the role of Vice-Convener of the Planning Committee at Scottish Environment LINK. Although her work focuses on the terrestrial environment, she studied marine biology at Aberdeen University and holds a master’s degree in biological sciences. Suzie grew up next to the Peak District National Park but discovered her love of walking later in life. Most weekends, she can be found in Scotland’s hills and countryside and feels passionately about ensuring all people have access to the natural world.