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.
Chief Executive, NatureScot
Nick Halfhide
Nick Halfhide was appointed as CEO of NatureScot on 1st September 2025 having served as interim chief executive from January 2025.
Nick has held various leadership roles in NatureScot over the years, most recently as Director of Nature and Climate Change and previously as Director of Sustainable Growth, and prior to that Director of Operations and Head of Operations. In 2020 he was seconded to the role of Interim CEO at South of Scotland Enterprise where he was successful in setting up a new public body in the face of a global pandemic and economic downturn. He served as the CEO of the Deer Commission for Scotland between 2005-2010. He has also held senior roles in the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
Nick brings over 30 years of experience in environmental stewardship to this role. He has worked to make Scotland’s nature on land and sea, in our rivers and along our coasts, more abundant and resilient. He is dedicated to building a sustainable future for people, businesses, communities, and the environment. He has spent those 30 years working, living and raising a family in the Highlands.
Email: [email protected]
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
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: [email protected]
Director of Nature and Climate Change
Stuart MacQuarrie
Stuart is NatureScot’s Interim Director of Nature and Climate Change, working to protect and restore nature across Scotland and ensuring that national and international commitments for nature recovery are progressed with a particular emphasis on the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and delivery plan. He acts as Chief Scientist, working closely with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and other Statutory Nature Conservation Agencies. He oversees the development of nature restoration funding streams to support the creation of a nature-rich and resilient future. He also leads our work in the marine environment, developing our approach to effective Marine protection and off-shore renewable development.
Tel: 01463 725274
Email: stuart.macquarrie@nature.scot
Interim Deputy Director for Nature & Climate Change
David Maclennan
David Maclennan is NatureScot’s Interim Deputy Director for Nature & Climate Change and is the strategic lead for work to restore nature and tackle climate change as well as enhance people’s connection with nature.
David leads teams of specialists providing advice on species conservation, protected areas, and recreation, to Scottish Government, local authorities, and partners to help create a nature-rich and resilient future for the people of Scotland. He leads our science, monitoring and surveillance on sea and land, ensuring that national and international commitments for nature recovery are progressed in Scotland with a particular emphasis on the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and delivery plan. He oversees the work of NatureScot’s Scientific Advisory Committee.
David has over 35 years of experience of working with NatureScot and its predecessor bodies in Scotland. In various roles, David has extensive experience in a wide range of activities including protected areas, wildlife management, invasive non-native species, conflict species, land use, National Nature Reserves, development management, Community Planning and climate change.
Tel: 01463 701635
Email: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
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: [email protected]
Contact
Executive Office
Email: [email protected]
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