Contact our experts
Experts available for interview
Thank you for contacting the National Trust for Scotland.
The National Trust for Scotland is the country's most diverse conservation organisation, responsible for 310,000 members, 200,000 acres of countryside, 46 Munros, 394 miles of mountain footpaths, more than 100,000 precious artefacts, 130 key historic buildings, 35 major gardens, 7 national nature reserves, 45 sites of special scientific interest and the UK's only dual World Heritage Site.
Our staff have a huge range of expertise in many areas of conservation work. Many are available for interview on a range of subjects.
To organise an interview with any specialist listed below, please call 0844 493 2483.
Click here to download a list of experts available for interview.
Senior managers
click to view
Name
Job Title
Area of expertise
Based in
Available for
Kate Mavor
Chief Executive
Leading a conservation charity
Edinburgh
TV, radio, print
Pete Selman
Director of properties and visitor services
Strategic management of Trust properties, land management.
Edinburgh
TV, radio, print
Terry Levinthal
Director of Conservation
Overall conservation theory and strategy. Architectural heritage; countryside management (especially protected areas and National Parks, Heritage policy and policy development. Planning and resource management.
Edinburgh
TV, radio, print
Robert Ferguson
Group Manager - Buildings and Gardens West
Buildings & gardens in the West, especially Pollok House, Holmwood and Threave. Collections of art & antiques.
Glasgow
TV, radio, print
Steve Callaghan
Group Manager - Buildings and Garden North
The Trust generally; tourism; museums; community projects; the conservation/commerce balance.
Sauchen
TV, radio, print
Alexander Bennett
Group Manager - Countryside North
Countryside and Islands and specifically, St Kilda, Fair isle, Canna and Mar Lodge.
Inverness
TV, radio, print
Christopher Cassells
Group Manager - Countryside South
General Land Management and Countryside related issues.
Glasgow
Radio, print
David Mc Allister
Battle of Bannockburn Project Director
All aspects of the project to transform facilities at the Bannockburn site in time for the 700th anniversary.
Edinburgh
TV, radio, print
Nat Edwards
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and David Livingstone 200 Director
The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, the life and works of Burns, the place of Scots language in education and heritage.
Events to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of David Livingstone, the life and legacy of Livingstone, future plans for the David Livingstone Centre, Blantyre.
Glasgow
TV, radio, print
Natural heritage
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Name
Job Title
Area of expertise
Based in
Available for
Arthur Martin
Head of Countryside and Nature Conservation
Wildland, general countryside management issues.
Innerleithen
TV, radio, print
Dr Richard Luxmoore
Senior Nature Conservation Adviser
Nature conservation, Geology, Marine ecology, seabirds, deer and other wildlife management, environmental economics, climate change, peat and carbon sequestration, moorland management, ornithology, any other science-based enquiry.
Lochgilphead
TV, radio, print
Lindsay Mackinlay
Nature Conservation Adviser
Mammals (inc bats, red squirrels, feral goats, badgers, etc.), wild plants/ flowers, wildlife gardening, mountain/upland conservation issues, wildlife law, grassland/meadow conservation, habitat restoration, ancient/old tree conservation.
Edinburgh
TV, radio, print
Robert Dewar
Nature Conservation Adviser - North
Invasive species - rhododendron control, mink control. Protecting water voles. Conservation management at Torridon, Inverewe, Corrieshalloch Gorge.
Inverness
TV, radio, print
Duncan Stevenson
Countryside Project Manager
General overview of all Trust Countryside Properties, countryside access, woodland.
Biggar
TV, radio, print
Bob Brown
Mountains for People Project Manager
Mountain path repairs, Torridon, Glencoe, Arran, Mar Lodge.
Inverness/ onsite
TV, radio, print
Fiona Milne
Senior Ranger - North East Ranger Service
Broad knowledge of general countryside and wildlife, with a focus on the North East.
Banchory
Radio, print
Iain Turnbull
Manager - Balmacara Estate, Beaton's Croft House & Strome Castle
Crofting, GIS, Rural Development & Conservation, Ecology.
Balmacara
TV, radio, print
William Fraser
Manager/Senior Ranger/Naturalist - Kintail, Morvich & West Affric, Falls of Glomach
Deer management, upland management (habitats, access, footpath etc), outdoor activities (hillwalking, kayaking etc).
Kintail
TV, radio, print
Susan Bain
Susan Bain St Kilda National Nature Reserve, Mingulay, Berneray & Pabbay
St Kilda.
Inverness
TV, radio, print
Seamus MacNally
Manager/Senior Ranger/Naturalist - Torridon & Shieldaig Island
Deer management, mountains, mountain rescue/ search dogs, Torridon.
Torridon
Radio, print
Helen Cole
Manager/Senior Ranger/Naturalist - Ben Lawers & Moirlanich
Aspects of upland conservation management, particularly relevant to Ben Lawers eg alpine flora (rare species and habitats), restoration of upland habitats, upland footpath work including high altitude re-vegetation.
Killin
TV, radio, print
Alasdair Eckersall
Manager/Senior Ranger/Naturalist - Ben Lomond, Bucinch & Ceardach + Upland Footpath Team Project Manager
Ben Lomond, flora and wildlife, grazing management, upland footpath repair and maintenance, control of Rhododendron ponticum.
Drymen
TV, radio, print
Scott McCombie
Manager/Senior Ranger/Naturalist - Glencoe & Dalness
Generalist on most ecological issues, Glencoe habitats.
Glencoe
TV, radio, print
Kate Sampson
Senior Ranger/Naturalist - Goatfell
Landscape, conservation, access and wildlife on Arran. Black grouse reintroduction, rhododendron control, upland bog restoration.
Brodick
TV, radio, print
Karl Munday
Manager - Rockcliffe, Murray Isles & Venniehill + Senior Ranger - Dumfries & Galloway Ranger Service
Wetlands, birds, wildlife management, land management & nature conservation, Dumfries & Galloway Countryside Properties.
Castle Douglas
TV, radio, print
Liza Cole
Property Manager / Senior Ranger Naturalist- St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve & Voluntary Marine Reserve
St Abb's Head and St Abbs & Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve.
St Abb's
TV, radio, print
Cultural and built heritage
click to view
Name
Job Title
Area of expertise
Based in
Available for
Derek Alexander
Interim Head of Archaeological Services
Scottish Archaeology in general and in relation to Trust properties.
Glasgow
TV, radio, print
Shannon Fraser
Archaeologist
Archaeology of a wide range of periods, history of gardens and designed landscapes, social history, particularly 17th-18th century, cultural heritage management.
Sauchen
TV, radio, print
Daniel Rhodes
Interim Archaeologist
Archaeology, historic environment records (HER) World Heritage (UNESCO), post-medieval archaeology, maritime archaeology, colonialism.
Edinburgh
TV, radio, print
Clare Meredith
Head of Collections Conservation Services
Conservation of collections (material culture, ie historic artefacts); Collection Care/Housekeeping; also preventive conservation of collections and historic interiors, ie providing best internal environmental conditions (temperature, light, relative humidity); monitoring insect pest activity Relevant to all Trust properties with historic collections on display or in storage.
Edinburgh
TV, radio, print
Mel Houston
RBBM Project Conservator / Conservator (Technical)
Pest management in historic interiors.
Edinburgh
TV, radio, print
Ian Riches
Archivist
Trust archives; St Kilda archives held by the Trust.
Edinburgh
Print
Bryan Dickson
Head of Buildings Services
Maintenance and management of historic buildings.
Edinburgh
TV, radio, print
Sian Loftus
Little Houses Improvement Scheme Project Manager
Little Houses Scheme and vernacular buildings.
Suachen
TV, radio, print
William Napier
Lead Surveyor - East and West
Building pathology, architectural conservation, lime and masonry conservation, 17th century architectural history.
Edinburgh
TV, radio, print
Gardens
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Name
Job Title
Area of expertise
Based in
Available for
Robert Grant
Head of Gardens & Designed Landscape Services
Trust gardens and designed landscapes in general, Scottish garden history, top and soft, fruit cultivation in a garden context, organic gardening.
Sauchen
Print
Sinclair Williamson
Gardens Adviser - Centre for Excellence in Heritage Horticulture
Horticulture, historic garden management - general heritage horticulture training within the Trust, plant records.
Edinburgh
TV, radio, print
Maurice Wilkins
Head Gardener - Arduaine Garden
Anything to do with Arduaine Garden, ferns, rhododendrons, plants in general, Phytophthora ramorum (sudden oak death).
Loch Melfort
TV, radio, print
Steve McNamara
Manager/Head Gardener - Branklyn Garden
Menconopsis (Blue Poppy).
Perth
TV, radio, print
Nigel Price
Manager/Head Gardener - Crarae Garden
Woodland gardens, rhododendrons
Inveraray
TV, radio, print
Mark Jeffrey
Head Gardener - Culross
Garden history, organic fruit and vegetable growing. Culross Palace and its history.
Culross
TV, radio, print
Susan Russell
Head Gardener - Culzean
Culzean Castle and Country Park gardens, plant collections, glasshouses
Maybole
TV, radio, print
Sonia Ferras-Mana
Head Gardener - Falkland Palace
Gardens, events, Falkland Palace garden.
Falkland, Fife
TV, radio, print
David Ferguson
Manager/Head Gardener - Greenbank Garden
Greenbank Garden including its varied plant collections and the history of Greenbank House
Clarkston
Radio, print
Louise Arnot
Head Gardener - Inveresk Lodge Garden
Horticulture, Inveresk Lodge Garden
Musselburgh
Print
George Gregson
Property Manager/Head Gardener - Priorwood Wood and Harmony Gardens
Horticultural expertise, Priorwood and Harmony Gardens, Harmony House, Harmony Cottage, Pear Cottage. Priorwood Dried Flower shop and production areas.
Melrose
TV, radio, print
Susan Burgess
Head Gardener - Pitmedden Garden
Pitmedden Garden - history and plant collections- apples, herbaceous plants, summer bedding plants and the care and maintenance of formal parterre gardens.
Ellon
TV, radio, print
Brian Corr
Head Gardener - Threave
Head Gardener - Threave Threave and its plant collections
Castle Douglas
Print
Property/subject specific
click to view
Name
Job Title
Area of expertise
Based in
Available for
Scott McMaster
Property Manager - Alloa, Bannockburn, Culross & the Pineapple
Battle of Bannockburn, medieval battle techniques, medieval Scottish history
Stirling
TV, radio, print
Peter Ellis
Property Manager - Barry Water Mill
Traditional milling techniques, mill history
Carnoustie
TV, radio, print
Stewart Connor
Property Manager - Canna
Canna
Canna
TV, radio, print
Christina Low
Property Manager - Castle Fraser, Craigievar Castle and Leith Hall
History and collections of these properties
Sauchen
TV, radio, print
Duncan Cook
Learning officer - Culloden
18th century military history and wide areas of military history in general. Culloden and its history and development of the new interpretation centre. 18th century to 19th century historical interpretation and Living History presentation
Inverness
TV, radio, print
Paul Pomfret
Property Manager - Culzean
General management
Maybole
Radio, print
Dr Sheonagh Martin
Property Manager - The Georgian House
Georgian lifestyles, the Lamont family, the Georgian House - redecoration, events, about the property, about the volunteers and volunteering
Edinburgh
Radio, print
Roger Brown
Property Manager - Balmerino Abbey, Hill of Tarvit & Kellie Castle
Background, history and character of all three properties, Slow Food, food tourism, the East Neuk of Fife area
Pittenweem
TV, radio, print
Jim McDowell
Senior Assistant - Holmwood House
History of the house
Glasgow
Print
Kathleen Dalyell
Property Manager - House of the Binns
History of the Dalyell family and House of the Binns, along with its collections
Linlithgow
TV, radio, print
John McKenna
Manager - House of Dun & Montrose Basin Nature Reserve, Angus Folk Museum, Camera Obscura, J M Barrie's Birthplace
Promotion of properties, property management, House of Dun, Barrie's Birthplace, Camera Obscura, Angus Folk Museum
By Montrose
TV, radio, print
Rhiannon Naismith
Property Manager - Newhailes
Newhailes, Preston Mill
Musselburgh
TV, radio, print
Mark McLean
Learning Officer - Newhailes
Newhailes in general, especially the house and the Scottish Enlightenment. Any philosophical/theoretical debate about conservation/heritage/art
Musselburgh
TV, radio, print
Nat Edwards
Director - Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
Life and works of Robert Burns, the Scots language, the collections at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
Alloway
TV, radio, print
Caroline Glenn
Property manager - Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
Operational issues relating to running the museum, Robert Burns
Alloway
TV, radio, print
Dr Alison Burke
Learning manager - Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
Learning in a heritage environment, drama, engaging young people in the work of Burns
Alloway
TV, radio, print
Gen Harrison
Property Manager/Compositor - Robert Smail's Printing Works
Traditional and Victorian printing, paper making techniques, Innerleithen's industrial history
Innerleithen
TV, radio, print
Lorna Hepburn
Property Manager - The Hill House
Social history - particularly late 19th and early 20th century, living conditions and housing conditions, the Tenement House, the Hill House
Helensburgh
TV, radio, print
Catherine Stenhouse
Property Manager - The Tenement House
History of tenements, Glasgow tenement, the Tenement House
Glasgow
TV, radio, print
Sheila Innes
Property Manager - Threave Estate
Threave garden and estate
Castle Douglas
Print
Christine Macleod
Property Manager - Weavers' Cottage
Handloom weaving, traditional weaving methods on a 200 year old loom. Taught by one of the last of the old weavers in Scotland in the property. Tartan design and creation
Kilbarchan
TV, radio, print
Sandra Morrison
Learning Manager
Learning in a heritage environment
Sauchen
Print
Violet Dalton
Head of Volunteering
Volunteer management in a heritage environment, the benefits of volunteering
Edinburgh
