The other members of the Steering Group, which will advise Mr Reid, are:

The Duke of Buccleuch

President of the National Trust for Scotland

Douglas Connell

Joint Senior Partner of Turcan Connell, Solicitors. Specialist in trust and charity law

Professor Susan Deacon

Professor of Social Change at Queen Margaret University and former Scottish Minister for Health

Sir Tom Farmer

Entrepreneur and philanthropist. Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards

Sir Brian Ivory

Former Chair of the Trustees of the National Galleries of Scotland

Lesley Knox

A Governor of the Museum of London and chair of its Archaeology Committee. Chair of Alliance Trust

Angus MacDonald

Member of Council, National Trust for Scotland. Entrepreneur and charity fundraiser

Ian Percy

Former Chair of the Accounts Commission for Scotland. Has written extensively on governance issues

Martin Sime

Chief Executive of the Scottish Council of Voluntary Organisations. Has recently completed a study on relations between Third Sector organisations and Government.

The Duke of Buccleuch said: “These are people who will bring real experience and authority to the Review. It is encouraging that they are prepared to give their time and talents to the future of the National Trust for Scotland”.

Mr Reid commented: “The Steering Group has four jobs to do. It has to sign off the Fit for Purpose methodology of the review. It has to prioritise the Issues facing the Trust as these emerge from widespread consultation. Then it has to look at the Options before moving on to Recommendations. And, throughout the process, I am delighted that I can draw on their experience in finance and audit, heritage, outreach and governance.”

Chief Executive Kate Mavor added: “I am delighted that the trust is now focused on the future, and that the Review will examine key issues of finance and governance.”

Mr Reid has been commissioned by the Trust’s Council:

- To conduct a strategic review of NTS resources and governance in order to assess the organisation’s capability to address current and future challenges

- To do so independently and transparently, taking into account the views of all stakeholders
To report by end June 2010, making recommendations and providing an outline plan and timetable for implementation.