Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) has appointed four new Trustees, who were welcomed at the annual general meeting on 11th December by chair Maggie Wright. The new members are joining as the Trust continues to grow and drive forward future projects and congoing community consultations.
The board, now bolstered with expertise in Commercial Development, Architecture Conservation, Strategy Development, Fundraising and Cultural Heritage Partnerships, will oversee the future development of the Trust.
Ailsa Macfarlane (photographed above by Iona Shepherd) is an experienced leader working in cultural-heritage partnerships and policy using her experience in strategy development and stakeholder consultation to effectively advocate for the cultural-heritage sector. With wide knowledge of the funding environment and previous grants involvement, her breadth of experience will strongly contribute to the Scottish Historic Building Trust’s strategic aims and objectives.
Lily Erskine (photographed above by Iona Shepherd) is a Structural Engineer with over a decade of experience working on some of Scotland’s most significant historic buildings. She was the first woman in Scotland to be elected to the Conservation Accreditation Register for Engineers and is an active mentor, supporting women in STEM. Her dedication to both heritage and representation reflects her commitment to leaving a lasting impact in her field and beyond.
Two further additions to the board are Andrew McRae, a Chartered Architect and retail entrepreneur, and Davis Ellis, a strategy and transformation consultant, specialising in complex and challenging cross-industry transformation projects.
Andrew McRae (photographed above by Iona Shepherd) is a Chartered Architect, passionate about our historic built environment, Global Scot and retail entrepreneur. As an architect he specialised in architectural conservation and restoration. Separately, he has successfully launched and operated retail brands in the UK, Hong Kong, Macau and Manila and has been in the international spotlight for developing and exporting a unique retail concept centered on design that celebrates Edinburgh’s history and literary heritage.
David Ellis (photographed above by Iona Shepherd) is a results-driven transformational change specialist with a proven track record of success in both entrepreneurship and strategic consulting, leveraging six years of experience as a startup founder and leader. He brings with him a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit, analytical acumen, and leadership skills to every project.
Chair of Scottish Historic Buildings Trust Maggie Wright said:
“We’re delighted to welcome our new trustees who bring new skills and experiences. As a charity, we are increasingly dynamic and ambitious, and with Lily, Andrew, Ailsa and David bringing fresh enthusiasm, I am evermore confident that we will be able to deliver on our exciting plans for Leith Custom House, Edinburgh’s Tron and a whole host of important heritage projects the length and breadth of the country. I would also like to pay credit to one trustee and former Chair who has retired from the Board, John Campbell KC, whose leadership and support over some twenty years has helped to bring to fruition the restoration of so many historic buildings in Scotland, the legacy of which helps sustain our activities today.”
For further information, please contact Fiona Sim or visit SHBT’s website.