ΒιΆΉ΄ε

Seven new trustees selected from across the research, policy, science communication and philanthropic sectors will add a broader range of expertise to the Scottish Association for Marine Science (ΒιΆΉ΄ε) governing council.

Selection of new governing council members has taken into account the changing research funding landscape and boosted the membership on council to 11 people, covering a range of expertise.

The appointments were ratified at the recent ΒιΆΉ΄ε’ annual general meeting. The new-look governing council will be responsible for guiding the institute’s operations and research strategy.

The new trustees are: Prof John Baxter, former principal marine adviser at Scottish National Heritage; Sarah Brown, marine planning consultant; Prof Colin Brownlee of the School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton and former director of the Marine Biological Association; Lisa Chilton, head of fundraising at the University of Aberdeen Development Trust; Prof Ailsa Hall, director of the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St Andrews; Dr Deborah McNeill, Director of the Glasgow Science Festival; and Susan Watts, a former BBC journalist now working in freelance science communications.

They join Ian Dunn, Mark Batho, Hazel Allan and Professor Sandy Tudhope on the governing council.

ΒιΆΉ΄ε Director Prof Nicholas Owens said: β€œΒιΆΉ΄ε needs to have a broad range of talents and skills at the top level of governance to help guide us through an ever-changing research environment.

β€œI am delighted we have a multi-skilled team that will bring fresh, new ideas to ΒιΆΉ΄ε, which has been at the forefront of marine science research for 134 years.

β€œI welcome the new trustees to ΒιΆΉ΄ε and look forward to working with the new-look governing council.”

The ΒιΆΉ΄ε annual general meeting also marked the end of six years at the helm for Prof Geoffrey Boulton as ΒιΆΉ΄ε president.

Prof Boulton, a former Vice Principal of the University of Edinburgh, said: β€œThe new council represents another step in creating a strong, responsible and energetic single governing body for ΒιΆΉ΄ε, to replace the former, divided governance model of council and board.

β€œThe role of the new governing council will be vital in ensuring that ΒιΆΉ΄ε' financial recovery continues onto a healthy, sustainable level, and that ΒιΆΉ΄ε is both ambitious and effective as part of the global battle for a healthy marine environment and in supporting Scotland’s marine priorities and those of its coastal communities. I wish the new Council and ΒιΆΉ΄ε fair winds and following seas.”