Dr Sam Gardner (chair)

Head of Climate and Sustainability, Scottish Power

Sam is the Head of Climate Change & Sustainability at Scottish Power where he is driving forward a program of work designed to ensure Scottish Power plays its full part in tackling climate change.  During his time with Scottish Power Sam has introduced SBTi targets for the company, developed a company-wide Sustainable Development Strategy, led on TCFD and delivered a full program of engagement around COP26 as a Principal Partner.

Sam was a Director of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland for 6 years and on the Board of Scottish Environment Link. He has also been a Board member of Evaluation Support Scotland for 6 years. He Chaired the Edinburgh Climate Commission for three years. He is a member of the Climate Emergency Research Group (CERG) and is an advisor on the Scottish Government's Climate Change Plan Advisory Group.

Professor Tavis Potts

Professor of Just Transitions, Aberdeen University

Tavis is a Personal Chair in Sustainable Development and Environmental Governance. Prof. Potts interests include understanding just transitions and the social dimensions of climate and energy; marine resource governance and planning; participatory and community-based approaches to managing natural capital; and the political economy of environmental policy and decision-making.

Professor Carly McLachan

Director of Tyndall Centre Manchester, University of Manchester

Carly is the Director of Tyndall Manchester - an interdisciplinary team working on policy relevant research on climate change. She is based within the School of Engineering at the University of Manchester. Her research interests focus on how stakeholders, including publics, engage with energy and sustainability issues and how 'evidence' is used within this. Her current research focuses on city and local authority climate action and decarbonising live music. She is Associate Director of the ESRC Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformation (CAST).

Dr Mel Rohse

Associate Professor of Sustainable Communities, Anglia Ruskin University

Mel researches people’s everyday experiences and perceptions of environmental change, specifically in the energy and water sectors. Her work explores personal and collective narratives of transition and resilience (including any barriers to those) in the context of sustainable energy and water consumption. Aspects of this work include climate change-related emotions and mental health, and public engagement with energy-related projects. With a wealth of experience working on interdisciplinary projects, she is interested in mechanisms that allow researchers to go beyond disciplinary boundaries.

Dr Victoria Loughlan

Head of Climate Change Policy, National Wealth Fund

Victoria heads up the Climate Change Branch in the Policy and Strategy Team at the National Wealth Fund. The unit covers building decarbonisation (heat networks retrofit), industrial decarbonisation (electrification, energy and resource efficiency), circular economy, water and natural capital sectors. She is currently on secondment from Scottish Government where she previously held roles leading on Climate Change in the First Minister’s Policy Unit and leading on the development of Scottish Government’s approach to funding and finance for net zero. Victoria is passionate about tackling the problems and barriers to making progress on mitigating and adapting to climate change. She is lives in Glasgow with her partner and two young children, and enjoys wanders in the great outdoors, often fuelled by home baking

Emma Cooper

Head of Land Rights and Responsibilities, Scottish Land Commission

Emma leads the Land Commission’s Good Practice Programme, working with landowners, communities, and stakeholders to promote and embed good practice in land ownership and management. This work is shaping change on the ground to ensure more people benefit from Scotland’s land by supporting the practical implementation of the Scottish Government’s Land Rights and Responsibilities Statement (LRRS). Emma has been working with and advocating for sustainable rural communities since 2011 and led the delivery of the first Scottish Rural Parliament in 2014

Rachel Searle

Head of Communities & Impact, Foundation Scotland

Rachel has been leading Foundation Scotland’s place-based work since 2012. Her team provide dedicated support to 100+ community benefit arrangements across Scotland and work closely with communities, industry and government on policy and practice around community benefit. Rachel also leads Foundation Scotland’s policy and impact work which is increasingly focused on using funds to drive more transformative change

Miriam Brett

Co-Director, Future Economy Scotland

Miriam is one of the Co-Directors of Future Economy Scotland. She is also an advisory group member of Common Wealth think tank, a board member of Green New Deal Rising, and a research fellow at The Democracy Collaborative and the Wellbeing Economy Alliance. She sits on the expert panel for the North Ayrshire Community Wealth Building strategy and was also a member of the Scottish Land Commission tax and land working group. 

Elizabeth Docherty

Director, Scottish Communities Alliance

Elizabeth has a career spanning over 20 years in the third and public sector, with experience in strategic and operational management across a range of sectors including community, education, health and social care and social enterprise.  As Director of Scottish Community Alliance, Elizabeth will build upon the existing legacy to promote and support the work of members, create opportunities for collaboration, engage with decision makers to influence policy development and build a wider understanding of the community sector in Scotland.

Euan Leitch

CEO, SURF (Scotland's Regeneration Forum)

Euan joined SURF as Chief Executive in May 2021 following 8 years with the Built Environment Forum Scotland. He is a longstanding supporter of SURF and its cross-sector collaborative approach to addressing inequalities. At BEFS Euan delivered a strong programme of strategic policy work that included promoting and fostering the productive links between the built environment and community regeneration, diversity, resilience and the maintenance agenda. A priority for Euan is ensuring that communities experiencing the consequences of deprivation are actively involved in responding to the climate emergency

Rachel Nixseaman

Director, Deciding Matters

Rachel is a Director with Deciding Matters, an independent, participatory democracy organisation supporting governments, communities and people to re-think power and shape the decisions that will impact them. Rachel is responsible for the design and delivery of deliberative processes such as citizens’ assemblies and participatory budgeting, empowering communities to act as drivers and decision makers. She is a trustee at the Hymans Robertson Foundation and active community volunteer.