Scottish Civic Trust has appointed Sue Evans as its Chair.
Landscape Architect Sue Evans has taken up her new role as Chair of the Scottish Civic Trust Board as of the 3rd September 2020.
Sue brings to the Trust a wide range of experience with the built and natural environment. Sue is Deputy Chair of Architecture and Design Scotland, whose purpose is to champion good architecture, design and planning in the built environment on behalf of Scottish Ministers. She played a key role in the establishment of the Central Scotland Green Network (CSGN), the largest green infrastructure programme of its kind in Europe. As head of development at the Central Scotland Green Network Trust, Sue oversaw the development of partnerships and initiatives that encourage diverse citizen participation in the natural and built environment.
Sue currently contributes to the Scottish Landscape Alliance, which raises awareness of the importance of Scotland’s landscapes to climate resilience and biodiversity, economic performance and public health. As Vice Chair of the Alliance’s Health and Wellbeing Group, Sue takes a keen interest in how healthy, well-designed places can increase our wellbeing and quality of life.
Sue’s extensive experience as a dedicated public servant, and her devotion to co-creating vibrant, healthy and safe places which we can all live in and enjoy will lead the Trust into its next phase of development.
Sue Evans, New Chair of Scottish Civic Trust, said;
“I’m delighted to be appointed as the next Chair of the Scottish Civic Trust. Our heritage is vital to Scotland, its people and our economy. Our past informs the present; learning about our cultural and built heritage helps us understand so much about Scotland today and who we are. Unprecedented environmental and social change brought about by the climate emergency, Black Lives Matter and the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 are driving a new awareness of the importance of place to people and our differing understanding and needs of it now and in the future.”
“I am looking forward to working with my fellow trustees, our director, Dr. Susan O’Connor, and her team to continue to promote the relevance of Scotland’s built environment and to support action locally through our My Place Mentoring and Awards programmes, and by working with our partners, local heritage groups and volunteers to celebrate, care for and create places and buildings that future generations will value.”
Scottish Civic Trust was founded in 1967 to help people connect with their built environment and to take a leading role in guiding its development. As Chair, Sue will be building upon the work of previous Chair, Colin McLean, who oversaw a period of exciting and transformative change for the Trust.
Colin was appointed as Chair in September 2016, and has led the Trust through significant changes to improve its sustainability and to increase its efforts to diversify heritage. The Trust is now delivering a new Climate Crisis and Anti-racism strategy, and has co-created heritage projects with over 25 groups from marginalised and underrepresented communities.
Ed Taylor, Vice Chair of Scottish Civic Trust who oversaw the recruitment of the new Chair said;
“We are delighted to welcome Sue to the Trust as Chair. She has dedicated her whole career to the built and natural environments and how they have the power to affect and improve quality of life. Sue will undoubtedly strengthen the mission of the Trust at a time of pivotal change. We very much look forward to her taking up post.”
“I would also like to thank Colin for his dedication to the Trust over the last four years, a time that has seen a refocusing of our vision for thriving, beautiful and well-maintained places and buildings across our communities to the benefit of all.”