​John Muir Trust boss joins National Trust for Scotland

The chief executive of a prominent conservation charity has taken up a leading role with the National Trust.

Stuart Brooks of the John Muir Trust (JMT) will become the trust’s new head of natural heritage conservation (policy).

His appointment is one of a raft of leadership changes announced by National Trust for Scotland (NTS).

The charity has been restructuring, moving to a four directorate set up which in turn supports six regional groupings of built heritage properties and one nationwide grouping of natural heritage properties.

It is wonderful that people with such amazing backgrounds share our vision and enthusiasm

It said“more efficient” ways of working have enabled £17 million to be spent on key properties, including Culzean, Newhailes and Brodie castles.

Brooks. had been chief executive of the JMT since 2009, having previously been director of conservation with the Scottish Wildlife Trust. He is currently chair of the International Union for Nature Conservation UK national committee.

An NTS spokesperson said: “Stuart takes on the very important responsibility of providing technical leadership and oversight to ensure that standards and best practice are applied across the trust in relation to natural heritage.

“He will also take charge of obtaining external accreditation and advice, performance benchmarking and ensuring statutory compliance, as well as developing and maintaining trust-wide conservation and management policies.”

Patrick Duffy, NTS chief operating officer, said: “This is a major step-change for the trust and it is wonderful that people with such amazing backgrounds share our vision and enthusiasm.”

Peter Pearson, chair of the JMT, said, “I would like to thank Stuart on behalf of trustees, staff and members for his significant contribution to the trust. His commitment and dedication to the organisation has been absolute and we wish him every success in the next stage of his career.”

“During his tenure Stuart has increased the trust’s profile and impact, improved the composition and culture within the organisation, while modernising its approaches to allow us to meet the increasing challenges conservation bodies in the UK currently face.”

“Stuart’s leadership has seen the organisation continue to be bold in meeting the trust’s mission to conserve and protect wild places.”

The JMT has started the process to recruit a successor and will advertise for the role of chief executive in the next few weeks.