Trustees

Patrons:

Professor Robin Webster OBE RSA FRIAS: Robin is a partner in the Glasgow firm of Cameron Webster Architects, and professor emeritus at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, where he was head of the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture for twenty years. He is Secretary of the Walmer Crescent Association and a trustee of the Scottish Stained Glass Symposium.

Professor John Hume OBE, BSc ARCST, Hon FRIAS, FSA Scot: John is an Honorary Professor at both the Universities of Glasgow and St. Andrews. He was a lecturer in Economic and Industrial History at the University of Strathclyde. After a career with Historic Scotland as an Inspector of Scotland’s Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings, he eventually retired as Chief Inspector of Historic Buildings in 1999. He lives in Glasgow and was instrumental in setting up many local heritage organisations such as the Forth & Clyde Canal Society and has written major reference books on Glasgow’s industrial heritage.

Board of Trustees:

Alistair MacDonald, Chair: Former Head of Planning for Glasgow, Alistair joined the City Council in 1977 and the Department of Planning in 1979. He has been involved in a variety of projects within the city and with European partners. He was Chair of The Heads of Planning Scotland 2011-12 and was  the Convenor of the Royal Town Planning Institute Scotland in 2013. He is a Director of Glasgow Humane Society.

Martin Cullen, Vice Chair & Treasurer: Martin, a Chartered Accountant,  has over 30 years’ commercial experience across the construction, oil & gas, distribution and retail sectors and has filled the Finance Director role in a number of corporate structures. For more than two decades he headed the finance function at Fairhurst which, through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions, has become the largest consulting engineering partnership in the UK. Having retired from the position of Financial Partner in 2016, he has since been fulfilling an invitation from the Fairhurst Board to remain in a consultancy role.

Sarah Ashby: Sarah holds the position of Business Development Executive with International Museum and Exhibition specialists BECK Interiors Ltd; working on numerous jobs of historic importance both in the UK and abroad. With 19 years of demonstrated history working in both Manufacturing and Construction; for a variety of sectors, skilled in Technical Design, Computer Aided Design, BIM, Mechanical, Production / Site Coordination, Project and Quality Management; Sarah has a dedicated interest in conservation.

Nicholas Blair: Nick graduated from the University of Strathclyde in 1994 winning the outstanding thesis memorial prize in his post graduate year. He has over 20 years experience in architectural practice and has been a director of ZM Architecture since co-founding the office in 2004. Nick was co-opted to the Board in February 2016.

Rebecca Cadie: Rebecca is a director of ARPL Architects and studied architecture at the Mackintosh School of Architecture. She has worked in private practice for thirty years on historic and listed building projects and is a conservation accredited architect at advanced level under the RIAS Accreditation Scheme. She is the Diocesan Architect for the SEC Diocese of Glasgow and Galloway and is a trustee of the Church Buildings Renewal Trust.

Councillor Laura Doherty

Neil Grimmond: Neil is a Chartered Accountant and since 2006 has specialised in advising the owners and directors of private and family businesses. Having spent 15 years with Craig Corporate, in 2021 Neil launched his own business Levenish Consulting. He has worked in a wide range of sectors and businesses across the UK, and has also undertaken the role of Mentor in the Career Ready programme.

Kathleen McAnea: Kathleen McAnea is a Director in the construction and projects team of solicitors, Burness Paull.   She specialises in non-contentious construction law and whilst she has built up significant experience across the construction industry, she has developed a particular interest in the restoration and regeneration of historic buildings and sustainability in housing projects.

Bailie Christy Mearns: Christy is the Depute Lord Provost of Glasgow and has served in this role since 2021. She was first elected to Glasgow City Council in 2017 and was re-elected in 2022. Christy currently serves as Vice-Convenor of the Planning Applications Committee, is a board member of City Property LLP and Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and previously served as Vice-convenor of the Neighbourhoods, Housing & Public Realm policy committee. Christy graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2011 with an MA (Hons) History of Art with a particular focus on Viennese Modernist architecture. Christy has: campaigned to save listed buildings in Glasgow from demolition; helped to secure an additional Empty Homes Officer and an extra £2m for tenement repairs; look at improving the energy efficiency of heritage buildings; has worked with the Scottish Traditional Building Forum to secure a school pilot project aimed at delivering traditional building skills into the curriculum to promote historic heritage and careers in heritage construction; and, has worked hard to ensure a greater consistency of approach to the High Street, including getting all stakeholders together to address common repair issues that impact Bell O’the Brae tenements including securing a Conservation Management Plan for the area.

Paul Sweeney MSP: Paul is a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Glasgow Region, and previously served as the MP for Glasgow North East in the House of Commons from 2017 until 2019. He is currently serving as Shadow Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation, previously Shadow Under-Secretary of State for Scotland. With a professional background in the Clyde shipbuilding industry, Paul was involved in the restoration of the historic former Govan shipyard head offices into the Fairfield Heritage Centre, for which he won an award in 2014. After campaigning against the demolition of Springburn Public Halls in 2012, he founded the Springburn Winter Gardens Trust, which is working to restore the nearby glasshouse in Springburn Park.

Joe Traynor: Joe Traynor is Head of Museums Development, working at Museums Galleries Scotland on the development and delivery of Scotland’s National Strategy for Museums, and the provision of associated areas of support.   Joe is particularly interested in the impact of heritage on regeneration and communities and its potential for Place-making.  He is also a Trustee of the Culture, Education and Equalities Trusts at the People’s Postcode Lottery and a Fellow of the Museums Association, the Royal Society of Arts, the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland and the Chartered Institute of Management.