Our team
The Future Woodlands Scotland team is a dedicated, experienced group of experts and professionals with a passion for nature, Scotland and delivering lasting, tangible results for future generations.
Staff
Shireen Chambers MBE
Chief Executive
Shireen studied forestry and soil science at Bangor University and has a wealth of knowledge and senior leadership experience of the forestry sector. In 2019 she was appointed MBE for her contribution to the industry. Before joining us, she was Executive Director of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. She has also held a number of non-executive appointments over the years, including Chair of Tree Aid Board of Trustees.
Ailsa Watson
Finance & Operations Manager
Ailsa has worked in IT, finance and management roles in the creative, cultural and third sectors for 25 years. With a background in sculpture and software, she enjoys being a generalist and looking at things askew. Based in Dumfries & Galloway, in her spare time she explores creative routes to rural sustainability, land stewardship and textiles. She is also studying part-time for an MSc in forestry at Bangor University.
Kieran Leigh-Moy
Future Woodlands Manager
Kieran is our Future Woodlands Manager, working to develop and deliver our Future Woodlands programme. He has an MSc in Forest & Nature Conservation from Wageningen University in the Netherlands and has several years’ experience working in ecological research and forestry. He lives in Aberdeen and is a keen surfer, swimmer and dance music enthusiast.
Des Hackett
Urban Forestry Manager
Des has a background in the Irish civil service where he worked on a range of public policy issues. Since moving to Edinburgh, he has completed a postgraduate diploma in countryside management. Des pursued his interest in environmental issues through working on greenspace development at the City of Edinburgh Council before joining us. During his free time Des enjoys getting out and about with his family and falling off his stand up paddle board.
Hilary Galloway
Communications Manager
Hilary is a communications specialist with more than 20 years in the industry. Over the years, she has worked with some of the UK’s leading companies and charities. Her love of the natural world began at an early age, while growing up on a hillside farm in Dumfries and Galloway. As Future Woodlands Scotland’s first Communications Manager, Hilary is excited to be playing a small part in a nationwide effort to create and conserve Scotland’s native woodlands.
Trustees
As a charity, our volunteer Trustees are responsible for governing the organisation and managing its funds in line with The Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.
Tim Hall
Chair
Tim is a professional forester with over 30 years’ experience in native woodland creation and management, urban forestry and programme development. He loves to travel, days out walking in the countryside and lives just outside Edinburgh with his wife and three children.
Charlie Taylor
Vice Chair
Charlie recently retired as the Strategic Planning Manager for Forestry and Land Scotland. Before that, he spent nearly 30 years managing the national forests in Angus, Perthshire and north-east Fife. He lives in Perthshire and enjoys travelling to experience different cultures, cycling, hill-walking and learning Gaelic.
Neil Forrest
Treasurer
Neil is a Scottish Chartered Accountant, who trained with PwC in the late 1980s, then followed a career in banking, consultancy, business advisory and project management. Neil is married, has two grown up sons and lives near Edinburgh, where he enjoys travel and the great outdoors.
Lynne Staples-Scott
Trustee
Lynne has been involved with the charity since its inception in 2012 and previously served as Chair of the Scottish Forest Alliance for several years. With over 30 years of experience in public affairs across both public and private sectors, Lynne now indulges her more creative side by running a small stained glass business from her garden studio in Aberdeenshire.
Giles Mackey
Trustee
Giles is a chartered environmentalist with over 20 years of experience and is passionate about driving positive change within the energy sector and broader society. He is a keen cyclist, loves travelling and exploring the outdoors with his family in their campervan.
Sarah Nicholas
Trustee
Sarah is Carbon Projects Manager at Forestry and Land Scotland. With an MSc in Environment and Development, Sarah spent seven years working in corporate sustainability communications before becoming a policy advisor at Defra. Sarah now lives in the north Highlands where she enjoys long walks and empty beaches.
Celia Brady
Trustee
Celia is a charity fundraiser who has worked in the environmental and conservation sector for over 30 years. She has raised funds for many of Scotland’s most exciting landscape, woodland and wildlife projects and is currently the Head of Fundraising at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. She loves being outside in nature and long walks in the hills and forests of Scotland.
David McCall
Trustee
Dave has over 30 years’ international business and leadership experience. He concentrates his efforts on being a strong people leader, well organised, collaborative and strategic. He is extremely passionate about looking after our urban and rural landscapes, and is always happiest when he’s being active outdoors.
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