Donna Mortimer - Chief Financial Officer

The Chief Financial Officer provides financial leadership, promoting a risk intelligent culture and approach that focusses on protecting and preserving our assets to deliver business efficiency. Donna is responsible for the delivery of Finance for Forestry and Land Scotland, and oversees the provision of some of these services to Scottish Forestry. Prior to Forestry and Land Scotland, Donna has worked in both the public and private sector and is a chartered accountant.

Simon Hodgson - Chief Executive

As Chief Executive, Simon is committed to ensuring the forestry sector meets the highest standards in the interests of all its employees and contractors. Simon joined the Forestry Commission in 2005 as Chief Executive of Forest Enterprise England managing all its forests and commercial activities. Between 2011 and 2013 he was also Chief Executive of Forestry Commission England.

Andrew Hunt - Regional Manager, West

Andy manages Scotland’s national forests and land in our West Region. His role is to safeguard and enhance the forests on behalf of Scottish Ministers, co-ordinating all aspects of forest management to contribute to Government objectives. Through his 22 years in the organisation, Andy has worked predominantly in Delivery, in many locations across Scotland. He enjoys linking current forest and land management challenges and opportunities with teamwork and development.

Graeme Hutton - Director of Net Zero

Graeme leads on transforming our infrastructure, balancing our net zero and financial sustainability aspirations: reviewing our buildings, streamlining our fleet, harnessing technology and enabling business process re-engineering. Technology will not determine the change required, as this will remain business-led, however it will be a core enabler to it. Graeme, a qualified accountant, has previously worked for the Scottish Government Rural Economy Directorate, the Scottish Prison Service Agency and the National Health Service

David Leven - Regional Manager, East

David manages the team looking after Scotland’s national forests and land in our East Region, safeguarding and enhancing FLS sites on behalf of Scottish Government Ministers. With over 25 years of experience of working for Government and with the private sector on land use planning, conservation, economic development and international trade and investment, David co-ordinates all aspects of forest management to contribute to Government objectives.

John Mair - Director of Commercial Development

John manages Commercial Development, set up to manage, expand and seek out best value opportunities on Forestry and Land Scotland's landholdings through Land Agency, Agriculture, Land Transactions, Renewables projects, external Partnerships including Communities and Carbon Projects, Procurement and Land Development. Prior to Forestry and Land Scotland, John has worked in property finance, commercial property investment and development across the UK.

Carol McGinnes - Regional Manager, Central

Carol manages Scotland’s national forests and land in our Central Region. Her role is to protect and maintain the forests on behalf of Scottish Government Ministers, co-ordinating all aspects of forest management to contribute to Government objectives. She has previously worked with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency on a range of regulatory and partnership initiatives.

Graeme Prest - Director of Land Management and Regions

Graeme has over 30 years’ experience of leading and managing operational delivery in both Scotland and England, including most recently Scotland’s forests and land in our North Region. Our Land Management and Regions Directorate is responsible for national land management services including Planning and Environment; Technical Services; Marketing and Sales; Visitor Attraction; and accountable for operational delivery across our five regions.

This includes protecting and maintaining the forests, working with others on award winning projects and initiatives on natural regeneration and peatland restoration, and co-ordinating all aspects of forest management to contribute to Government objectives. His particular interest and passion is nature conservation and connecting people with the natural environment.

Alex Macleod - Regional Manager, North

Alex manages Scotland’s national forests and land in our North Region. His role is to protect and maintain the forests on behalf of Scottish Government Ministers, co-ordinating all aspects of forest management to contribute to Government objectives. He started working for Forestry Commission Wales in 1993 as a Harvesting Forester before returning to Scotland in 2011 to lead our steep ground harvesting programme in the Great Glen. In 2017 he became Operations Delivery Manager for North Region before taking up post as Regional Manager in May 2022.

Julie Fitzpatrick - Head of People and Organisational Development

Julie is responsible for the delivery of HR, Health & Safety, Learning & Development and Diversity & Inclusion for Forestry and Land Scotland, and oversees the provision of these services to Scottish Forestry. She joined FLS in 2022 from Police Scotland. She has also worked in senior HR positions at The Faculty of Advocates and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Michael Hymers - Director of Corporate Services

Michael has over 20 years’ experience leading and managing corporate and operation forestry delivery services, including the establishment of our capability as a standalone agency of Scottish Government. Our Corporate Services Directorate is responsible for Finance; People Team and Organisational Development; Corporate and Business Planning; Portfolio/ Project Management Office; Change Management; Communications, Brand and Media; Corporate Governance and Assurance; and managing FLS’s relationship with others. As a second-generation forester he has previously held a number of forest management and leadership roles, including managing a Direct Production Harvesting fleet and as a Forest District Manager.

John Dougan - Regional Manager, South

John manages Scotland’s national forests and land in our South Region. His role is to protect and maintain the forests on behalf of Scottish Government Ministers, co-ordinating all aspects of forest management to contribute to Government objectives. He started working for the Commission as a Harvesting Forester, and subsequently progressed through a series of roles, mainly in Delivery activities, in different parts of Scotland. In 2004 he became Conservator for South Scotland, and latterly undertook several other senior roles in Scottish Forestry, before joining us.