Steering Group

Andy Dick

Get to Zero Manager, East Renfrewshire Council

Andy joined East Renfrewshire Council in October 2021 as Get to Zero Manager. In this role, Andy leads the plan for the Council and the community to achieve net zero and adapt to climate change. Prior to joining the Council Andy held several roles with Zero Waste Scotland, including managing the recycling programme with local government, writing the corporate plan and delivering support for national government policy initiates such as the Circular Economy Bill and the waste targets route map. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Wastes Management and Institute of Leadership and Management. He became a Sustainable Scotland Network (SSN) steering group member in May 2023 and has been a Director of ApparelXchange CIC since 2022. He lives in the south side of Glasgow with his young family.

Jen Cassells

Police Scotland

Jen is an environmental professional who has worked in the public and private sector in range of roles over the past 20 years. This included provision of consultancy support to the SSN. She is currently National Sustainability Lead for Police Scotland. Jen was appointed to the SSN Steering Group in June 2024 to represent blue light services.

Claire Ferguson

Team Leader - Climate Change Strategy, Shetlands Islands Council

Claire is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and has previously led on the services design engineering for a number of building types including offices, swimming pool, theatre and higher education buildings.  Since joining Shetland Islands Council in 2021, she has led the Climate Change Strategy team in the development of the SIC Net Zero Route Map, the Shetland Net Zero Route Map and the SIC Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan, which sits across the council and has wider influence across Shetland. This has included community engagement, raising awareness and partnership working.  Examples include the Shetland Climate Conversation and the establishment of the Shetland Climate Change Steering Group; a group made up of The Shetland Partnership organisations tasked with developing the Shetland Climate Change Strategy allowing organisations to collaborate more easily and accelerate action in working towards joint goals.

Louise Hynd

Carbon and Sustainability Analyst, University of Edinburgh

Craig Love

Associate Director, Climate Impact, Scottish National Investment Bank

Craig is an internationally recognised environmental and climate change specialist, with over 20 years’ experience in both the public and transport infrastructure sectors. In his current role at the Scottish National Investment Bank, he leads on the Bank’s Net Zero Strategy and wider climate reporting (including TCFD) in relation to both the Bank’s operational and investment activities. He is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh, with a MSc in Carbon Management and PgCert’s in both Climate Change Management and Carbon Innovation. Craig is a Chartered Environmentalist, a Fellow of the Institution of Environmental Sciences and Member of Energy Managers Association. He formally sat on the Permanent International Association of Road Congresses (PIARC) Technical Committee 1.4 Climate Change & Resilience of Road Networks, the steering group for the International Seminar: Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience of Road Networks in Uganda and Adaptation Scotland board. Prior to joining the Scottish National Investment Bank in 2022, Craig spent over 11 years in Transport Scotland’s Environment & Sustainability department. In his final role at Transport Scotland Climate Change Manager, he led the Climate Change & Sustainability team responsible for Corporate Climate Change Mitigation, Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience, the Circular Economy, Noise and Flooding. Craig developed Transport Scotland’s Carbon Management Plan 3rd Edition, which has seen the agency’s corporate emissions reduce by over 70% in six years. Craig has also led on the delivery of several environmental and sustainability standards and National Application Annexes for the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges, provided supporting contributions to both the UK Climate Risk Independent Assessment (CCRA3) and Climate Ready Scotland: climate change adaptation programme 2019-2024 and was a member of Adaptation Scotland’s Expert Working group who helped to develop Scotland Adapts: A Capability Framework for a Climate Ready Public Sector.

Caitlin Hamlett

NHS National Services Scotland

Claudia Cowie

Team Leader – Sustainability and Climate Change, Aberdeenshire Council

Claudia is the Team Leader for Sustainability and Climate Change at Aberdeenshire Council. Claudia leads in the development and delivery of Council-wide plans for Climate Change and Sustainable Development. Claudia and her team are responsible for implementing Climate Change policy, coordinating the Carbon Budget, Route Map Action Plan and LHEES. Her role within the organisation has grown as the Council’s commitment to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions has become a priority. Prior to joining Aberdeenshire Council, Claudia spent many years as a science teacher in the USA. Throughout her career, Claudia has worked in a variety of roles across the public, private and third sector. Claudia has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree, both focussed on environmental sciences. “I am very excited for the opportunity to be an ambassador for SSN. SSN has been pivotal in supporting me in my role at Aberdeenshire Council and continues to be an important source of support. SSN offers an excellent space to share ideas, ask for advice, and be connected to others working in similar roles across the Public Bodies.”

Lorna Jarvie

Coordinator for Sustainability and Fleet, South Ayrshire Council

Lorna has been working in a variety of roles in local authorities since 2003, initially within Roads and Transportation and then Sustainability, with her remit now taking in a range of areas including sustainability, climate change, biodiversity, SEA, and a parks strategy function which covers open space, allotments, play areas, reservoirs and park rangers. Most recently Lorna’s role has expanded to also include Fleet Services. She has an MA in Geography, an MSc in Sustainable Rural Development, a PGDip in Leadership and Management of Public Services and is a Member of the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation. Lorna has worked on a range of policies and strategies over the years as well as practical delivery of projects. Her current work at South Ayrshire Council includes the implementation of the council’s first Sustainable Development and Climate Change Strategy and duties reporting. Joining SSN in 2006 and a former steering group member, Lorna hopes her experience to date can bring a useful further perspective to discussions.

Clive Mitchell

Strategic Directions Manager, NatureScot

Clive has worked for NatureScot in a variety of roles since 1995. He now allocates resources to the organisations priorities on people and nature including place-based approaches (green infrastructure, outdoor learning, volunteering etc), National Nature Reserves, protected areas, marine ecosystems, species management and biodiversity. He is an associate lecturer for the Open University, teaching final year courses on Earth systems sciences, geohazards and environmental change. “The next few years are critical for planetary health: getting onto a low carbon pathway, adapting to a changing climate and addressing the state of nature are common challenges, not choices. Dealing with climate and nature together will demand place-based approaches, and the SSN is in an excellent place to foster that across Scotland.”

Amy Ritchie

Head of Sustainable Resources and Social Responsibility, University of Strathclyde

Amy is a sustainability & low carbon energy specialist with wide ranging experience across the private, regulated and higher education sectors. Prior to joining Strathclyde as Head of Sustainable Resources & Social Responsibility in early 2023, Amy spent time developing and influencing heat network policy whilst working at the Association for Decentralised Energy, and embedding credible approaches to deliver a just transition through Ofgem’s RIIO Framework for the energy networks sector. In her current role, Amy is responsible for delivering on the University’s of Strathclyde’s Net Zero target, through decarbonisation of all University operations and practices. She works with colleagues from across the University and beyond to ensure that social, environmental and financial sustainability ambitions are realised across the institution and wider Glasgow region.

Gemma Stenhouse

Climate Change Manager, Forestry and Land Scotland

Ross Spalding

Service Manager (Climate Change and Zero Waste), Fife Council

Paul Murphy

Carbon Reduction Officer, Inverclyde Council

Paul is the Carbon Reduction Officer for Inverclyde Council and is responsible for the Council’s Climate Change duties. Paul has helped develop the council’s carbon management plan and provides advice on reducing emissions and utility costs. He coordinates the Carbon and Energy Group which discusses progress and ideas to meet the targets set out in the Council’s Carbon Management Plan. Paul initially worked in the financial sector before pursuing a career in the environment. He undertook an MSc. in Energy and Environmental Management at Glasgow Caledonian University and following which, he worked at the North East London Energy Efficiency Advice Centre and Islington Council’s pioneering Islington Climate Change Partnership before taking up his current position as Inverclyde Council.

Joanna Teuton

Public Health Intelligence Advisor, Public Health Scotland

Joanna is Public Health Intelligence Advisor for Public Health Scotland and has held this position since 2007. She has worked in the Public Health Directorate for 10 years and has been involved in supporting the development of evidence informed policy. Joanna is also a member of the Scottish (Managed) Sustainable Health Network (SMaSH). Joanna has a Master’s in Public Health and PhD: Conceptualisations and Explanatory Models of ‘Psychosis’ among Healers in Uganda. “As a public sector employee in the health sector working on climate change and health, joining the SSN is an exciting opportunity to help support and influence the wider public sector to develop strategies and actions which contribute to sustainability, health and reducing health inequalities.”

Mark Williams (Vice Chair)

Head of Environmental Science and Regulation, Scottish Water

Dr Mark Williams is Head of Environmental Science and Regulation at Scottish Water and the UKWIR Programme Lead for Climate Change. Mark followed an academic research career in marine biology and chemical ecology at the universities of Cardiff and St. Andrews before joining Scottish Water to work in environmental and regulatory management. At Scottish Water, Mark contributes to the development of long-term strategy and vision for the company as well as establishing carbon management strategies and plans. “My ambition for SSN is to engage the Scottish public sector in understanding their role and the actions they can take. I am keen to support the sector in taking practical steps to implement actions that will support One Planet Prosperity. I want to support SSN to be valued as a source of stimulating and challenging information and provocation, but also as a source of practical advice and shared learning.”

John Wincott (Chair)

John has a passion for sustainability, and a wealth of experience in the public sector including local government and further education. Until recently John’s role was as Environmental Services Coordinator at Fife College where he led the college in tackling the challenges around sustainability and climate change. John is undertaking PhD research in the use of Judicial Review in Climate Change litigation, and decided last year to take a break from Fife College to concentrate on his research. John has also served on the Office Bearers' Group of the Environmental Association for Universities and College, and is the current Chair of Fife Environmental Partnership.

Emma Yule

2050 Climate Group

Emma is a PhD researcher and tutor at Edinburgh University focused on extreme climate events and climate adaptation in Scotland. Emma tutors on the Carbon Management Masters and is an ECCI Associate. She also runs workshops and presents on adaptation for the public sector and in local communities. She is co-chair of the Adaptation Community of Practice at Edinburgh University and is a Trustee at Scottish Communities Climate Action Network (SCCAN). She is chair of the Leaders Network at 2050 Climate Group. Emma was listed on the Scottish Power COP26 Green Power List for her climate action work.

Others who attend include:

Representatives from COSLA, Scottish Government, EAUC-Scotland and SOLACE.