Welcome for new Chair of north partnership

Following a public recruitment campaign Ian Ross this week takes on a two-year contract as Independent Chair of CNSRP, as its partners continue to support the area’s economy to transition away from dependence on nuclear decommissioning work.

Ian Ross brings a wealth of experience to the role, Ian is a Chartered Forester and a graduate in Forestry from Aberdeen University. A past chair of Scottish Natural Heritage, he was also a Highland Councillor for 13 years and chaired the Council’s Planning, Environment and Development Strategic Committee. He currently serves on the board of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and is involved with the voluntary sector and chairs a Council for Voluntary Service in Sutherland and is vice-chair of High Life Highland.

Ian Ross said “A great deal has been achieved by the Partnership and this is to the credit of Sir Anthony Cleaver and the partners. I am very optimistic over the future of Caithness and North Sutherland, yes there are undoubted challenges but we have a rich talent of skills, ability and talent. I look forward to working closely with all the partners and actively promoting the very clear opportunities which are available and the Caithness and North Sutherland area can both offer and deliver. I also see a clear part of my role is work closely with the wider community.”

Welcoming his appointment Charlotte Wright, chief executive of HIE said:

“Sir Anthony Cleaver’s time as Chair has helped establish CNSRP as an excellent model of proactive partnership working. As his successor, Ian Ross brings a wealth of local, regional and national experience to the position as we look forward to supporting a range of opportunities for the area’s economy. I very much welcome Ian to the role and look forward to working with him.”

The role of Independent Chair will for the first time be a paid post, thanks to support from Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd. DSRL Managing Director Phil Craig said:

"CNSRP has a crucial role bringing together all of the agencies and interested parties with the common goal of ensuring a bright future for the area beyond the closure of Dounreay. It has made significant process but that work is set to get even more important as decommissioning progress is made in the next few years. We invested more than £315,000 in CNSRP priority projects last year and, as the independent chair will be central to driving those activities forward, partners in the Dounreay Socio-Economic Alliance including DSRL and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority are delighted to support the new appointment."