Crofting Convenor Appointed

24th September 2012

Skye crofter Susan Walker has been appointed the first convenor of the recently established Crofting Commission.

Ms Walker has been an active crofter for three decades and is the co-author of 'The State of Crofting in Camuscross', an academic report on crofting in her local township. She is a Director of Camuscross and Duisdale Initiative, an ambitious community trust that is working in partnership with crofters and grazings shareholders on local food and community infrastructure projects.

The Crofting Commission - which was established on April 1 and supersedes the Crofters Commission - aims to meet the needs of crofting and crofters in the 21st century. The Commission will have the power to regulate crofting to ensure that crofts are occupied and worked or, if not, made available to those who want to croft.

The appointment was made by Paul Wheelhouse, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change who said:"I am delighted to announce Susan Walker as the Convener of the Crofting Commission.

"This is an exciting time both for the Commission and for crofting as a whole. This appointment is an excellent opportunity for Susan to lead the organisation through a period of significant change and shape the successful future of crofting in Scotland.

"I very much look forward to working with Susan and her fellow Commissioners and I am confident that the Crofting Commission will make a real difference throughout rural Scotland in the years to come."

Ms Walker said:"I am very honoured to have been chosen to lead the Crofting Commission during this important period when new legislation has given us both enhanced powers and duties to regulate crofting. I am proud to be able to work with a team of eight other Commissioners from the crofting counties who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience.

We are all united in a desire to see the continuation and strengthening of the crofting system through effective regulation and will be looking to other partners and agencies to support and reward crofting activity.

"I am aware that small-scale farmers from other European countries express envy for Scotland's regulated system of crofting - it is a system we should cherish as it has the potential to deliver many benefits for Scotland."

This appointment will run from September 26, 2012 to March 31, 2017.

This appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £19,772 for a time commitment of eight days per month.

This Ministerial public appointment was made in accordance with the Code of Practice published by the Public Appointments Commissioner for Scotland.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Ms Walker has not declared any political activity and holds no other current Ministerial public appointments.