John Muir Trust appoints David Balharry as Chief Executive

Respected conservationist and mountaineer to take the Trust’s helm in January 2020

The John Muir Trust is delighted to announce the appointment of David Balharry, one of Scotland's most respected community-focused conservationists, as its new Chief Executive following the retirement of Andrew Bachell.

David joins the Trust from the Scottish Government where he was responsible for looking at rural policy. He has also been a director of Rewilding Britain and previously worked for six years for the Crofters Commission  (latterly as acting Chief Executive), and as Technical Director of the Deer Commission for Scotland.

He studied Zoology at Aberdeen University and went on to do a PhD on the ecology of pine martens. He is a director of the Strathglass and Affric Community Company and promotes Community Action Planning that links with land management. In his spare time he enjoys mountaineering, sea kayaking and building log cabins. He has played for both Newtonmore and Strathglass shinty teams and until recently was a coach at Strathglass.

David says: “I believe it’s an absolute necessity that we protect wild places - particularly by empowering people and engaging rural communities. The John Muir Trust works at the forefront of issues I’ve been passionate about my whole life. I’m looking forward to starting, and engaging with members, partners, staff, trustees and those people and organisations that share common interests with us.”

Peter Pearson, Chair of the John Muir Trust, says: “We are all delighted that David will be joining the Trust team and look forward to working with him.”

Peter also thanked Andrew Bachell for his successful two years as Chief Executive and said: "We wish Andrew well in his retirement; he leaves the organisation in as healthy a situation as we’ve been in for some time. During his time with us he oversaw a new strategy, built an effective staff team and continued growth in our support and membership.”

David Balharry will take up his role on 27 January 2020 after a climbing trip to Patagonia where he and his son will attempt Cerro Torre, one of the spires in the Southern Patagonian Ice Field of South America; standing at 3,128 m (10,262 ft), the peak is challenging and the summit is protected by some of the world's most spectral ice mushrooms.

Until then, leadership of the Trust is being shared by the organisation’s management team, supported by the Trustees.