New Seabird Centre trustees fit the bill

Dr Bill Sanderson is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Life and Earth Science, at Heriot-Watt University

Dr Bill Sanderson and Chris Arnold join the board at an important time for the centre as it aims to create a national marine centre for Scotland.

It also comes at a crucial time for marine wildlife which is increasingly under threat. A new centre would inform and inspire people about Scotland’s amazing marine wildlife and highlight the need to look after it for future generations.

It would explore marine life above and below the waves, provide a national hub to communicate ground-breaking marine research taking place around Scotland and deliver new education and conservation programmes across the country, officials at the centre say.

Dr Bill Sanderson is well placed to support the proposed new attraction, as an Associate Professor at the Institute of Life and Earth Science, at Heriot-Watt University. With over 17 years working in government agencies as a marine ecologist, his research has concentrated on species and habitats of high conservation importance such as biogenic reefs, lagoons and habitats that support higher predators.

He has led government applied science and monitoring projects and programmes at the forefront of UK marine conservation implementation and Marine Protected Area development. Bill has written more than 50 scientific reports and papers as well as a book.

His work focuses on developing the research needs associated with new conservation legislation such as the Marine Bill and the National Marine Strategy, concentrating on the ecology and societal importance of priority habitats and species. Bill has served on UK government monitoring groups such as the Interagency Marine Monitoring Group and the UK Technical Advisory Group.

Meanwhile, Chris Arnold is a semi-retired lawyer who was previously a partner in two major Scottish law firms specialising in construction contracts and major projects. He is now involved in a number of different fields including advising a business start-up, a Council Member of Mortonhall Golf Club and a Vestry Member at Christ Church, Morningside.

Chris said: “The Board of Trustees at the Scottish Seabird Centre is extremely varied and diverse, with a whole host of skillsets. I look forward to working with both the Seabird staff and the extended team to make this as smooth a process as possible.”

The Scottish Seabird Centre opened in May 2000 and has won multiple awards for tourism and sustainability. It has led a range of high-profile conservation and education projects as well as providing a well-used facility both for locals and visitors all-year-round.

The Scottish Seabird Centre is an independent visitor attraction as well as a conservation and education charity dedicated to inspiring people to enjoy, learn about and look after our wildlife and natural environment.