Leadership Team

Philip Long joined the National Trust for Scotland as Chief Executive in 2020, accountable to the Board of Trustees for all aspects of the work of the charity.

From 2011 he was founding Director of V&A Dundee, which opened in 2018 as a new international museum with a mission to enrich people’s lives through understanding of the designed world, its heritage and its vital role in our future. Prior to V&A Dundee, Philip was Senior Curator at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. His academic specialisation is in historic and contemporary Scottish and wider British art and design, on which he has curated many exhibitions and written widely, including on Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Sir Basil Spence, the Scottish Colourists, the Edinburgh School of Artists and many contemporary artists. He was co-editor of The Story of Scottish Design (published in 2018), the first comprehensive history of Scotland’s design heritage.

Philip’s international work has included the curation of Scotland’s presentation at the Venice Biennale (2007), responsibility for the UK presentation at the Milan Design Triennale (2016) and advising museums and government agencies on the development of new cultural and heritage organisations.

He is an Honorary Research Fellow of St Andrews University, a member of the British Council’s Arts and Creative Economy Committee, and a Board member of Creative Scotland. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and in 2019 was the recipient of a unique award for Transforming Scotland from the Institute of Directors. He received an OBE in the New Year’s Honour List in 2020 for services to Culture and Heritage.

Stuart joined the Trust in 2017, having previously been Chief Executive of the John Muir Trust and Director of Conservation at the Scottish Wildlife Trust. Stuart has over 25 years’ experience in the charity sector mainly focused on nature conservation and the environment. He has a broad range of knowledge and a specialism in peatlands. Stuart oversees all our national conservation functions of buildings conservation, nature conservation, footpaths, collections services, gardens and designed landscapes, archaeology, policy, environment & risk.

Stuart is currently Chair of the IUCN UK Peatland Programme, member of the Global Peatlands Initiative, Co-Chair of Scotland’s Landscape Alliance and a graduate of Newcastle University.

Jane joined the National Trust for Scotland in 2023. She is responsible for audience development, fundraising, membership, marketing and communications.

She has over 25 years’ experience working in the media, culture, heritage, higher education and government. This includes playing a key role in the creation of V&A Dundee, developing its audience and delivering its public launch. She also led significant growth in audiences across a decade of change and capital investment at National Museums Scotland. Jane is a Board Member of Leith Theatre.

David joined the National Trust for Scotland in 2011 as Property Manager for Mar Lodge Estate, having previously worked in a number of different roles across the private, public and charitable sectors. He has a track record of leading multi-disciplinary teams through times of challenge and change.

Prior to joining the Trust, David worked for Scottish Natural Heritage on the Isle of Rum, managing visitor services on the island, including the Grade A-listed Kinloch Castle. He was involved in the transfer of assets from SNH to the island community, and subsequently worked as the island’s development officer.

During his time with the National Trust for Scotland, David has developed a deep understanding of the complex issues surrounding management of the uplands of Scotland. The need to balance conservation, access & enjoyment, and social and economic development are central to the future success of Mar Lodge Estate and indeed the National Trust for Scotland. David looks forward to contributing to the ongoing journey of the Trust in protecting the heritage of Scotland, and playing a part in addressing the challenges of the biodiversity and climate emergencies.

Iain joined the National Trust for Scotland in 2016 and oversees the operation of properties within the North East of Scotland. Based at the region’s offices in the Crathes estate, Iain is responsible for multiple properties across Aberdeenshire and Angus including J M Barrie’s Birthplace, Barry Mill, Castle Fraser, Craigievar Castle, Crathes Castle, Drum Castle, Fyvie Castle, Haddo House, House of Dun, Leith Hall and Pitmedden Garden.

Before joining the Trust, Iain spent 22 years working for global visitor attraction operator Merlin Entertainments. One of Iain’s most challenging projects was the re-establishing of Blackpool as the UK’s premier seaside resort. The £17m Blackpool project involved one of the most complex and important UK developments for Merlin in many years, and Iain was chosen to head it up given his long association with the town, the region and the Merlin brands. The Blackpool cluster of eight attractions was formed including the iconic Blackpool Tower, SEA LIFE, Madame Tussauds, the Dungeon and the Tower Ballroom.

Lesley-Ann joined the Trust in 2023 as Finance Director. Following recent restructuring, she was appointed in the new position of Chief Financial and Corporate Officer in October 2024.

Before joining the Trust, Lesley-Ann gained significant experience of running the finances of a complex charity during 14 years at Clyde Gateway URC where she was the financial and commercial lead on numerous high-profile, multi-year, complex construction and infrastructure projects, often with a cocktail of funding and reporting requirements. Lesley-Ann managed change in several private sector commercial roles, driving cost efficiencies and process improvements.

Prior to qualifying as a CA at KPMG, Lesley-Ann worked as a Research Associate in Environmental Economics at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. This followed on from her degree in Geography and Geology at the University of Strathclyde, which inspired a deep love of the Scottish landscape. In her spare time she enjoys distance running and is a volunteer Trustee of Auchterarder Sports Hub.

Stuart Maxwell joined the Trust as General Manager of the previous Ayrshire & Arran region in January 2017. Stuart’s career, prior to the Trust, was spent in the luxury hotel and golf sector in Scotland and England. Stuart has a track record of delivering projects for the Trust beginning with investment at Culzean Castle & Country Park, Brodick Castle and Burns Monument in Ayrshire. Since moving to the east, Stuart has delivered large-scale projects at both Newhailes and Gladstone’s Land.

From a rural farming family, it was Stuart’s love of the Scottish outdoors and countryside that attracted him to the Trust. Stuart is looking forward to shaping the properties and the team within the region to offer great visitor experiences and to bring heritage to life for wider audiences.

Pamela joined the Trust in 2023, having spent most of her career in Higher Education. Her role supports and contributes to the strategic direction of the Trust, ensuring that the People Strategy supports the Trust’s People-related strategic goals.

Operationally, Pamela’s remit includes all People aspects of employment for staff and engagement of volunteers, Organisational Development, Talent Management, Reward & Recognition and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion. It’s about leading and managing a team who, put simply, help to recruit the right people with the right skills and then supporting those individuals to do their jobs to the best of their ability. Through training and support, she supports people to have a career path in the Trust which they find rewarding and fulfilling.

Ian joined the National Trust for Scotland in 2019 and is Regional Director for the South & West region, which covers the area from Oban to the Scottish Borders and includes some of the Trust’s most iconic properties such as Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, Culzean Castle & Country Park and the Hill House.

Ian, a graduate of the University of York with a diploma from the College of Estate Management, originally comes from Glasgow but moved south as a child and spent most of his career working in England and the Far East before returning to live in Scotland 10 years ago. He has a wealth of experience from the retail and property management sector, having managed a number of major projects and refurbishments as well as leading large teams.

In his previous roles he has won a number of national awards including Investors in People Gold accreditation, Quality Scotland’s Best Staff Development Award and many others. He has been a regular speaker at industry conferences in both the UK and Asia on subjects such as place-building, destination management and the customer journey.

Caroline joined the Trust in January 2019 as Head of Retail, having previously worked in various leadership roles within the high street retail sector for over 20 years, after graduating from the University of Edinburgh. Caroline was appointed to the role of Director of Commercial Enterprises in March 2022, taking on responsibility for leading the national commercial teams across Food and Beverage, Retail, Holidays, Travel Trade and Hospitality, which operate within NTSE Ltd, the fully owned trading subsidiary of the Trust.

It was the opportunity to combine her commercial skills and knowledge with raising vital funds to support the charity that first attracted Caroline to work with the Trust and make the move into the cultural and heritage sector. Caroline is also Vice Chair of the Board at Craft Scotland.

Stephen joined the Trust in 2008 and is now our Director of Legal and Governance. Stephen is a practising solicitor who advises and assists the Trust on all its legal affairs. Stephen’s team also manage the insurance and licensing of the Trust’s property portfolio along with the administration of the Trust’s income from legacies. With a background working in both private commercial practice and in-house in the aviation and travel industry, Stephen brings his knowledge and experience of legal practice and governance to the breadth of the Trust’s activities and properties. Before starting legal practice, Stephen also qualified as a Chartered Accountant in Scotland, working across a wide variety of sectors.

In his role as Secretary to our Board and Committees, Stephen ensures the good governance of the Trust and compliance with charity and corporate regulation. The Secretariat of the Trust facilitates the assurance and decision-making processes at a strategic and executive level within the organisation. Stephen also acts as Secretary to the Trust’s enterprise company, which operates our retail, food & beverage and other commercial operations.

Michael joined the National Trust for Scotland in September 2018 as Head of Heritage & Consultancy Services and was appointed to this role in July 2022. He leads the Trust’s direction on our learning, heritage planning, curatorial, participation and Facing our Past teams.

He has previously held senior, exhibition and interpretation roles at the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, the National Maritime Museum in London and Historic Scotland. Michael is also a board member of the UK Museums Association and chair of its Ethics Committee.

Clea is the National Trust for Scotland’s Regional Director for the Highlands & Islands region and moved from Yorkshire to join the Trust in 2017. She is responsible for a varied portfolio of properties that incorporates 19 islands, including the UK’s only dual UNESCO World Heritage Site St Kilda. On the Scottish mainland, alongside 6 National Nature Reserves, this region includes the iconic properties of Culloden, Glencoe and Glenfinnan Monument.

Clea has more than two decades of transformational leadership experience, working alongside local communities and stakeholders to deliver sustainable benefits to both the charitable assets in her care and the local area. She led the strategic development of an extensive property portfolio for English Heritage, consisting of 22 historic properties which included castles, abbeys, a nuclear bunker and a pub! She ended her English Heritage tenure leading operations at Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 1.2m visits a year. Previous roles have been with York Archaeological Trust.

Her current non-exec roles include Vice Chair for Albyn Housing Society and a board member for Forestry and Land Scotland.