The Scottish Land Commission has announced two significant senior appointments aimed at strengthening its capacity to deliver policy advice and practical guidance on land reform across Scotland.

Sarah Madden has joined the Commission as Head of Practice and Advice. In this role, she will lead the Good Practice Programme, focusing on working with public and private landowners, sector professionals, and community groups to support responsible land ownership and use. Ms. Madden joins from Woodland Trust Scotland, where she focused on forestry and land use policy. She also previously served as a Rural Communities Policy Adviser at Scottish Land and Estates.

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Sarah Madden emphasised the critical role land plays in Scotland's future: "Our land plays a critical role in Scotland's response to climate change, reversing nature loss, supporting communities and local economies, and its role will be even stronger in the years to come."

Kathie Pollard has been appointed as Head of Policy. Having worked with the Commission since 2018, Ms. Pollard will now lead the team responsible for policy advice, analysis, and research that informs Scotland’s approach to land reform. Her background is strong in planning, environmental, and nature finance policy, with previous roles in the Scottish Government and the third sector.

Kathie Pollard noted the crucial timing of her appointment: "We are facing a crucial point in time where we need a wide range of policies and legislation to make sure that land, how its owned and used, makes a real difference to people and places."

Hamish Trench, Chief Executive of the Scottish Land Commission, welcomed the appointments, stating that their leadership will help deliver "ambitious advice on policy and practice at a key stage for land reform in Scotland."