The Scottish Wildlife Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of Ruchir Shah as Director of External Affairs from September.

Ruchir has worked for the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations for the last 18 years, most recently as Head of Policy and Campaigns. He has a longstanding personal and professional interest in sustainable development, and has played an active role in remobilising Scotland’s engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals.

Jo Pike, Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to have recruited Ruchir and I very much look forward to working with him at this critical time for nature conservation. In addition to being a well networked and known policy professional in Scotland, who has been involved in developing and facilitating new thinking for civil society on the economy, Ruchir is an innovator and a natural collaborator. He has pioneered new approaches to open governance within the third sector and his interest in promoting wider participation within the environment sector aligns well with the Trust’s values and future direction.”

Ruchir Shah, newly appointed Director of External Affairs, said: “I am greatly looking forward to taking on this new challenge. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is an inspiring and respected organisation, whose agenda is very topical. I look forward to learning and contributing alongside the fantastic staff, members and volunteers at the Trust.”

Ruchir has been a member of various panels including the Scottish Government’s Climate Challenge Fund grant panel, and has an active interest in exploring new ways of thinking about digital collaboration, automation and open data.