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New role for our former CEO

Thursday 28th May 2020, 9:17am


David Gibson, former Chief Executive Officer of Mountaineering Scotland, has been appointed Chair of the John Muir Trust. He takes over from Peter Pearson, who oversaw the Trust’s move into land stewardship in England.

David worked at board level in commercial development for over twenty years before becoming CEO at Mountaineering Scotland in 2006, serving in that role until retiring in 2018. He has since served as a trustee for the John Muir Trust and is now looking forward to a more senior role.

He said: “The Trust can make a real difference to people’s lives and to the landscape. It is a catalyst for change; whether managing the renewal of land with local partners, working to change land management practices or inspiring more people from all walks of life to enjoy and protect wild places.

“I’m confident in our team and, thanks to our members and supporters, I’m confident about the future stability of the Trust. At the core of the organisation is a community of shared values built on mutual understanding and commitment to wild places. If we can, I’d like to see the Trust explore more opportunities in England and Wales and spread the good news about wild nature to an even wider audience.”

He first became a John Muir Trust member in 2007, after a memorable day on the hill: “It was an inspirational visit to Li and Coire Dhorrcail with Terry Isles in 2007 that sealed the deal for me. Terry had helped plant trees 30 years before and wanted to see the progress. That visit, the amazing setting and talking with Terry convinced me that the Trust can make a real difference to our experience of wild land.”

David, who lives near Dundee, is no stranger to affirmative action for wild places: “In my time at Mountaineering Scotland we sometimes took a high profile stance against inappropriate development in the mountains. It was a team effort, often working in partnership with other environmental NGOs including the John Muir Trust. I hope I can serve the organisation with enthusiasm, openness, good humour and confidence in what we do.”

David originally moved from Oxford in 1983 for work and soon caught the mountain bug: “I immediately loved the sense of freedom and peace in the hills and wild places. I can still remember my first Munros very clearly - Beinn Ghlas and Ben Lawers - climbed on a fantastic sunny day.  Work took me back south in 1986 but I spent the next 10 years trying to get back! I finally made it in 1997.”

He has since trekked throughout the world and is on his second Munro round, although these days it’s about much more than just getting to the top: “Scotland has so much to offer, and I can’t imagine living anywhere else - mountains, islands, forests, a wonderful coastline, space to breathe, family and friends.”

The Trust would like to thank Peter Pearson for his huge contribution to the Trust and wishes him more time on the hill, free of a mountain of papers to climb.