Strategic Group

The Strategic Group has two functions. The first is to provide a forum within which to develop a collective and widely agreed vision for the Moray Firth area.  The forum will advise on actions to achieve the vision and provide advice and react collectively to events that may develop at local or national levels.

Leading on from this is the second function, to provide a more strategic framework for the activities of MFP itself. This involves identifying emerging issues that the Partnership might address, its strategic priorities, and directing fund raising and project proposal activities accordingly.

The Strategic Group needs to have the resources to engage with key partners and stakeholders, to undertake modest background research, to inform meetings and instigate funding proposals.

In addition to the strategic overview described above, both staff and the Strategic Group maintain a watching brief on emerging issues which will come up throughout the year.  They will decide, with the Board if
(i) action through the partnership in response to these issues would contribute to the aims of the Partnership and
(ii) whether the Partnership is the most appropriate organisation to take forward a response to the issue.

Strategic Members are:

Dr Peter Tilbrook, Director, Moray Firth Partnership
Scott Armstrong, Area Director, VisitScotland
Dr. Stuart Gibb, Thurso College-UHI Director, Environmental Research Institute,
Tom Inglis Head of Protection and Improvement North, Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Maureen Macmillan, Member for the Highlands and Islands, MSP Scottish Parliament
Cllr Ian Ross, Chair of Sustainable Development Committee, The Highland Council
David Stewart, Assistant Director of Rural Affairs, SCVO
Bill Sylvester, Director of Partnership Projects, Highlands & Islands Enterprise
David Thomson, Fisheries Management Consultant
Dr Jeff Watson, Director of Strategy and Operations North, Scottish Natural Heritage