Home News Royal High School Preservation Trust – new directors appointed

Royal High School Preservation Trust – new directors appointed

May 8, 2024 1:23 pm

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The trust which is developing the former Royal High School at the foot of Calton Hill has appointed new directors to its board who will progress plans for a new use for the former school, allowing more access to the public as well as live music and education spaces.

The new board members include:
Rab Bennetts OBE who has built a successful architects firm, Bennetts Associates and was awarded an OBE for services to architecture in 2003. Rab has worked on prestigious projects such as the Royal Shakespere Theatre and the Edinburgh Futures Institute.
Morven Davis who has over 25 years’ experience in the global drinks industry with recent expertise in delivering project and programme visitor attractions including Johnnie Walker Princes Street. Morven is an accessibility and inclusivity advocate and has served as Trustee for many charities. Personally, Morven is extremely passionate about Edinburgh’s historical buildings.
Dr Brian Lang CBE is a former Principal of the University of St Andrews and has extensive experience in the world of conservation and heritage via organisations like the Historic Buildings Branch of the Scottish Office, the National Heritage Memorial Fund and the National Trust. He was also Chief Executive of the British Library. Dr Lang is a former pupil of the Royal High School, making this role particularly poignant to him.
Hector Martin is currently a Built Heritage Officer at Fife Council and has also worked for Historic England and Essex County’s Place Services and for UNESCO in Kathmandu in Nepal.
Carol Nimmo who is Chair of the Royal High School’s local resident’s association. She has been actively involved in saving the building since 2014 and, in her current role as chair of the New Town and Broughton Community Council, was a strong campaigner against the two hotel applications for the Royal High School site.
Gillian Woolman has a background in financial services but has spent much of her career working in the public sector including Audit Scotland, the NHS and as vice chair of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) / The Local Authority (Scotland) Accounts Advisory Committee (LASAAC). Gillian has a passion for professional standards and the training and development of new finance professionals and will offer significant support when it comes to the financial planning of the project.

Grant Mackenzie, Executive Director of the Royal High School Preservation Trust said: “The collective experience of our new board members will be invaluable as we progress our plans to create the National Centre for Music. We’re grateful to Rab, Morven, Brian, Hector, Carol and Gillian for giving up their time to support us on this exciting journey and we look forward to working with them to deliver the project.”