Head of Scotland’s environmental watchdog heads for foreign shores

THE chief executive of Scotland’s environment watchdog is to step down to take a new job in Australia.

Dr Campbell Gemmell, who has been at the helm of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) for the past decade, will be leaving at the end of the year.

He will take up the post of chief executive of the Environment Protection Authority South Australia, in Adelaide, in the new year.

Dr Gemmell joined Sepa in 2001 and has been the chief executive for the past eight years.

Richard Lochhead, environment secretary, paid tribute to him.

Mr Lochhead said: “In the last four years he has transformed Sepa into a leaner and more effective organisation while at the same time taking on new responsibilities such as the flood warning service.”

Dr Gemmell said it had been a “privilege” to work at Sepa but it was “time to move on”.

He added: “I firmly believe that Sepa is set on the right track for the future. Its work will underpin Scotland’s recovering economy, which relies so heavily upon its natural assets.”

David Sigsworth, Sepa chairman, praised him Dr Gemmell as a visionary and dynamic chief executive.

He said: “It is essential that Sepa completes its transformation into a world class environment watchdog, protecting Scotland’s environment and communities, and supporting continued economic development, for the benefit of all the people of Scotland.”

Sepa is currently seeking to recruit a new chief executive.”