Revealed: the hopefuls looking to run NTS

Numerous long-serving supporters of the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) have put themselves forward to take on a long-awaited overhaul after a damning review found it "gridlocked" by outdated governance.

Scotland's largest conservation charity, which was forced to embark on a major cost-cutting programme and sell off its headquarters because of a 13 million black hole, is expected to relinquish control of many of its 130 sites over the next few years.

Members of the trust voted in September to ditch "Byzantine" management structures, including an 90-strong ruling council, in favour of a single board of 15 trustees, ten of whom are to be directly elected.

The 310,000 members of the trust will be voting over the next few weeks to decide who will take forward radical reform plans for the organisation after it faced financial meltdown and was forced to lay off dozens of staff two years ago.

Some 46 candidates are standing for election, with a deadline for voting set for 2 February, and the new board is expected to be unveiled later next month.

One of those is Lieutenant Colonel Sir Malcolm Ross, from Dumfriesshire, who rose through the ranks of royal aides over 20 years to become head of Prince Charles's household before retiring two years ago.

He said: "I have no prejudices or fixed opinions but hope that we can make best use of the talent and advisers available to us.

"We must take the members and the volunteers with us and should, where necessary and possible, work in concert with other organisations with similar interests."

Donald MacDonald, one of Scotland's leading arts backers over the past 25 years, has put himself forward for election to the new board after advising the trust on the hiring of its chief executive and chairman.

Others include Nicholas Groves-Raines and Benjamin Tindall, two of Scotland's leading conservation architects, Green MSP Robin Harper, a PR manager at VisitScotland, Jenni Steele, and Sue Hilder, former vice-chair of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers.

NTS chairman Sir Kenneth Calman, who will head up the new board, said: "I cannot stress just how important the new board will be to the National Trust for Scotland.

"Anyone who enjoys Scotland's heritage treasures, wishes to visit great houses or gardens, understand our social and cultural history, wants to protect wild places, or simply wants somewhere pleasant to visit of a weekend, will depend on the wisdom and skills of our new trustees to ensure they can go on doing so."As well as its 130 sites, the trust is responsible for 16 islands, seven nature reserves, four battle sites, more than 50,000 artefacts, and some 78,000 hectares of coastline and countryside. NTS has more than 450 full-time staff.

The review found some 200 people were involved in the trust's management structures.

Movers and shakers seeking a seat on the board

DENIS MOLLISON: Retired maths and statistics professor from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, who has been a member of the NTS for 37 years. A founding member of the John Muir Trust and a former member of the NTS council. A trustee of the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust and a member of trust to restore Castle Tioram, Moidart.

ROBIN HARPER: A former teacher who spent several years in Kenya, Mr Harper was elected to the Scottish Parliament for the Green Party in 1999 and is to leave Holyrood in the spring. President and fellow of the Royal Scottish Society for the Useful Arts and an honorary fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

LIEUTENANT COLONEL SIR MALCOLM ROSS: A former Scots Guard, he joined the Royal Household in 1987 and was appointed master of the Prince of Wales's household in 2005. In 2006, he was made Her Majesty's Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright, where he currently lives. He is chairman of the Dee Salmon Fishery Board.

DONALD MACDONALD CBE: A former hotelier who won the Prince of Wales Medal for arts philanthropy for his work with bodies such as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, of which he is chairman. A past-president of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and former deputy chairman of Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian.

NICHOLAS GROVES-RAINES: A veteran Edinburgh conservation architect who set up in practice in the city in 1971, has worked on major building projects including the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh and St Andrews in the Square in Glasgow. A fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and a member of the Cockburn Association.

DIANA MURRAY: Has been chair of the Institute for Archaeologists and is vice-chair of the Archaeology Data Service. She is chief executive of the Royal Commission for Ancient and Historical Monuments Scotland. Ms Murray is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.