SEPA Chief Executive

Campbell Gemmell, SEPA Chief ExecutiveCampbell Gemmell
Chief Executive

Campbell joined SEPA in 2001 as Director of Strategic Planning, before becoming SEPA's Chief Executive in 2003. In his previous career, he has been Chief Executive of the Central Scotland Countryside Trust and a consultant in economic development and environmental consultancy.

Campbell has a first class honours degree in Geography and a PhD in Glaciology from Aberdeen University.


Science and Strategy Directorate | Operations Directorate | Finance and Corporate Services Directorate

SEPA Directors

The CEO leads the Strategic Management Team (SMT) which includes the three directors for:

  • Operations Directorate
  • Science and Strategy Directorate
  • Finance and Corporate Services

The Chief Executive and his three directors form the Strategic Management Team (SMT), overseeing strategic planning, business management issues and relationships, and reporting directly to the Board. Subject to the issues under consideration, the SMT will draw in relevant colleagues, e.g. Communications and Organisational Development, as required.

James Curran, SEPA Director of Science and StrategyJames Curran
Director of Science and Strategy

This new directorate includes the work of the previous Environmental Science Directorate (Chemistry, Ecology, Marine, Hydrology, and Environmental Quality), along with Radioactive Substances, Science and also Organisational Planning and Improvement, and Environmental Strategy. Communications will also be in this directorate, reflecting its strategic role within SEPA.

James has worked in environmental science and regulation for 30 years. He has undertaken studies in hydrometeorology, numerical modelling of dispersion in marine waters, and water resources management as well as a spell of direct regulatory enforcement with agricultural and industrial businesses.

He has been a consultant to the Scottish Office and was for some years the Head of Science with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and then Head of Environmental Strategy.

In 2006 he co-founded and then ran Entrading, the UK's first comprehensive eco-store and cafe in central Glasgow. This was sold a couple of years later and he has taken up a post, again with SEPA, as Director of Environmental Science. James was awarded MBE for services to the environment in 2007.


Hydrology | Marine | Environmental Quality | Chemistry | Ecology | Business Support | Environmental Strategy | Change (Science and strategy) | Organisational Planning and Improvement | Strategic Communications

John Ford, SEPA Director of Finance and Corporate ServicesJohn Ford
Director of Finance and Corporate Services

John joined SEPA in 1998 as Director of Finance and Corporate Support. Previously, he was Director of Finance, Information and Contracts with Stobhill NHS Trust. His career has included senior financial and information management posts within AEA Technology, Post Office Counters Limited and local authorities.

John is a Chartered Certified Accountant and a Chartered Public Finance Accountant.


Information | Information Systems | Procurement, Facilities and Estates | Finance | Administration | Corporate Solicitor | Business Support | Programme Management Office | Resillience

Calum MacDonald
Calum MacDonald, SEPA Director of OperationsDirector of Operations

Operations directorate will include the work of the previous Environmental Protection and Improvement (EPI) Directorate, as well as SEPA’s work in Land Use Planning, and Better Regulation. The directorate will also include Environmental Policy, Radioactive Substances policy and regulation, SEPA’s Advisory work, River Basin Management Planning, National Planning (including Strategic Environmental Assessment work) and Organisational Development (encompassing Human Resources, Health and Safety, Learning and Development and Job Evaluation).

Calum joined SEPA in 1996 as Divisional Manager in the former west region. He became Environmental Regulation and Improvement Manager for Highlands, Islands & Grampian, then Environmental Development Manager in the Strategic Planning Directorate in 2001. He became Acting Director of strategic planning in 2003.

His career has included various posts with City of Glasgow Council, in environmental health and pollution control.

Calum is a member of the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland and Chairman of Council of the National Society for Clean Air and Environmental Protection.


North Area | South-east Area | South-west Area | National | Environmental Policy | Legal | Business Support | Change (Operations) | Organisational Development

SEPA Chief Officers

The Business Management Team (BMT), which includes five Chief Officers, supports and informs the SMT. The BMT contributes to strategic planning and will leads on delivering and reviewing business operations. The BMT work extremely closely with the SMT both on “normal” business as well as on the leadership and management of change over the next two years.

Monica Straughan
Monica Straughan, SEPA Chief OfficerChief Officer Strategic Communications

Monica joined SEPA as Head of Public Affairs in 1996. She became Public Relations Manager in 2001 and Head of Communications in 2004.

Her career has included posts in Scottish Natural Heritage and both its predecessor bodies, the Nature Conservancy Council for Scotland and the Countryside Commission for Scotland. She originally trained as a journalist with DC Thomson & Co, Dundee.

Monica is a member of the Institute of Public Relations.


Communications Programmes | Communications Services

Fiona Martin, SEPA Chief OfficerFiona Martin
Chief Officer Organisational Development

Fiona joined SEPA in 2004 as Human Resources Manager. She was recently appointed as Chief Officer Organisational Development with responsibility for working with the Senior Management Team and Chief Executive focussing on engaging staff and leading the HR and OD transformation.

Fiona is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and has worked in a range of posts within the local government and retail sectors. Fiona is also a qualified and practising mediator.


Organisational Development Manager | Human Resources Manager | Health and Safety

Tom Inglis, SEPA Chief OfficerTom Inglis
Chief Officer Operations

Tom joined SEPA in 2006 as Divisional Manager in the north region. Following a year as Head of Water Policy in 2001, he became Environmental Regulation and Improvement Manager in Highlands, Islands and Grampian in 2002, Head of Environmental Protection and Improvement in north region in 2006 and finally Chief Officer in 2009.

His career has included posts in environmental protection authorities involving hydrology, engineering, laboratory management and IS development.

Tom is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.


Alan Reid, SEPA Chief OfficerAllan Reid
Chief Officer Strategic Change and Government Relations

Allan joined SEPA in 1996, as Business Development Manager for the former West Region, based in East Kilbride. In 2000, he worked with Colin Bayes as Depute ERIM for South East, before taking up the post of Head of National Environmental Protection and Improvement. From 2008, Allan has been working on SEPA’s change agenda, with special responsibilities for better regulation strategy, Environmental Clean Technologies (ECT), Business and Enterprise and Government Relations.

Previous posts have included Marine Science management and a variety of regulatory roles across central and southern Scotland.

Allan has reposnsibility for managing SEPA's Secretariat and External relations functions.

Allan holds an MBA and is a member of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management and a Chartered Environmentalist.


Secretariat | External Relations

David Pirie, SEPA Chief OfficerDavid Pirie
Chief Officer Science and Strategy

David joined SEPA in 1996 as a Senior Chemist. He became South West Chemistry Unit Manager in 1999, Chemistry Services Manager in 2001 and Head of Chemistry in 2004.

His career has included posts with the Water Research Centre, University of Aberdeen and the Clyde River Purification Board.

David has a degree in Chemistry form the University of Aberdeen and a PhD in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Glasgow. He is a Chartered Chemist and a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry.