Mary joined the HIE board as a shadow member on 1 January 2025 for a term lasting 18 months.

The purpose of this role is to provide an opportunity for someone to gain knowledge and experience of being on a board. With a time commitment of one day a month, the shadow member is involved in all aspects of the work undertaken by the board, but has no voting rights.

Personal profile

A passion for understanding all things rural led Mary to work in farming, field sports and equestrian jobs across six different counties in northern Scotland, before briefly returning to her home city of Edinburgh to study for a degree in Rural Business Management. 

Mary is a Chartered Rural Surveyor and undertakes a broad range of management and professional work across the Scottish Highlands. Having gained experience in several surveying firms, in August 2022 she joined newly established Highland Rural who cover estate management, valuation, renewables, utilities, agricultural consultancy, purchase and sale, strategy and most other land-based matters. 

Her rounded experience of the sector gives her a strong advantage in the management of a wide range of rural properties. Since qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor, Mary has developed a specialism in the renewable energy sector, representing both landowners and developers in agreeing the necessary land rights for new onshore and offshore projects. Additionally, she is responsible for managing and promoting one of the major development sites within the Inverness and Cromarty Firth Green Freeport. 

Mary lives in Nairn and outside of office hours can usually be found in the sea, on a bike or up a mountain with her black Labrador Luna. 

Contact

Email: ExecSupport@hient.co.uk