Sarah‑Jane Laing has served as Chief Executive of Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) since December 2019, becoming the first woman to lead the organisation since its founding over 120 years ago.
With over 25 years’ experience in rural policy, strategy and public affairs, she has played a central role in shaping national debate on land use, rural housing, rural economic growth, climate resilience and the general sustainability of rural Scotland. Before joining SLE, she spent more than a decade working in local government and housing associations in roles spanning housing strategy, homelessness, and rural development.
A respected voice in the sector, Sarah‑Jane frequently represents SLE across major stakeholder groups and taskforces and is a frequent conference speaker and media commentator. She is widely recognised for advocating evidence‑based policy and a constructive, collaborative approach to rural development, and has recently called for a “rural reset” to better align policy with the lived realities of rural communities.
She lives on her family’s farm in the Scottish Borders. In 2026, Sarah-Jane was invited to formally open the River Tweed salmon season in Kelso—an event reflecting both her longstanding personal ties to the town and her commitment to both responsible land stewardship and country sports.