Laura is a board member of both the Galloway and South Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere and Scottish Land & Estates, as well as Chair of the Clydeside Region of SLE. She is very involved in the organization's work in the South West of Scotland and with the next generation of land managers through a group she and fellow board member Michael Dunglass have set up.
As well as being extremely personable, Laura is helpful, knowledgeable, and very approachable. These qualities allow her to successfully contribute to SLE's work in the South West and beyond, easily building relationships with others, creating discussions, and leading conversations on many topics of interest to members. Laura's involvement in so many aspects of rural Scotland is astounding, including Board member of SLE, Clydeside Regional Chair of SLE, Next Generation Facilitator, estate projects including wader work, climate change across the estate, conservation work, and so much more.
Laura has been instrumental for Scottish Land & Estates in the South West region of Scotland. Not only by leading the Next Generation group, but also through her influence at Minuntion Estate. Minuntion is a large sheep farm, but it is also a traditional sporting estate with self-catering holiday accommodation, a woodland school for local children and Outward Bound groups, and commercial forestry. One of Laura's priorities for Minuntion Estate is to continue to enhance and protect biodiversity, working towards achieving Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) Level 2 accreditation and building on the extensive native woodland planting and habitat restoration schemes undertaken by her parents-in-law.
Laura is a working mum of three, and the words "She doesn't know how she does it" spring to mind. Her ability to juggle being a fantastic mum to Alec, Mary, and Nancy with her board responsibilities, regional meetings, and duties and her contribution to the Minuntion Estate makes her a force to be reckoned with. As well as always being cool, calm, and collected, Laura is always available to members and regional managers as a source of knowledge and inspiration.
Find out more about the finalists for the Helping it Happen Awards 2023