Our Board | Scottish Land & Estates

Our Board is responsible for providing strategic direction and advice to our organisation. It meets on a quarterly basis to ensure our organisation represents the wider interests of our membership, continues to work towards delivering a clear vision and strategy, and ensures the financial stability and accountability of the company.

Our Board members come from a variety of different backgrounds in the rural sector, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge on land management and rural issues.

To read our Code of Conduct for Board Directors, click here.

Patrick Colquhoun

Chairman

Patrick was appointed Chairman in May 2026, having been Vice-Chair (Policy) for the duration of the previous two years. Outside of his new role, Patrick is Assistant Chief Executive Officer and part of the family ownership of Luss Estates Company, focusing on land and property areas of the business. He has been operationally involved with...

Sarah-Jane Laing

Director and Chief Executive

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...

Dee Ward

Director

Dee joined the board in May 2026 after having been Chairman of Scottish Land & Estates for the last three years. Prior to that have Dee served 3 years as Vice-Chair (Policy). Dee owns and runs Rottal Estate in the Angus Glens. Rottal is accredited by Wildlife Estates Scotland (WES) and is a mixed upland estate with the focus very much on...

Angus Cheape

Director

Angus joined the SLE board in the spring of 2024. Following service in the Scots Guards he qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and in 1980 opened an office in Edinburgh for Langley-Taylor, an old established firm in general practice with offices in Gray’s Inn, London. The Scotland office is now based at his home in Kinross-shire. Alongside...

Michael Home

Director

Michael works in the investment management industry, originally in London and now in Edinburgh. While looking after clients’ investments he also helps in the running of Douglas & Angus Estates. This company looks after the family’s homes in South Lanarkshire and the Borders. Both estates are fully diversified and include agricultural...

Lucy Laidlaw

Director

After graduating from Aberdeen University in 2006, Lucy spent her early career at one of the UK’s leading public relations consultancies working with high profile brands including O2, AirFrance, KLM, Famous Grouse and The Scottish Government. Lucy developed a passion for marketing and communications, implementing highly targeted national...

Derek Lewis

Director

Derek has owned and run the Drimnin Estate, on the western tip of the Morvern peninsula, just north of the Isle of Mull, since 2002. The estate has played a key role in the regeneration of the Drimnin community, with a continuous programme of restoring its buildings, constructing new affordable houses, restoring the natural environment...

Alastair Orr Ewing

Director

Alastair served for 10 years as an Officer in the Scots Guards and held a number of leadership roles, deploying internationally including on operations to Afghanistan and Iraq. After the Army he started a career working in Private Equity and Venture Capital and has had roles in both investing in and running early stage companies (in...

Michael Upton

Director

Michael Upton has practised as an Advocate at the Scots Bar for 32 years, specialising in property, agricultural, planning and telecoms law. He has advised and represented a wide variety of Scots landowners, agricultural tenants and fishing interests in the Court of Session, the Sheriff Court, the Lands Tribunal for Scotland and the...

Laura Warrender

Director

Laura is a partner of Minuntion in South Ayrshire, a hill farm and sporting estate which includes tourism and woodland alongside other interests with an emphasis on the restoration of habitats and farming for wildlife and biodiversity. She has a degree in Scottish Literature and History of Art and spent her early career as a producer of...