Ann Leslie

Historic Environment Scotland is the lead body for the historic environment in Scotland and is an executive non-departmental public body (NDPB) dedicated to protecting and promoting our nation’s historic environment.

It operates within the context of the Scottish Government’s national outcomes and strategic objectives, including public service reform. Like other, similar cultural organisations, it is also a recognised Scottish charity and operate within the framework of charity regulation.

Ms Leslie graduated from the University of Glasgow with an LLB in 1993 and spent her career as a commercial lawyer at one of Scotland’s largest law firms, MacRoberts, before leaving as a partner in early 2009 to spend time with her young children.

She joined Scottish Futures Trust in 2011, where the concept of LAR was developed. She was appointed as chief executive of LAR, a mid-market rent charity, in March 2016.

Anne-Marie O’Hara, who has worked in various property, charity and grant-giving roles mainly in the heritage sector, has also joined the board. She was head of the capital team at The BIG Lottery Fund and led the property planning, projects and European funding team at the National Trust for Scotland.

Anne-Marie retired recently from her post as CEO of an Edinburgh-based charity and social enterprise providing affordable space for the third sector. Anne-Marie is on the board of The Ethical Property Company and chairs its Governance & Human Resources Committee. She is a non-executive director of Eala Impacts CIC and chair of the charity Co-Housing for Independent Living. She is also a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland.

Both appointments to Historic Environment Scotland are for a four-year term to 19 March 2027.