The Spey Fishery Board is thrilled to announce the appointment of esteemed businessman and environmental conservation advocate Martin Gilbert, as the new Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Spey Catchment Initiative (SCI). As the co-founder of Aberdeen Asset Management and Chairman of Revolut, Toscafund, the Net Zero Technology Centre, and Scottish Golf, Gilbert’s extensive experience and strong leadership will benefit the organisation greatly.
Martin Gilbert announced as Chairman of new Spey Catchment Initiative.
The SCI, having recently become a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation, is a public-private partnership focused on implementing environmental conservation and improvement projects. These initiatives aim to make the River Spey catchment more sustainable and resilient against climate change, safeguard Spey Atlantic salmon populations, and protect other endangered species.
Dr. Alexander Scott, Chairman of the Spey Fishery Board, expressed his enthusiasm for Gilbert’s appointment, stating, “The Spey Catchment Initiative is the most exciting development on Speyside for many years, and we are delighted that Martin will be its first Chairman. Anglers from across the world visit the River Spey each year to fish for salmon, providing the backbone of our local economy. So, we must do all we can to help our Atlantic salmon – an iconic species sadly now in crisis – and as a committed angler, Martin will always have this in mind.”
In his role as Chairman, Gilbert will oversee the SCI’s strategy, governance, and financial stewardship. His extensive experience in growing and leading large financial organisations will help attract private and public investments for the SCI’s ambitious landscape-scale restoration projects, benefiting the Spey Catchment, its wildlife, and the communities that call it home.
With a history of successful projects like the River Calder and Glenshero River restorations, the SCI is poised to expand its work under Gilbert’s leadership. The organization will focus on reviving the River Spey and its iconic salmon while supporting nature’s recovery across the entire catchment area.
The revamped SCI will officially launch in May 2023, when Martin Gilbert will commence his role as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
For more information about the Spey Catchment Initiative, visit www.speycatchment.org.
