Sustainable development role for Professor

A University of St Andrews Professor has been appointed Vice- Chair (Scotland) of the UK’s Sustainable Development Commission.

Jan Bebbington, Professor of Accounting and Sustainable Development, was appointed along with Peter Davies (Vice Chair, Wales) and three new commissioners; Tim Lang (Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural); Tess Gill (Work and Skills); and Waheed Saleem (Youth).

The Rt Hon Jack McConnell MSP, First Minister for Scotland said, “I very much welcome the appointment of Professor Bebbington as Vice Chair (Scotland) of the Sustainable Development Commission. I know Jan well from her work with the Cabinet Sub Committee on Sustainable Scotland and welcome the drive, enthusiasm and expertise she will bring to the Commission. Her appointment is a key stage in strengthening the Commission’s presence in Scotland and in helping to drive the sustainable development agenda forward. I and my colleagues look forward to continued close working with Professor Bebbington, and with this important and influential body.”

Professor Bebbington, a New Zealander, is an external advisory member of the Scottish Cabinet Sub- Committee on Sustainable Scotland. Her background is in applied research and teaching at undergraduate and post graduate level as well as with business audiences. She is also Associate Director of the Centre for Social and Environmental Accounting Research at the University of St Andrews’ School of Management and a Research Associate of Landcare Research (New Zealand) Ltd.

Jonathon Porritt, Chair of the Sustainable Development Commission said, “This is excellent news for the Commission. We are delighted to have been able to secure an extended remit for the Commission in both Scotland and Wales, and our new Vice-Chairs will play a critical role in enhancing our effectiveness and our working relationships with both the Scottish Executive and the Welsh Assembly Government. We are also very excited at having been able to appoint two new Commissioners for Work and Skills, and Natural Resources, at such an important time for the Commission, and to have brought on board a new Commissioner for Young People – enabling us to deepen our engagement with young peoples’ organisations across the UK.”

ENDS

NOTE TO EDITORS

The Sustainable Development Commission (SDC) was launched by the Prime Minister in October 2000, subsuming the UK Round Table on Sustainable Development and the British Government Panel on Sustainable Development. It is an advisory Non-Departmental Public Body, reporting to the Prime Minister and the First Ministers in Scotland and Wales. Its role is to promote sustainable development across the UK and all sectors of society, particularly within government and build consensus on the actions needed if further progress is to be achieved.

Specifically the SDCs role covers:

identifying key unsustainable trends which will not be reversed on the basis of current or planned action, and recommending action to reverse the trends;

acting as a critical friend to government advising on its progress in delivering sustainable development;

acting as a watchdog of government, appraising the effectiveness of the delivery of sustainable development;

establishing good working relationships with key parts of government in promoting sustainable development;

deepening awareness of the concept of sustainable development within key sectors, increasing awareness of the issues it raises, and building agreement on how to address them; encouraging, stimulating and sharing good practice between all the UK administrations.

ENDS

For more information – Barry Greig Sustainable Development and Biodiversity Directorate Scottish Executive 1-H North, Victoria Quay Edinburgh EH6 6QQ – telephone 0131 244 5093. www.sustainable.scotland.gov.uk www.vibes.org.uk

Issued by Beattie Media – www.beattiegroup.com On behalf of the University of St Andrews For more information, please contact Claire Grainger, Press Officer – 01334 462530, 07730 415 015 or [email protected]; Ref: press releases/janbebappt View the latest University news at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk