Co-operative Development Scotland

Co-operative Development Scotland has unveiled a powerful new Advisory Board.

The Scottish Enterprise subsidiary has appointed seven new Advisory Board members to represent Scotland's co-operative and employee owned sector.

The new line-up is strongly industry-focused and includes representatives from well-established and new co-owned businesses.

The 14 CDS Advisory Board members are:

• Ivan Broussine, Chair, former founding Chief Executive of the Scottish Tourism Forum
• Johnston Birchall (new), a Professor of Social Policy at the University of Stirling and respected expert and author on co-operation
• Bruce Davidson (new), Managing Director of employee owned seafood, meat and game company Loch Fyne Oysters
• James Graham, Chief Executive of SAOS, the development body for co-operative and collaborative enterprise in Scotland's agricultural and rural industries
• Linda Hanna, Director of Enterprise, Scottish Enterprise, tasked with supporting the growth of businesses in Scotland
• Iain Macdonald, Director-General of the International Co-operative Alliance, which represents co-operatives globally
• Alasdair Macmillan (new), a Director and co-founder of Atomised, a Fife-based ethical web design and development workers' co-operative
• Calum MacPherson, Area Manager for Highlands & Islands Enterprise Moray, involving developing business and social enterprise in the Moray region
• Colin Mann (new), Managing Director of Scottish Woodlands Ltd, an employee owned forest management company with annual sales of over £40 million
• Jeremy Miles (new), Managing Director of Edinburgh Bicycle Co-operative, a successful bicycle retailer and workers' co-operative with outlets in Scotland and the North of England
• Geoff Miller (new), Group Finance Director of Tullis Russell Group, the employee owned Fife papermaking, coating and converting company
• Hollis Smallman, President of consumer retail group the Scottish Midland Co-op Society (Scotmid)
• Robin Stewart, Chair, Scotland & Northern Ireland Board, The Co-operative Group; Director of Co-operatives UK and a member of the Board of Management of The Co-operative College
• Fergus Younger (new), Agricultural Strategy Development Manager for Argyll & Bute Agricultural Forum and co-ordinator of Argyll Food Producers co-operative.

Ivan Broussine, CDS Advisory Board Chair, said: "With changing economic times strengthening the case for more sustainable ways of doing business, the opportunity for co-operative and employee owned business models has never been greater. It is tremendously exciting to have such a high calibre Advisory Board helping us promote this message."

Sarah Deas, CDS Chief Executive, hopes the strengthened Advisory Board will help to promote the success of co-operative and employee owned business models across Scotland.

She said: "We are delighted that individuals with such experience of the key business models we are promoting have agreed to join us in an advisory and advocacy capacity.

"Collaboration boosts productivity, spreads the risk and grows more sustainable businesses. Having so much hands-on experience of these benefits on our Advisory Board can only be beneficial."