Josh joins Community Land Scotland as Policy Manager having previously worked in policy and research for the Scottish Government. His time in government gave him a good understanding of the policymaking and legislative process within Scotland. He has also taught and researched at the Universities of Edinburgh and Leeds, as well as holding a research fellowship at the Institute of Historical Research, University of London.

Josh says: “I am delighted to join Community Land Scotland so that I can help take forward an agenda of progressive and forward looking land reform that will deliver benefits for local communities, local economies and Scotland’s ecosystems. I am passionately committed to further community land ownership as a transformational way of tackling the biodiversity and climate crises. The empowerment and resilience of local communities, economies and cultures provides a clear vision of a what a sustainable and equitable world could look like. The case studies CLS recently published on the work of the North Harris, Inchinnan and Ettrick and Yarrow Trusts in protecting and enhancing local biodiversity give me confidence that this approach should be replicated across Scotland.”

“I’ve been inspired by the strength of community action generally around Scotland, from those who have successfully taken ownership of the land, buildings, and businesses around them, to those who are endeavouring to do so against a system too often stacked against them. The community landowners in Scotland provide a blueprint for not only further land reform here but also for communities in the rest of the UK and internationally.”

Josh is keen to demonstrate to decisionmakers the successes of Community Land Scotland’s Members and highlight what more needs to happen.