New CEO for Scottish Natural Heritage

In her new role, Francesca will oversee an organisation charged with maintaining, protecting and enhancing Scotland’s nature and landscapes for the benefit of all and with contributing to securing a wide range of national outcomes.

The current Chief Executive, Ian Jardine, who has led SNH for the past 15 years, is taking up a new role on loan to the Scottish Government as a National Adviser on environment policy to strengthen its EU-related analysis, engagement and policy work. Ian has extensive networks and knowledge and experience of European policy and legislation, including from time working in the European Commission, which will make an important contribution to the analysis of scenarios on the future relationship between Scotland and the EU.  

Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham said: “I am delighted to approve the appointment of Francesca Osowska as Chief Executive of Scottish Natural Heritage. Francesca’s wealth of experience in leading transformational change and of government policy should be a great asset to SNH, and I look forward to working with her.

“I also wish to pay tribute to Ian Jardine for his leadership of SNH over many years and I am very pleased that our work on future environment policy and regulation will gain from his extensive knowledge and experience, including of the European Union.”

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) is the government's adviser on all aspects of nature and landscape across Scotland. Our role is to help everyone understand, value and enjoy Scotland's nature now and in the future. For more information, visit our website at www.snh.gov.uk. SNH media is also now on Twitter at www.twitter.com/snh_tweets

The agency currently employs in the region of 600FTE, but much of SNH’s work is carried out in partnership with others including local authorities, Government bodies, voluntary environmental bodies, community groups, farmers and land managers. SNH has offices in most parts of Scotland including the main islands.

SNH receives annual funding from the Government in the form of Grant in Aid (circa £46.5m for 2017/18) to deliver Government priorities for the natural heritage. SNH portfolios and priorities have a strong focus on helping to deliver the Scottish Government's National Outcomes which comprise the National Performance Framework.

Francesca Osowska was educated in Cumbria and at Cambridge University where she obtained an MA in economics.  She also received and MA in European economics from the College of Europe in Bruges.

Francesca joined the civil service as an economist in 1993. Her first posting was in the Employment Department in Sheffield.  After brief stints in London and Brussels, Francesca moved to Edinburgh in 1997 as a government economist with the then Scottish Office.  In 1998 Francesca moved to the policy stream of the Scottish Office in the education department.  Francesca then held posts in the education and justice departments of the Scottish Executive and was Head of Sport at the Scottish Executive / Government. 

Between 2007 and 2009, Francesca was Principal Private Secretary to the First Minister, the Right Honourable Alex Salmond MSP, MP and moved in December 2009 to be Director for Culture, External Affairs and Tourism.

Francesca was appointed Director for Housing, Regeneration and the Commonwealth Games in the Scottish Government in January 2010 and subsequently moved to the post of Director for the Commonwealth Games and Sport in January 2013.  And she was appointed as Director for the Scotland Office in the UK Government in January 2015. Francesca was awarded an OBE for services to Government and the Commonwealth Games in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours in January 2015.

Francesca will join Scottish Natural Heritage on 1 October 2017.

Francesca participates keenly in triathlon and has completed four ironmans. She has also competed in the GB age group team at standard and long distances.