Homecoming for Loch Lomond national park boss

Jan 8 2010 by Tina Kemp, Lennox Herald (main ed)

AS a student, Fiona Logan sat studying on the banks of Loch Lomond.

The experience instilled in her a lifelong love for the bonnie banks.

Eighteen months ago that relationship was rekindled when Fiona was appointed chief executive of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

For the 38-year-old – with an impressive track record in the private sector and in environmental campaigning – it’s been like coming home.

If anything, her passion for the lochside is even stronger as she leads a team tasked with taking care of Scotland’s most precious asset.

And, as she prepares to begin a new year, she believes the park authority – which has fielded much criticism since its inauguration seven years ago – has reached an important stage.

“The feedback I’m receiving from communities and internally is that we have turned a huge corner,” said Fiona. “But we still have a lot to do.”

East coast-born Fiona began her career with Unilever and in her 20s moved to New Zealand and Australia.

A keen environmentalist, she worked with campaign group Greenpeace as its New Zealand spokeswoman.

Fiona gave in to the lure of the private sector, and at 29, was appointed marketing director for IBM New Zealand.

Later she and her former husband teamed up with personal development guru Jack Black, running a training and development business before returning to Scotland to set up their own management consultancy.

Following the end of her marriage, Fiona opted out of the business.

Shortly afterwards, she received an e-mail from a friend about the chief executive’s job at the park authority.

“I was flying a kite really,” she said, “but the job seemed a perfect fit for me.”

In her first year and a half, Fiona, who has two children aged six and three, has introduced much of the energy and innovation of the private sector into the role. And she shares the frustration felt over the slow progress of some of the park’s policies.

She said: “There are government regulations we have to conform to and we need to look at how we deliver within those boundaries. It’s about being energetic but doing that within the democratic process.

“There’s still a disconnection between what people want and what we are here to do.

“We are here to make other agencies deliver and we have achieved a lot despite not being funded to do that.

“Now we have gone back to our stakeholders and said ‘come on, we’re here, let’s talk serious money’ and there is a real willingness to work with us.

“I want people to come here and think they are in a special place. We still have a huge way to go to deliver that promise but I am absolutely committed to doing that.”

Fiona is reminded every day of the expectation that comes with the job.

“I stay in Bridge of Weir and I can see Ben Lomond from the end of my road,” she said. “It’s what I drive towards every day and it’s like a beacon drawing me in.”