Julie Procter – CEO of greenspace scotland to retire

Well this came as a surprise. We have learnt that CEO of greenspace scotland is retiring after 21 years at the helm of this superb charity that has championed the cause of green spaces in Scotland.

At the end of the year Julie Procter will leave greenspace scotland after 21 years of steering and developing the charity. An inspirational CEO, her work has made a considerable contribution towards ensuring that everyone living and working in urban Scotland has access to quality greenspace which improves their quality of life. Julie is retiring after leading the organisation through many different periods of change and working in partnership with a wide range of organisations. 

She leaves a legacy which covers influencing policy to ensure the importance of greenspace and its contribution across the policy landscape is recognised; pioneering new approaches to greenspace management including ParkPower, climate resilient parks, our growing community and creating the world’s first national greenspace map; supporting sharing of learning through practice networks, including the Park Managers Forum which connects local authority colleagues; developing innovative approaches to resourcing, including MyParkScotland as Scotland’s only crowdfunding platform for parks and greenspace projects, and Parks4Life which aims to raise the first million for Scotland’s first national endowment fund for parks and greenspaces by the end of 2023. 

Julie is recognised throughout the sector as an innovator and passionate advocate for greenspace. She will assist the Board of Trustees as they recruit a new CEO and management team to take the charity onwards and upwards. 

Claire Mennim – Chair of greenspace scotland said… 

“greenspace scotland is a stronger, more effective and more resilient organisation due to Julie’s vision, empathy and absolute commitment to our charitable objectives. The board are privileged to have worked with her as the charity and social enterprise has grown and flourished under her leadership. We wish to thank Julie for her dedicated service to greenspace scotland and wish her well as she embraces new adventures.” 

Julie Procter said: 

“I feel hugely privileged to have led greenspace scotland for its first 21 years and to have worked in partnership with so many amazing organisations, groups and individuals. It’s been a wonderful journey covering a range of innovations and achievements, including developing the world’s first national greenspace map and pioneering new approaches to managing and resourcing greenspaces. 

I’ve had the pleasure of working with wonderful staff colleagues and trustees, as well as collaborating with a wide range of partners and organisations. 

We’ve seen our work embed the importance of greenspace across the policy spectrum and deliver change on the ground. We’ve achieved a lot but there is still work to be done to ensure that everyone benefits equally from easy access to quality greenspaces and to realise the multiple impacts of blue green infrastructure. 

After 21 years, as greenspace scotland comes of age, now is the right time for me to hand the baton on to a new CEO and management team. greenspace scotland is in good health and heart, ready to embark on the next stage of its journey with a new leader at the helm. If you are considering applying, I can truly say this is a hugely rewarding job, with an opportunity work with some great people, and to make a difference to people’s lives and places. 

As my time with greenspace scotland draws to a close, I’m also hopeful that we’ll achieve our first funding milestone for Parks4Life – Scotland’s first national endowment for parks and greenspaces. With nearly £930k raised, we’re within touching distance of our first target of raising £1million by the end of 2023. Every donation – large or small – will support Scotland’s parks. You can help by making a one-off or regular donation online“ 

Information on greenspace scotland recruitment will be available at the end of October 2023, interested candidates should keep an eye on the news and jobs pages on our website. 

We wish her well with her future plans and we know she will be seen in a park sometime someplace somewhere. Once a parkie always a parkie.