Our peatland restoration consultancy is growing!

As demand for peatland restoration increases across Scotland, we have welcomed two new experienced professionals to strengthen our team in the delivery of new projects and ongoing contracts.

Based in Inverness, Ewan Campbell joins Caledonian Climate as a Senior Environmental Consultant, while CJ Macleod is our new Operations Director, working from the new Banchory office.

Both bring extensive experience, personal insights and a diverse skill set, qualities that will prove invaluable as we continue to upscale operations, exceed best practices and deliver operational excellence in restoring Scottish peatlands.

Let us introduce you!

 

CJ Macleod

Operations Director

With 25 years of experience in operational leadership, including 8 years in environmental regulation, CJ is an expert in driving performance through people-first leadership and a commitment to excellence.

Why Caledonian Climate?

I was drawn to the position at Caledonian Climate as it aligns deeply with both my professional background and personal roots, having grown up in the Scottish Highlands and Islands. My background is in operational leadership and environmental regulation, and I saw this role as an opportunity to continue contributing to climate action in a tangible way.

Caledonian Climate’s dedication to landscape scale peatland restoration was also appealing, as was the chance to be actively involved in fieldwork. I was inspired by the organisation’s inclusive culture and collaborative approach to delivering projects, something that chimes with my values and approach.

What do you hope to achieve in the role? 

In this role, I want to contribute meaningfully to the restoration and protection of peatlands by applying my operational leadership experience and environmental regulatory knowledge. I aim to support the delivery of high-impact projects, foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, and help build strong, capable teams.

Ultimately, I want to help shape a delivery approach that not only meets environmental goals but also empowers people, streamlines operations and ensures sustainable outcomes. 

Do you have any projects or events lined up that you are excited about?  

I’m really looking forward to getting out into the field with colleagues and seeing our projects in action - from the very beginning right through to full restoration. It’ll be great to see how the teams’ hard work has come together and to witness the difference it’s making to the landscape. I’ll also be heading to a few Country Shows over the next few months, and I’m excited to chat with people there about the benefits of peatland restoration and the positive impact it has on our environment.

 

Ewan Campbell

Senior Environmental Consultant

Previously a Project Officer and Technical Co-ordinator for Peatland ACTION, Ewan brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his role at Caledonian Climate. His strengths lie in the design, development and delivery of peatland restoration projects, with a comprehensive understanding of the latest methodologies, peatland restoration techniques, and regulations involved in landscape scale projects.

What interested you in the position at Caledonian Climate?

I was well aware of Caledonian Climate’s work having encountered them in my previous Peatland Project Officer roles. They have a strong (and growing) reputation as the market leader in Scotland, delivering high quality peatland restoration projects at scale and pace, as well as providing a range of specialist peatland survey and monitoring services. After discussing the role with Freddie it seemed a ‘no brainer’ for me - it was clear that the business’s key aims/outlook aligned with my own, and he demonstrated clearly how ambitious and forward-thinking the company is. The opportunity to work with such a great team of highly proficient, motivated, and committed peatland consultants was also key to the decision.

What do you hope to achieve in the role?

I hope to be able to help and support our team of peatland consultants in a technical advisory role to help ensure that we meet the technical challenges of delivering optimal peatland restoration projects across the country (and hopefully beyond!).

I also hope to use my previous experience and technical knowledge gained over the last 10 years to ensure that quality standards are maintained at best practice levels and that innovation flourishes throughout the range of projects that Caledonian Climate is involved in.  

What part of the role are you most interested in?

My main interest lies in providing technical advisory support to the team, however, I am also very keen to head into the field to survey/assess new peatland sites, especially those located in some of the more remote areas of the country. I am also eager to help reduce the carbon footprint of peatland restoration (where possible) and explore the future potential use of more environmentally sustainable, locally sourced/low-carbon impact, restoration materials and/or techniques. 

I certainly think that I will derive the greatest job satisfaction from seeing the team’s hard work in project design, development and management come to fruition, through the delivery of high-integrity peatland restoration projects across the country.  

Do you have any projects/events lined up that you are excited about? If so, why?

I am currently heavily involved in several large-scale projects across a number of Estates, ranging from the Scottish Borders up to the Highlands of Scotland. It is the variety of peatlands and associated geography that really excites me about the projects. I have also developed close working relationships with landowners and stakeholders during project development, and their overall enthusiasm and ambition surrounding peatland restoration also excite me greatly. Each project that I am involved in certainly poses its own challenges from a technical perspective, however, by ensuring a robust site assessment process, effective project design, comprehensive planning, and high-quality delivery, then we will reach our collective twin goal of helping to achieve net zero and enhancing biodiversity through the restoration of peatlands.

 

A huge thanks to CJ and Ewan for contributing to this blog.

You can get to know the wider Caledonian Climate team here.