Key People - A+DS

About Us > Key People

Chair

Karen Anderson

Karen is a founding partner of Anderson, Bell Christie Architects, Glasgow. She graduated from Glasgow’s Mackintosh School of Architecture in 1984 and has been in practice as an architect since then. Karen has significant experience in social housing and community involvement in re-development, working on masterplanning and, urban and rural design guidance in areas as diverse as Raploch, Stirling; the Isle of Gigha; Argyll and Bute; and North Lanarkshire. She is a former Commissioner of the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland and is currently a Board member of Architecture and Design Scotland. She has been a part-time lecturer in Architecture at the University of Strathclyde and was until recently Convenor of the Saltire Housing Design Awards Panel.

Anderson Bell Christie was established in 1991 and has since built up a strong reputation for high quality design across the housing, regeneration, health and education sectors. The practice was recently shortlisted in four categories of Building Design magazine’s Architect of the Year awards: masterplanning, residential (Private), residential (Public) and education. Significant projects completed by the practice in recent years include Auchterarder Community School; Erskine Mains Care Home; a private residential development at Queen Elizabeth Square, Glasgow; and the Scottish National Epilepsy Centre.

Chief Executive

Jim MacDonald

Jim MacDonald is a Graduate of Edinburgh University and UCL, London. He is a MPhil in Town Planning and holds the Diploma in Management. A chartered Town Planner and member of the Institute of Historic Building Conservation, he has over 20 years experience working on built environment issues within central and local government in the UK.

Jim joined A+DS from Historic Scotland’s Inspectorate where he was Deputy Chief Inspector for three years with lead responsibility for the agency’s statutory casework and advice. Prior to this he led the Heritage and Design Team within Glasgow City Council’s Development and Regeneration Services and has also worked for North Lanarkshire Council, the City of Westminster and English Heritage’s London Region.

Board of Directors

Sandy Beattie

Sandy Beattie is an architect and Masterplanning and Design Team Leader with Aberdeen City Council. Mr Beattie has a detailed working knowledge of the planning system and has led the development of design policies and strategies within a local authority environment.

Andrew Burrell

Andrew Burrell is an architect and Chairman and Managing Director of The Burrell Company in Edinburgh. Mr Burrell has a strong track record in acting as a bridge between the design and development sectors of the construction industry.

David Chisholm

David Chisholm is an architect and former Managing Director of his own architectural practice, John Thompson and Partners in London, he now resides in Fife. Mr Chisholm has a wide range of experience in different sectors and will be able to contribute well to the strategic and policy direction of A+DS, from his experience of community regeneration.

Martin Crookston

Martin Crookston is a planner and economist, and was a Director / Partner of a large architecture and planning practice, Llewelyn-Davies Planning, in London and Newcastle. He has a strong background in policy and strategy development, particularly in urban regeneration and place-making. He was a member of the Urban Task Force led by Lord Rogers, where he chaired the working group on Design and Transport.

Branka Dimitrijevic

Dr Branka Dimitrijevic is a qualified Architect and Director of the Centre for the Built Environment at Glasgow Caledonian University. Dr Dimitrijevic has significant experience in creating and implementing PR and marketing activities.

Jonny Hughes

Jonny Hughes is a professional ecologist who is currently Director of Conservation with the Scottish Wildlife Trust. The Scottish Wildlife Trust is an organisation of 36,000 members which champions Scotland’s wildlife and environment. Jonny is also a Trustee of Scottish Environment Link, an umbrella body of 34 environment bodies with a combined membership of over half a million people. Jonny brings with him a lifelong interest in sustainable urban design, along with specific skills and experience in corporate planning, change management, policy and parliamentary affairs and public relations.

Martin McKay

Martin McKay is an architect and Senior Development Manager at Clyde Gateway, with experience in economic development. Mr McKay has a strong built environment background with relevant experience of policy development and the commissioning of projects. Mr McKay has a strong built environment background with relevant experience of policy development and the commissioning of projects.

Graham Ross

Graham is a Partner of Austin-Smith Lord LLP. He is an architect and urban designer based in Glasgow and involved in projects throughout the UK and Ireland. Graham has served on A+DS’s Advisory Board since 2006.

Graham studied at Edinburgh College of Art and the Technische Universitat Berlin. He has won three Scottish Design Awards.

Alan Sim

Alan Sim is a planner and former Head of Planning at East Dunbartonshire Council. Mr Sim has a good working knowledge of policy development and the implications of the new planning system in Scotland.