About Gillian Martin MSP
Gillian Martin was appointed Minister for Energy and the Environment in March 2023 following the appointment of the then First Minister Humza Yousaf.
Gillian is now the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy while Mairi McAllan is on maternity leave.
Prior to Ms Martin’s appointment to government, she held Convenorship positions on both the Health Committee and prior to that, on the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee.
Gillian Martin was elected as a Member of the Scottish Parliament to represent Aberdeenshire East in 2016 after becoming involved previously in the independence campaign and Women for Independence and was re-elected in May 2021 to represent the constituency once more.
Ms Martin grew up in Newburgh, Aberdeenshire where she lives with her husband and dog Ted.
Prior to her role as an MSP, Gillian lectured in Television Production at North East Scotland College and ran her own video production company.
In her first two years as an MSP, the North-east MSP was a member of the Education Committee and Economy Committee where she took part in vital work looking at the gender pay gap.
Ms Martin was the first of the 2016 intake to pass a Members Bill- her Safety on School Transport Bill ensures seatbelts are available on all school buses.
In September 2018, Gillian was appointed as the Convener of the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee which led on the landmark Climate Change Bill.
In 2021, Ms Martin was appointed as Convener of the Health Committee before becoming Minister for Energy and the Environment in 2023.
The Aberdeenshire East MSP was also the convener of the Cross-Party Group on Women in Enterprise and deputy convener on Shared Parenting and Towns and Town Centre. Gillian is also a member of the Cross-Party Group on Culture, Prevention and Healing of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Skills and Women’s Health.
In her spare time Gillian likes to walk her dogs Ted and enjoy quality time with her family on the Aberdeenshire coast.
