Retirement of long-standing Director, Bob Laughton

PUBLISHED: 09/01/25

After 13 years of leading the Findhorn, Nairn and Lossie Rivers Trust, our Director, Bob Laughton, will be retiring at the end of March 2025.  

Bob has provided long-term leadership for the Rivers Trust, as its only Director since its establishment in 2008. During his tenure the organisation has grown from a team of 2, to now be a dynamic core team of 7, plus seasonal staff.  

Amongst Bob’s many achievements are his instrumental role in helping to launch the award-winning Scottish Invasive Species Initiative, now entering its 8th year, and the development of the Trust’s 2021-2026 Management Plan which saw it take on a broadening remit of local climate mitigation and habitat restoration in response to global challenges and lay the foundations for the launch of the Findhorn Watershed Initiative. Bob said:

“It has been a huge pleasure to work across the three rivers over the last 13 years. From monitoring fish stocks, to encouraging pupils to fish; no two days were ever the same. My heartfelt thanks to all the staff, colleagues, Board members, landowners, anglers, volunteers and many others who have supported me over the years with such interest and passion.”

The FNLRT Trustees will be announcing its appointment of a new Executive Director to lead the Trust into its next phase, as well as launching the recruitment for a newly created Ecologist role, to join the team during the first quarter of 2025. 

The FNLRT Board of Trustees and staff team will miss Bob’s kind and steady presence, but wish him all the very best with settling into retirement and enjoying more quality time with his family.