About Sarah Boyack
Sarah Boyack has represented the Edinburgh Central constituency in the Scottish Parliament since 1999 and currently serves as Scottish Labour's Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Environment and Climate Change.
As the constituency MSP for a seat at the heart of Scotland’s capital city, Sarah has worked tirelessly to represent her constituents on a wide variety of issues.
Some recent campaigns which Sarah has devoted her time to include combating antisocial behaviour particularly in tenements and flats, opposing council cuts to education, community facilities and social care provision, holding the Scottish Government to account on the Clan Gathering and helping people to save money on energy bills and become more energy efficient.
Sarah was born in May 1961 in Glasgow, but was brought up in Edinburgh where she was amongst the first female entrants at the Royal High School.
She went on to study at Glasgow University gaining an MA Hons. in Modern History and Politics and then a Diploma in Town and Country Planning at Heriot Watt University.
Then followed the post of Planning Assistant with London Borough of Brent (1986-88), returning to Scotland for the post of Senior Planning Officer with Central Regional Council (1988-92). From 1992 to 1999 Sarah was a Lecturer in Planning at Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot Watt University.
Following the first elections to the Scottish Parliament, Sarah was appointed by Donald Dewar as Minister for Transport, Environment and Planning. She served in this position from May 1999 to November 2001 during which time she introduced landmark proposals including free bus travel for elderly and disabled people in Scotland and legislation to establish Scotland’s first national parks.
Sarah has long maintained an interest in environmental issues and during the Parliament’s second term (2003-2007) she served as Convener of the Environment & Rural Development Committee 
before being appointed Deputy Minister for the Environment & Rural Development in 2007.
Sarah has been recognised by a number of awards for her work on environmental issues including the RSPB Goldcrest Award for the greatest contribution to the development of environmental policy since devolution (2004), Scottish Renewables Best Politician (2005) and a Micro Power award for outstanding personal contribution to the field of micro-renewable technology and energy efficiency (2009).
Page last updated: 4th May 2010.