Joanna Strathdee

Joanna Strathdee (1954–2015) was a Scottish National Party (SNP) politician and councillor for Aberdeenshire Council, representing the Huntly, Strathbogie, and Howe of Alford ward. Born in Keith, she attended Rothiemay Primary School and Keith Grammar School. She was first elected to Aberdeenshire Council in 1999.

In the 2005 UK general election, she contested Gordon but finished fourth with 7,098 votes. In the 2007 Scottish local elections, she topped her ward poll with 1,839 first preferences and became SNP Group Leader until 2012. She unsuccessfully contested the 2010 UK general election in Aberdeen North, finishing second with 8,385 votes.

Strathdee was selected as an SNP candidate for Aberdeen Central in the 2011 Scottish Parliament elections but stood down due to illness. She retained her council seat in the 2012 local elections, securing 830 first preferences and exceeding the quota, though she failed to bring in a running mate. After the election, Rob Merson was elected SNP Group Leader but resigned within an hour, leading to Strathdee's reinstatement. Later that year, Hamish Vernal replaced her as SNP group leader.

Strathdee passed away on 23 August 2015 after a five-year battle with primary peritoneal cancer, a type of ovarian cancer.