Members reappointed to Public Health Scotland Board

The Minister for Public Health and Women’s Health, Jenni Minto MSP today announced the reappointments of Steven Barron, Jane-Claire Judson and Rak Nandwani as Members of the Public Health Scotland Board.

Members

Steve Barron served as Chief Executive of the Highland Council until 2018. His career background is in construction, housing and services with broad experience in local government, NHS and the private sector.  He has extensive experience in the NHS in Lothian and Highland. In his second term on the Board of Public Health Scotland, he will work to support diverse policy approaches that promote equality of outcomes across Scotland. He is also a Non-Executive member of the Board of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Jane-Claire Judson is the Chief Executive of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, Scotland’s largest health charity. She has held posts at Diabetes UK, the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body and NUS Scotland; and was previously a non-Executive Member of NHS Health Scotland. Jane-Claire has a strong interest in and track record on governance in the public and third sectors which has led to involvement in a number of governing bodies. She is a board member at Children in Scotland and was previously a Commissioner at the Scottish Human Rights Commission. She has held Board positions with Volunteer Scotland and the Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations. She holds an MA Hons, an MBA, and a post graduate diploma in Quality in Health Leadership. 

Rak Nandwani is an Honorary Professor at Glasgow Caledonian University and was formerly a Consultant Physician in Glasgow. Apart from a clinical background, he has experience of UK training, research programmes and advising on national strategies. Rak has been a non-executive member of Public Health Scotland since its launch in 2020 and chairs the Population Health & Clinical Governance committee. He brings lived experience of addressing health inequalities by recognising diversity and promoting prevention interventions. In 2022, the Faculty of Public Health awarded him Membership by Distinction.

Reappointment

The reappointments will be for four years and will run from 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2028.

The reappointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

The reappointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £9,030 per annum for a time commitment of one day per week.

Other ministerial appointments

Mr Barron is a non-executive member of the Board of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, for which he receives a daily rate of £300 for a time commitment of four days per month.

Ms Judson and Professor Nandwani do not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.   

Mr Barron, Ms Judson and Professor Nandwani have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

Public Health Scotland is Scotland’s lead national agency for improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of all Scotland’s people, using the best data, intelligence and research.  It was established to consolidate our public health assets and to drive preventative and innovative, whole system approaches that translate evidence into action that improves healthy life expectancy and tackles persistent health inequalities. Public Health Scotland is jointly sponsored by the Scottish Ministers and COSLA, a unique feature for a Scottish public body.  This means a commitment to shared decision making, planning and performance management in relation to the body.