Public appointment: Members appointed to the Board of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, Màiri McAllan MSP, today announced the appointment of Dr Carol Evans, David Hunter, Lindsay MacDonald, Lorraine McMillan, Dr Sue Paterson MBE and Keith Rosser as Members of the Board of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

Members

Dr Carol Evans has over 20 years’ experience of strategy development, stakeholder engagement, strategic leadership and leading and driving change in complex organisations in the private, public and third sector.  She currently has non-executive roles at Skills Development Scotland and Food Standards Scotland and is a Member of the Accounts Commission for Scotland.  She is also Chair of the Friends of Cedarbank charity. She has previous experience as a member of pharmacy and health related boards and government advisory groups and supported the development of regulations, policies and procedures nationally.

David Hunter is a senior executive leader with extensive global supply chain, manufacturing and environmental sustainability experience. He was Chief Supply Chain Officer for Beam Suntory where he developed and implemented their global sustainability strategy.  He led an organisation of 2,500 employees across Europe, the Americas and Asia. He developed his leadership skills in complex and regulated organisations delivering people centred continuous improvement.

Lindsay MacDonald has extensive experience of being accountable for major investment projects and leadership in the transport, construction and telecommunications sectors.  He is a Charted Management Accountant and Project Management Professional with experience of bringing the disciples of financial management and performance delivery together in an appraisal framework. Lindsay is a Member of the Scottish Social Services Council and the NHS Golden Jubilee Board.

Lorraine McMillan retired from her role as Chief Executive of East Renfrewshire Council in 2023.  Prior to her role in local government, she held roles in economic development, latterly as Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise Renfrewshire. Lorraine is a chartered physicist and has retained her interest in technology throughout her career and was the local Government lead for digital technology setting up the Local Government Digital Office and co- chairing the national Digital Health and Care Board. She served previously as a non-executive member of the Board of the Scottish Funding Council and the Improvement Service and is presently a Trustee of SCIAF.

Dr Sue Paterson MBE has lengthy experience working in the oil and gas industry with Shell.  Sue is a qualified IoD Chartered Director with lengthy experience as a non-executive in the public, private and voluntary sectors. She is currently a Member of the Boards of Scottish Enterprise and the Company of Wolves theatre company and is a Member of the Expert Advisory Committee for the International Energy Research Council.  She is currently helping deliver a just transition to a low carbon economy and is Co-ordinator of the Deeside Climate Action Network.

Keith Rosser is Group Director for Reed, a family-owned recruitment business. He has lengthy experience as a non-executive across a range of public bodies, with a particular focus on strategy and governance. He is a Non-Executive Director of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority and a member of the Board of Disclosure Scotland.  He has a commercial background having grown a private sector business and developed regulation in the UK labour market. He was made an Honorary Fellow of Lancaster University for work improving the rights of flexible workers and work seekers.

Appointments

Lindsay MacDonald and Keith Rosser have been appointed for four years from 15 January 2024 until 14 January 2028. Dr Carol Evans, David Hunter, Lorraine McMillan and Dr Sue Paterson have been appointed for three years from 15 January 2024 until 14 January 2027.

The appointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration and time commitment

The appointments attract remuneration of £293.29 per day for a time commitment of a minimum of 24 days and a maximum of 30 days per year.

Other Ministerial appointments

Dr Carol Evans is a Member of the Accounts Commission for Scotland and receives £9,064.50 per annum for a time commitment of 2.5 days per month, a Member of the Board of Skills Development Scotland and receives £8136.00 per annum for a time commitment of 2 days per month and a Member of the Board of Food Standards Scotland and receives £227.00 per day for a time commitment of 4 days per month.

Lindsay MacDonald is a Member of the Scottish Social Services Council and receives £9,247.80 per annum for a time commitment of 5 days per month.  He is also a Member of the NHS Golden Jubilee Board and receives £9,030.00 per annum for a time commitment of 4 days per month.

Dr Sue Paterson is a Member of the Board of Scottish Enterprise and receives £442.00 per day for a time commitment of 2.5 days per month.

Keith Rosser is a member of the Board of Disclosure Scotland and receives £250.30 per day for a time commitment of 2 days per month.

David Hunter and Lorraine McMillan do not hold any other public appointments in Scotland.

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.

Dr Carol Evans, David Hunter, Lindsay MacDonald, Lorraine McMillan Dr Sue Paterson and Keith Rosser have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) is Scotland’s principal environmental regulator, protecting and improving Scotland’s environment. Scotland’s environment is a precious and unique resource that is at the heart of our commitment to deliver for Scotland.

It has a unique and visionary statutory purpose: to protect and improve the environment in ways that, as far as possible, also create health and wellbeing benefits and sustainable economic growth.  As a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government with around 1,300 staff across Scotland and a budget of over £93 m, SEPA is responsible for delivering two fundamental services – environmental regulation and flood risk management.