Public appointment: members reappointed to Public Health Scotland Board

The Minister for Public Health, Women’s Health and Sport, Maree Todd MSP today announced the reappointments of Ann McKechin, Dr Anna Black and Colin McLean as Members of the Public Health Scotland Board.

Summary: Public appointments news release.

Directorate: People Directorate

Members

Ann McKechin is a Policy and Communications specialist and qualified Solicitor with a wide range of transferable skills gained from being a member of the Senior Management Team in a multinational company, a charity Director and a Non-Executive Board member in a variety of public and charitable bodies. She is a former UK Government Minister and experienced parliamentarian, with a past legal career in the private sector. Ann offers a strong combination of strategic, advocacy and analytical skills and has proven experience in working in demanding and fast changing environments. She is the current Vice Chair and Counter Fraud Champion on the Public Health Scotland Board as well as being a Non-Executive Director of Smart Energy GB which is responsible for the UK wide smart meter campaign. Ann sits as a Lay Assessor on the disciplinary panels of the General Optical Council and General Chiropractic Council. In addition, she is a Member of the Court of the University of the West of Scotland and a Trustee of UN Women UK.

Dr Anna Black works as a GP in Glasgow and has a first class BSc (Hons) in International Health from the University of Leeds, MBChB from the University of Dundee and is currently completing a PhD in Public Health at the University of Glasgow. Through her academic, clinical and charity roles, Anna regularly facilitates training for healthcare professionals who care for asylum seekers and refugees. She is a GP for Youth Health Services in Glasgow and is an on-call doctor for a local hospice. She brings clinical, academic and collaborative skills to the Board. She also brings a keen interest in health inequalities, health access for marginalised groups and human rights. Anna is also a part-time Scottish Human Rights Commissioner and a Trustee at the Govan Community Project. 

Colin McLean is CEO of SVM Asset Management, an independent Edinburgh based investment group, and brings business, financial and change management experience to the Board. Through his career, he has served on Third Sector Boards focused on health, education and professionalism.  This has included appointments as the Deputy Chair and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee on the Boards of Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland and the CFS Institute, a global professional body.  Colin has links with three Scottish universities as a guest Lecturer and Honorary Professor: Glasgow, Stirling and Heriot-Watt, principally on behavioural economics.  As a qualified Actuary, he can also contribute his knowledge of risk management, data science and demographics. On the Public Health Scotland Board, Colin chairs the Finance Audit and Risk Committee and also the Remuneration Committee.

Reappointment

The reappointments will be for four years and will run from 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2026.

The reappointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

The reappointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £170.03 per day for a time commitment of one day per week.

Other ministerial appointments

 Dr Anna Black is a Commissioner of the Scottish Human Rights Commission, for which she receives remuneration of £272.04 per day, for a time commitment of two and a half days per month.

Ann McKechin and Colin McLean 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.   

Ann McKechin is a member of the Scottish Labour Party and has canvassed in her local area for the party.

Anna Black and Colin McLean have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

Public Health Scotland is the lead national agency for improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland. Its focus is on increasing healthy life expectancy and reducing premature mortality, with an emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

Public Health Scotland employs around 1100 staff and has received £48.6 million of baseline funding as part of the Scottish Government’s Budget for 2021 to 2022.

Scottish Ministers and Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) are joint partners in the strategic planning and performance review processes for Public Health Scotland. This joint sponsorship arrangement, which is unique for a Public Body in Scotland, reflects the crucial role that local government has in creating the conditions for wellbeing and health across Scotland.