Public appointment: Members reappointed to the Board of Skills Development Scotland

The Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans, Mr Dey, today announced the reappointment of Elizabeth Corcoran, Carol Evans, Nazim Hamid and Christine Pollock as Members of the Board of Skills Development Scotland. 

Members 

Elizabeth Corcoran is a qualified accountant with over thirty years’ experience at Board level in both public and commercial sectors. Her previous roles have been with AstraZeneca, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Student Loans Company and recently The James Hutton Institute. She has substantial experience of Strategic Planning, Finance, Governance, Risk and Change management. Beth also has experience as a Non-Executive Director. She was a Board Member of Glasgow Prestwick Airport where she Chaired the Audit and Risk Committee and the Capital Investment Committee and sat on the Safety Committee. Beth was a Member of the Investigation Committee at the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants for six years. 

Carol Evans has over 20 years’ experience of skills development, stakeholder engagement, strategic leadership and leading and driving large scale transformational change in complex organisations in the Private, Public and third sector including AstraZeneca, Kellogg’s, PepsiCo, Reckitt Benckiser, Royal Pharmaceutical Society, and Bield Housing and Care. She has been involved in the leading and management of change, learning and organisational development.  As Global Clinical learning and Development Director at AstraZeneca she had responsibility for the workforce development of 6,000 people worldwide.  As a member of global executive teams, she had been responsible for audit, risk and ensured the highest standards of corporate governance. Carol is the Chair of Friends of Cedarbank, a charity for children with additional needs. Previously member of several other pharmacy and health and social care related boards and government advisory groups and supported the development of regulations, policies and procedures around education and workforce development nationally. 

Nazim Hamid brings over 20 years of experience of working in both the public and voluntary sectors, on equality, diversity, community empowerment and more. Nazim is a Council Member of the General Teaching Council, a Committee Member of the GTCS Professional Regulations Committee and a Member of the Scottish Legal Aid Board Criminal Quality Assurance Committee Her professional role in governance, policy and strategic planning informs her role as a board member and Equality Champion with SDS. 

Christine Pollock CBE is a former Director of Learning and Leisure Services in North Lanarkshire Council. She was also previously President of the Association of Directors of Education. In 2012 she was awarded a CBE from the Queen for services to Education and in 2013, she was given a Fellowship in the Scottish Qualifications Authority. Currently, she serves on the Scottish Advisory Council for Outward Bound and promotes the work of the Charity across Scotland. In addition, she is chair of the Creative Learning Steering Group with the remit to oversee the implementation of Scotland’s Creative Learning Plan. She was a member of The Commission chaired by Sir Ian Wood tasked with the production of a report making recommendations on the Development of Scotland’s Young Workforce and now serve as a member of the Programme Board monitoring implementation. 

Reappointment 

The reappointments will be for one year. Elizabeth Corcoran, Nazim Hamid and Christine Pollock’s will start on 15 January 2025 until 14 January 2026. Carol Evans will start on 22 January 2025 until 21 January 2026. 

The reappointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner. 

Remuneration 

The reappointments are part-time and attracts a remuneration of £339 per day for a time commitment of up to two days per month. 

Other ministerial appointments 

Carol Evans is a Member of the Accounts Commission for Scotland, for which she receives remuneration of £9,064.50 per annum, for a time commitment of 2.5 days per month. She is also a Member of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, for which she receives £7,200 per annum, for a time commitment of 2.5 days per month and a Member of Food Standards Scotland, for which she receives £10,998 per annum, for a time commitment of 4 days per month. 

Elizabeth Corcoran, Nazim Hamid and Christine Pollock 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.    

Elizabth Corcoran, Carol Evans, Nazim Hamid and Christine Pollock have had no political activity within the last five years.  

Background 

Skills Development Scotland is the national skills body supporting the people and businesses of Scotland to develop and apply their skills.  A series of skills and economic strategies interlink to shape SDS's work, making sure that services and partnership activity are meeting the needs of customers and effectively contributing to our inclusive, sustainable growth ambitions for Scotland.