Public appointment: Trustees appointed to the Board of National Museums Scotland

The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic, Ms Forbes, today announced the appointment of Hermione Cockburn, Judith Cruickshank, Alistair Hetherington, Sally Mackay and Niki McKenzie to the Board of Trustees of National Museums Scotland.

Trustees

Hermione Cockburn has over 20 years’ experience in teaching, broadcasting and public engagements with science working most recently as the Scientific Director of Edinburgh’s science centre Dynamic Earth and as a Trustee of the Association of Science and Discovery Centres. She is passionate about empowering people with understanding and empathy for the Earth and enabling life-long learning. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and was awarded an OBE for services to public engagement in science in 2020.

Judith Cruickshank is an experienced executive, non-executive and Board advisor across a range of organisation types, sectors and geographies. Following an early career, with Shell International and Marakon Consulting, Judith has worked with NatWest Group for 16 years in a variety of roles. She is currently Managing Director of Commercial Mid Market for Royal Bank of Scotland and Chair of the Bank’s Scotland Board. Outside of the Bank, Judith is a Director of Scottish Edge and of Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE) and is Chair of Business in the Community Scotland. She was previously a Finance Committee member at Heriot-Watt University.

Alistair Hetherington is Melville Wills Professor of Botany, Emeritus, at the University of Bristol. He graduated in Botany from the University of St Andrews and remained there to complete a PhD. After working at the Universities of Edinburgh and Lancaster he moved to Bristol in 2006 and in 2017 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science by University College Dublin. He has held Visiting Fellowships at St Catherine’s College and Magdalen College (Oxford) and is an Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of Peradeniya in Sri Lanka. He currently holds a Leverhulme Trust Emeritus Fellowship and has worked with UK Research and Innovation for over 30 years where he is currently Chair of BBSRC Research Committee E (Fellowships). His main research interests focus on understanding the mechanisms that allow plants to adapt to a changing environment and the evolution of pore-like structures on the leaf surface known as stomata, which regulate water loss from the plant and the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. He brings experience of scientific research and how it is funded to the Board of Trustees.

Sally Mackay is an architect and Senior Associate at Bennetts Associates, where she is currently leading the redevelopment of the historic King’s Theatre in Edinburgh. She is also studying painting at Leith School of Art. Her decision to join Bennetts Associates was influenced by the firm’s pioneering approach to sustainability, including being the first architectural practice globally to commit to the United Nations’ Climate Neutral Now initiative and set approved science-based targets. This ethos aligns with her passion for designing significant public buildings which address contemporary environmental challenges. She has served on the NHS Design Review Panel and recently become a WELL Accredited Professional, underscoring her belief in the positive impact of thoughtful design on public health. Additionally, she is a judge for the Civic Trust Awards and an active member of the Women in Property committee. Beyond architecture, Sally is an experienced leader in youth development and exploration, having participated in five Arctic expeditions with British Exploring Society. These experiences, coupled with firsthand observations of the Arctic’s transformation over three decades, have deepened her resolve to integrate sustainable practices into her work.

Niki McKenzie is currently the joint Managing Director at Archangel Investors, the world’s longest continually running angel investment syndicate. Archangels is at the forefront of investing in Scotland’s early-stage life sciences and technology businesses, delivering growth and jobs, and supporting Scotland’s most exciting entrepreneurs. Niki began her career at KPMG where she qualified as a chartered accountant before spending 16 years in banking and structured finance, then joined Archangels in 2011. Niki was previously on the Board of Edinburgh College where she served on both the Audit & Risk Assurance Committee and the Planning & Resource Committee. Niki is currently on the Board of St Andrews Innovation, the commercialisation subsidiary of St Andrews University.

Appointment

Judith Cruickshank, Hermione Cockburn and Sally Mackay will be appointed for four years from 1 October 2024 until 30 September 2028. Alistair Hetherington and Niki McKenzie will be appointed for four years from 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2029.

The appointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

The appointments are part-time with a time commitment of up to 12 days per year. Appointments to the Board of National Museums Scotland are not remunerated.

Other ministerial appointments

Hermione Cockburn, Judith Cruickshank, Alistair Hetherington, Sally Mackay and Niki McKenzie 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.

Hermione Cockburn, Judith Cruickshank, Alistair Hetherington, Sally Mackay and Niki McKenzie have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

National Museums Scotland is one of the leading museums groups in Europe. It cares for a multi-disciplinary collection of over 12 million objects, bringing together the arts and sciences, and the cultures of Scotland and the world, alongside the diversity of the natural world. The organisation has approximately 500 staff across five sites. It is a Scottish Charity (no. SC 011130) and a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) sponsored and supported through Grant-in-Aid by the Scottish Government and governed by an independent Board of Trustees. It receives around £28 million of Scottish Government funding annually. National Museums Scotland’s priorities reflect its statutory duties to care for the items it holds, and to make them accessible through providing education, encouraging research, and promoting public awareness. Its four museums (the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street in Edinburgh, the National War Museum in Edinburgh Castle, the National Museum of Flight in East Lothian and the National Museum of Rural Life near East Kilbride) are enjoyed by millions of local and international visitors each year.

As a national centre of excellence, the organisation is committed to widening access to and participation with its collections, reaching out across Scotland, the UK and internationally. This includes an extensive programme of: touring exhibitions; loans; community-based partnership projects, often within disadvantaged areas; training and skills development, including developing young people; the provision of advice and support to the museum sector; administering the National Fund for Acquisitions; and operating the Treasure Trove scheme. The cultural, social, educational and economic value of its work is wide-reaching, creating impact on people’s lives through sharing the fascinating stories of the millions of remarkable objects it cares for in Scotland’s National Collection.

National Museums Scotland operates within the context of the Scottish Government’s national outcomes and strategic objectives.

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