New appointments to Skills Development Scotland

8 Sep 2014 04:28 PM

The Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women's Employment Angela Constance has  announced the appointment of new non-executive members to the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) Board, which is being further strengthened with two co-opted members.

Donald Boyd, Willie Mackie, Seonag Mackinnon and Grahame Smith have all joined the SDS board and Christine Pollock and Fiona Sasan have also signed up as co-opted members.

Welcoming the appointments, Ms Constance said:

“I am delighted with these appointments that bring a breadth of relevant experience to the expanded board of Skills Development Scotland. to help guide it in its pivotal role to support delivery of the Scottish Government’s Economic and Skills Strategies.

“I also welcome the efforts being made by SDS to strengthen its board further with the co-option of two additional participants, whose senior-level experience in the education and legal sectors respectively will complement the skills of new and existing members. These two new associates strengthen female representation at SDS and their expertise will support SDS’s efforts across all its skills interventions, including the work it will do to support implementation of the young workforce recommendations”.

Donald Boyd is a partner and chartered accountant in Campbell Dallas, a firm of Independent Accountants specialising in Audit and Commercial Advisory. Donald works with many large and medium sized Scottish businesses and has an extensive knowledge of owner managed businesses. He also advises international companies in respect of their Scottish operations. Campbell Dallas was one of the first accounting firms in Scotland to create a Modern Apprenticeship scheme providing access for school leavers directly into the workplace offering them an opportunity to become a Chartered Accountant directly from school. Donald has a particular interest in engineering businesses in Scotland as well as heading up the Technology Media and Communications section within Campbell Dallas.

Willie Mackie is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Scotland and brings to the board a background in the Ayrshire and Arran area and in the college sector. From 2001 to 2012 Willie was responsible for Clydesdale Bank’s Corporate, Agricultural and Private Banking business across Ayrshire and Arran. In January 2013, he established Willie Mackie Consulting Limited providing business consultancy services to a wide range of clients predominantly based in Ayrshire. Willie holds a number of positions within the Ayrshire community including; Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Board Member (President 2011-2013); Member of the Ayrshire Economic Partnership; Chairman of Taste Ayrshire; East Ayrshire Community Planning Partnership Board Member; and East Ayrshire Business Enterprise Board Member. Willie has also been involved in the College sector for many years including roles as Member of the Board of Ayr College (Chair from 1 January 2013); Ayrshire Partnership Board Member; and Ayrshire College Regional Lead and then Chair from 4 March 2014.

Seonag Mackinnon has had a lifelong interest in the welfare of young people. She spent her working life in education, training as a primary teacher and working in the classroom, as a Teacher, Head Teacher, Education Advisor, Quality Improvement Manager and latterly as Director of Education and Children's Services for Comhairle nan Eilean Siar. Through her work in senior management, she has acquired a set of skills and a strategic objectivity that she believes equips her for the challenges facing the SDS Board. Whilst involved in various roles in the Education Sector, she was fully aware of the valuable work of Skills Development Scotland and the key role it plays in bridging the crucial gap between school and work and she is keen to play her part in helping the organisation to deliver its identified outcomes and goals. She is from the Isle of Harris - a native Gaelic speaker – and she currently Chairs the National Gaelic Strategy Steering Group, led by Bord na Gaidhlig.

Grahame Smith is the General Secretary of the Scottish TUC, a position he has held since 2006. He is a graduate of Strathclyde University where he obtained an Honours Degree in Economics and Industrial Relations. He serves on a number of skills and economic development boards at Scottish and UK level and has contributed extensively to the development of skills and employment policy, most recently as a member of the Commission on Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce. He also led the creation of Scottish Union Learning and serves as a member of its Board.

Appointments

The appointments are for four years and run from August 1, 2014 to July 31, 2018.

The appointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £6,312 per annum for a time commitment of two days per month.

Other Ministerial Appointments

Donald Boyd, Willie Mackie and Seonag Mackinnon do not hold any other Ministerial Appointments.

Grahame Smith is Member of the Board of Scottish Enterprise and receives remuneration of £12,581 per annum for a time commitment of up to two days per month.

The appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life 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.

Donald Boyd, Willie Mackie and Seonag Mackinnon have not undertaken any political activity in the last five years.

Grahame Smith is a member of the Scottish Labour Party and has undertaken the following activities in the last five years:

Co-opted members of the Board

Fiona Sasan is a law graduate from Aberdeen University and a Partner in the top ten Scottish law firm, Morton Fraser. Fiona leads the Family Law Team in its Glasgow office, handling complex family law matters involving international and cross border elements. A tenacious litigator but also a trained collaborative practitioner and former mediator, Fiona is recommended in the Legal 500 as a "skilled and creative thinker". Fiona has been a serving member of the Woman of Influence Awards lunch committee in aid of Action for Children for the last four years and is the former Chair. She has been co-opted as a member of the Board for a term of two years.

Christine Pollock has extensive senior-level experience in the education sector. She was Executive Director of Learning and Leisure Services in North Lanarkshire Council in the West of Scotland until September 2013 and is a member of several national advisory groups providing professional advice to Scottish Ministers on areas such as the National Induction Programme for new teachers, the Workforce Development Committee for Teachers and the Commission for Developing Scotland's Young Workforce. In 2012 Christine was awarded a CBE for services to Education and in 2013 the Scottish Qualifications Authority presented her with a Fellowship in recognition of her contribution to national accreditation programmes. Christine retired from her post in North Lanarkshire in September 2013 but continues to make a contribution to several national groups and works on a voluntary basis. She has been co-opted as a member of the Board for a term of one year.

Notes To Editors

Established in 2008 as a non-departmental public body, SDS is the national skills body supporting the people and businesses of Scotland to develop and apply their skills. Bringing together careers, skills, training and funding services, SDS plays a key role in driving the success of Scotland's economic future, working with partners to:

SDS is preparing Scotland's workforce to maximise opportunities in today's dynamic world