Download 1 - Public Appointments Scotland

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News
11 November 2014
Members Reappointed to the Board of Scottish
Futures Trust
The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and
Cities today announced the reappointment from 1 January 2015 of Graeme Bissett,
Carolyn Dwyer, James Fletcher and Fiona Mackenzie as members of the Board of
Scottish Futures Trust (SFT).
SFT was established by the Scottish Government in 2008 to improve the efficiency
and effectiveness of infrastructure investment in Scotland by working collaboratively
with public bodies and industry, leading to better value for money. To date, SFT has
reported cumulative savings of more than £642 million as set out in their latest
Statement of Benefits, published on 6 October.
SFT works with a wide range of public sector bodies to deliver the £3.5 billion NonProfit Distributing programme, Tax Incremental Financing pilots and National
Housing Trust programme. .
SFT also manages the:
 £1.8 billion Scotland’s Schools for the Future programme to help local
authorities achieve the very best value for their investment in new schools;
and
 £2 billion Scotland-wide hub programme to deliver new community
infrastructure over the next 10 years, and is supporting public bodies to
improve asset management across the public sector.
In October SFT published its 2014-19 Corporate Plan outlining where its expertise
will be focused to further accelerate economic growth across Scotland. It is
estimated that each additional £100m of public sector capital spending in 2014-15
supports around 1,000 full time equivalent Scottish jobs, just over half of which are in
construction.
Graeme Bissett is a Chartered Accountant with many years of experience in the
profession and senior financial roles in industry, including a period as Finance
Director of the Kwik-Fit Group. He now holds Non-executive Chairman or Director
roles with growth-oriented companies in the retail, logistics, hospitality, distribution
and HRIS sectors. In addition to his role with SFT, Graeme's appointments include
Macfarlane Group PLC, the UK's largest packaging distribution group,
Blackcirdes.com, that is now the UK's largest independent e-commerce car tyre
retailer and the Town House Collection Ltd which owns the Blythswood Square hotel
in Glasgow. Graeme is Chair of Children 1st , formerly the RSSPCC and one of
Scotland's leading children's welfare charities, a member of Council of the Institute of
Chartered Accountants of Scotland and a member of the Court of the University of
Glasgow.
Carolyn Dwyer has 30 years of experience in construction and related industries.
Carolyn holds an Executive role as Delivery Director of Communities, Housing and
Environment with the London Borough of Lambeth. She has also held roles with
Network Rail and the Department for Transport.
Carolyn believes that getting the best value for money from infrastructure investment
requires optimising the social and environmental value, as well as innovative
financing and smart procurement. She has extensive experience of community
engagement and development.
Councillor James Fletcher is leader of East Renfrewshire Council. The 60 year old
former career civil servant was head of the tri-service Pensions Agency based in
Glasgow, first with the Ministry of Defence and latterly with Electronic Data Systems
Ltd, when the work of the Pensions Agency was transferred to the private sector as
part of a Public Private Partnership arrangement.
Jim first became a councillor for Thornliebank Ward on the former Eastwood District
Council in 1988 and was the first Labour councillor ever to be elected to that council.
He was elected to the newly created East Renfrewshire Council in 1995. As the
council's first education convener, he was responsible for the vision and planning
which has established East Renfrewshire as Scotland's top education authority.
He has been the leader of the council for over eight years and is noted for his
inclusive way of working with party politics firmly parked outwith the council chamber.
He leads a multi-party coalition in East Renfrewshire Council. Jim takes great pride
in East Renfrewshire as a top performing Council, and he feels that politicians have
to be brave, sometimes making unpopular decisions that are the right decisions for
the area.
Fiona MacKenzie is a graduate of the University of St Andrews, and was formerly
the Chief Executive of NHS Forth Valley. She has been a been a Non- Executive
Director of Scottish Futures Trust since its inception. She is currently self-employed
as a crofter and management consultant.
Carolynn Dwyer and Fiona MacKenzie’s reappointments will be for four years, (to 31
December 2018); James Fletcher’s reappointment will be for two years (to 31
December 2017); and Graeme Bissett’s reappointment will be for three years (31
December 2017).
The reappointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £325 for a time
commitment of two days per month.
Graeme Bissett, Jim Fletcher, Fiona MacKenzie and Carolyn Dwyer do not hold any
other Public Appointment.
The reappointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in
Public Life in Scotland.
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. Jim Fletcher is a
Councillor for East Renfrewshire. . Graeme Bissett, Fiona MacKenzie and Carolyn
Dwyer have not had any political activity in the last five.