Public appointment: Chair and members extended on the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service board

The Minister for Minister for Victims and Community  Safety, Siobhian Brown MSP, has announced the completed extension to the appointment of Kirsty Darwent as chair, and the upcoming extension to the appointments of Brian Baverstock and Tim Wright as members of the board of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Chair

Dr Kirsty Darwent has wide ranging leadership experience within the charitable and public sector and a professional background as a chartered psychologist and systemic psychotherapist. She has substantive governance experience and is additionally the chair of Redress Scotland. She is formerly the chair of the Scottish Agricultural Wages Board, chair of Relationships Scotland, a director with the Family Therapy Training Network and the former vice-chair of the board of NHS Ayrshire and Arran. As SFRS chair, Kirsty was committed to widening diversity and a collegiate culture that ensures different perspectives contribute to board effectiveness. Kirsty’s time as SFRS chair came to an end on 30 January 2026. 

Members 

Brian Baverstock is a qualified accountant and independent consultant specialising in public sector governance and risk management. Before consultancy, Brian had a long career in the public sector in Scotland, during which he has led a number of transformational change programmes, including being the founding Chief Executive of APUC Ltd, the procurement Centre of Expertise for Scotland’s universities and colleges. Brian has held a number of non-executive director roles in the public and voluntary sectors. He is currently on the Board of the Scottish Legal Aid Board and Scottish Rail Holdings Ltd. 

Tim Wright is an experienced management consultant, having worked with a number of high profile professional service firms and having held senior roles in a number of private sector companies. He is currently a director of a consultancy which he co-founded. An acknowledged thinker and practitioner in the emerging field of the crowd economy, Tim is a published author and an experienced speaker. 

Extension 

Kirsty’s extension was for 2 months and ran from 11 December 2025 to 30 January 2026. 

Brian and Tim’s extensions are for 3 months and will run from 30 July 2026 to 23 October 2026. 

These extensions are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner. 

Remuneration 

Kirsty’s extension as chair attracted remuneration of £470.92 per day, for a time commitment of up 10 days per month, up to a maximum total fee of £56,510.40 per financial year. 

Brian and Tim’s extensions as members attract remuneration of of £321.87 per day, for a time commitment of up 5 days per month, up to a maximum total fee of 19,312.20 per financial year. 

Other ministerial appointments 

Brian Baverstock is a member of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, for which he receives remuneration of £238.98 per day, for a time commitment of approximately 3.5 days per month. Brian is also a member of the Scottish Rail Holdings board, for which he receives remuneration of £360.00 per day, for a time commitment of approximately 5.8 days per month. 

Tim Wright is a member of the National Records of Scotland board, for which he receives remuneration of £250.00 per day, for a time commitment of approximately 1 day per month. 

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.   

Neither Kirsty Darwent nor Brian Baverstock have had any political activity within the last five years. 

Background 

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of the people of Scotland. They are a national organisation delivering front-line services locally from three strategically positioned hubs based in the North, West and East of the country.