Public appointment: Chair appointed to the Board of Environmental Standards Scotland

The Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, Gillian Martin MSP, today announced the appointment of Dr Richard Dixon as the new Chair of the Board of Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS).

Under the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021, Scottish Ministers may appoint individuals to ESS only if the Scottish Parliament has approved the appointment.  The Scottish Parliament has approved the appointment of Dr Richard Dixon as the new Chair of the Board of ESS.

Chair

Dr Richard Dixon is a freelance writer and researcher on the environment, including recent work for Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, the European Climate Foundation and the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. He has a strong background in policy and leadership roles in environmental non-government organisations in Scotland – having worked for and led both Friends of the Earth Scotland and WWF Scotland in the last thirty years. Dr Dixon served as a board member of SEPA for eight years and was also a member of the Scottish Government’s Air Quality Review Strategy and the Roundtable on Environment and Climate Change. He has a background in environmental and physical sciences, holding degrees from Glasgow Caledonian University and the Universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by Napier University in 2019. He demonstrates a deep understanding of environmental policy in Scotland and how different interest groups can work constructively together to further the ambition for Scotland’s environment.

Appointment

The appointment is for four years from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2029.

The appointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration and time commitment

The Chair appointment attracts remuneration of £312.92 per day for a time commitment of on average 50 days per year.

Other Ministerial appointments

Dr Dixon does 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.

Dr Dixon has had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

Environmental Standards Scotland (ESS) mission is to ensure that Scotland’s environmental laws and standards are complied with, and their effectiveness improved, to achieve Scotland’s ambitions for the environment and climate change.  ESS’ functions are set out in the UK Withdrawal from the European Union (Continuity) (Scotland) Act 2021 and include monitoring and investigating public authorities’ compliance with environmental law, the effectiveness of the law and how it is implemented and applied in Scotland.