Public appointment: Chair appointed to the Scottish Charity Regulator

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government, Ms Robison, today announced the appointment of Marieke Dwarshuis as Chair of the Scottish Charity Regulator.

Chair

Marieke Dwarshuis graduated in Law from Utrecht University in The Netherlands, and her career in Scotland spans nearly 30 years in the public and voluntary sector in a wide range of roles. She was Director of Consumer Focus Scotland, and a member of the senior management team that established the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. She has held positions in the Scottish Government, and prior to that was Depute Director at Shelter Scotland. She started her career in Scotland at Citizens Advice Scotland. 

Marieke has extensive experience as a non-executive director in the public sector. She was a board member of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service for more than eight years, and of Food Standards Scotland for six years. She currently serves on the board of the Scottish Housing Regulator, NHS24 and the Scottish Legal Aid Board. In a voluntary capacity she has served on the board of Hillcrest Housing Association, a large social landlord and support services provider in the east of Scotland.

Marieke brings expertise in corporate governance, regulation, and in the management of organisational change.

Appointment

This appointment will be for four years and will run from 15 October 2022 to 14 October 2026.

This appointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

This appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £285 per day for a time commitment of up to five days per month.

Other ministerial appointments

Marieke Dwarshuis is a Member of the Scottish Legal Aid Board, for which she receives remuneration of £10,058 per annum for a time commitment of one days per week. She is a Member of the NHS 24 Board, for which she receives remuneration of £8,842 per annum for a time commitment of one day per week. She is also a Member of the Scottish Housing Regulator for which she receives remuneration of £9,317 per annum for a time commitment of one day per week.

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.   

Marieke Dwarshuis has had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

The Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) is a Non-Ministerial Office and part of the Scottish Administration following commencement of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005.

They are the independent regulator and registrar for over 25,000 Scottish charities including community groups, religious charities, schools, universities, grant-giving charities and major care providers. Based in Dundee they have around 50 members of staff. Their work as Regulator ultimately supports public confidence in charities and their work.

OSCR's general functions are set out in the 2005 Act:

• to determine whether bodies are charities
• to keep a public register of charities
• to encourage, facilitate and monitor compliance by charities with the provisions of this Act
• to identify and investigate apparent misconduct in the administration of charities and to take remedial or protective action in relation to such misconduct
• to give information or advice, or to make proposals, to the Scottish Ministers on matters relating to OSCR's functions.