Public appointment: Member appointed to the Scottish Qualifications Authority Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Educations and Skills today announced the appointment of Michelle Wailes as a Member of the Scottish Qualifications Authority following the end of Hamish Mackay’s term.

Member

Michelle Wailes is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales with over 20 years’ experience in the professional and financial services industries and the public sector. She started her career with PricewaterhouseCoopers, working in the Government and Public Sector team. During this time she was engaged on the delivery of statutory audit services, internal audit services and specialist advisory projects across a wide range of Public and Private Sector Bodies in Scotland and the South East of England. She then spent over a decade working at the Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank Group where she gained extensive experience in internal audit, risk and corporate governance. Michelle Wailes is currently a Board Member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at Scottish Canals, Board Member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and a member of the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner Audit and Accountability Committee.

Appointment

This appointment will be for two years and two months and will run from 24 January 2023 to 31 March 2025 or until the SQA is replaced by a new Qualifications Body.

This appointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

This appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £225.26 per day for a time commitment of up to twenty three days per year.

Other ministerial appointments

Ms Wailes is a Board Member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for the Scottish Canals, for which she receives remuneration of £240 per day, for a time commitment of two days per month.

Ms Wailes is a Board Member and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, for which she receives remuneration of £17 684 per annum, for a time commitment of two days per week.

Ms Wailes is an Audit and Accountability Committee Member for the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, for which she receives remuneration of £200 per meeting, for a time commitment of four meetings days per year.

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.   

Ms Wailes has had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

SQA is Scotland’s national awarding and accreditation body. It is an executive non-departmental public body that reports to Scottish Ministers and the Scottish Parliament. SQA’s remit and functions are set out in the Education (Scotland) Act 1996 as amended by the Scottish Qualifications Act 2002. SQA develops, maintains, and improves qualifications gained at Scotland’s schools, colleges, employers and training providers.

The Cabinet Secretary announced on 9 March 2022 the intention to replace the SQA with a new qualifications body. SQA will continue to deliver its functions while the new body is being developed, ensuring continuity for learners.