Public appointment: Member reappointed to Water Industry Commission for Scotland Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero and Just Transition, Mairi McAllan MSP, today announced the reappointment of Ann Allen and Robin McGill as Members of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland Board.

Member

Ann Allen is Director of Campus Innovation and Development at the University of Leeds.

A chartered surveyor with over 40 years experience she has lead major infrastructure and development projects.

She is Chair of Architecture Design Scotland and sits on the board of Crown Estates Scotland. She is also a Trustee of the National Museum of Scotland. 

She was awarded and MBE in 2018 for her services to Higher Education and is an honorary fellow of the RIAS.

Robin McGill is an experienced international business leader with a long track record of delivering commercial, operational and financial performance improvement in large, complex and often high-hazard enterprises across a wide range of business models, market sectors and geographies. He has extensive experience in Operations Management, HSEQ, Process Re-Engineering and Project/Programme Management.

He Graduated with 1st class Hons in Engineering at Edinburgh University in 1977. He is a Fellow of two Engineering Institutions – IMechE and IET.

He joined BP at Grangemouth as a Mechanical Engineer and enjoyed a 30-year successful career working all over the world before returning to become Managing Director of the BP Grangemouth complex up until its Divestment to Ineos. More recently, CEO of a multibillion defence contractor undergoing a multibillion capital upgrade Programme, CEO of Europe’s largest professional Engineering body thIET and two further senior roles in international SMEs – Exova and Fosroc.   

Reappointment

The reappointment for Ann Allen will be for four years and will run from 1 July 2024 until 30 June 2028. The reappointment for Robin McGill will be for four years and will run from 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2027.

This reappointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

This reappointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £304.34 per day for a time commitment of one days per week.

Other ministerial appointments

Ann Allen is Chair of Architecture Design Scotland, for which she receives remuneration of £10482.00 per annum, for a time commitment of one day per week.

Ann Allen is a Member of Crown Estates Scotland Board, for which she receives remuneration of £4853.74 per annum, for a time commitment of one day per month.

Ann Allen is a Trustee of National Museum of Scotland for which she offers a time commitment of one day per month with no remuneration.

Robin McGill 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.   

Ann Allen and Robin McGill have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

The Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) was formed on 1 July 2005 under the Water Services etc. (Scotland) Act 2005. The Commission is funded through a levy on Scottish Water and licence fees.

Statutory duties are to:

• promote the interests of Scottish Water’s customers, having regard to the interests of current and future customers
• ensure that customer charges reflect the lowest reasonable overall cost for Scottish Water to deliver the Scottish Ministers’ Objectives for the water sector
• comment on Scottish Water’s reporting of its performance, challenging Scottish Water to become more efficient and sustainable and
• facilitate the entry of retail water and sewerage providers that wish to supply non-household customers in Scotland

WICS support both the Scottish Government’s vision of ensuring that Scotland is a Hydro Nation and the jointly agreed vision for the Scottish water sector. This is that the sector will be “admired for excellence, secure a sustainable future and inspire a Hydro Nation”. In doing so they meet their obligations under the Water Resource Act 2013.

WICS is made up of around 25 people, comprising economists, strategists, analysts, communicators and support staff. The board provides leadership, direction and support to ensure that WICS delivers its functions effectively and efficiently.