Public appointment: Members appointed to Public Health Scotland Board

The Minister for Mental Wellbeing, Public Health, Sport, Alcohol and Drugs, Maree Todd MSP, today announced the appointment of Joseph McLachlan, Dona Milne and Maddy Halliday as Members of the Public Health Scotland Board.

Members

Joseph McLachlan is the Chief Executive of East Ayrshire Council. He places a strong emphasis on early intervention, prevention and on the contribution local government makes to positively support the determinants of public health. He was the former Director of Finance and Digital and was instrumental in supporting the establishment of the Council’s ten year Early Intervention and Prevention Programme which is supported by a £40 million fund and aims to reduce service demand, tackle poverty and inequality, boost partnership collaboration and increase employability opportunities across East Ayrshire. Mr McLachlan has a particular interest in public sector finance, effective financial reporting and governance arrangements. In 2023 he was awarded Public Finance Professional of the Year by CIPFA Scotland. He was the Chair of the Local Authority Scotland Accounts Advisory Committee (LASAAC), a member of CIPFA / LASAAC and was the local authority representative for all four nations on the Financial Reporting Advisory Board (FRAB).

Dona Milne is a Consultant in Public Health and a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health. She has served as a Deputy and Director of Public Health in Scotland for 13 years, working in both Lothian and Fife. She has held senior positions in Scottish Government, local government and the community and voluntary sectors, bringing knowledge and expertise of delivering services and creating policy with a range of partners. She began her career in community education and youth work before joining the NHS in 2001 and retraining in public health. She continues her commitment to volunteering as Chair of Youthlink Scotland, Dalkeith CAB and the Falkland Partnership Board. She has a strong commitment to addressing inequalities and reducing poverty.

Maddy Halliday has over forty years’ experience working in public health including city-wide public health initiatives in Glasgow and Sheffield; public mental health initiatives across Scotland and community health and wellbeing programmes in North Lanarkshire. This wide-ranging experience means that Maddy brings deep understanding of the social, economic and environmental factors that determine public health and of evidence-based action to improve public health and reduce health inequalities. Maddy also brings extensive experience of organisational governance, strategy and delivery with over 20 years’ experience as a CEO or senior manager of several charities including Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire, the Stroke Association and Mental Health Foundation. Maddy is delighted to be appointed to the Board of Public Health Scotland and looks forward to working with colleagues to contribute to improvements in public health for the people of Scotland.

Appointment

This appointment will be for 4 years and will run from 2 October 2026 until 1 October 2030.

This appointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

This appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £312 a day for a time commitment of 52 days per year.

Other ministerial appointments

Joseph McLachlan, Dona Milne and Maddy Halliday do 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.   

Joseph McLachlan, Dona Milne and Maddy Halliday have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

Public Health Scotland is the lead national agency for improving and protecting the health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland. Its focus is on tackling health inequalities, increasing healthy life expectancy and reducing premature mortality, with an emphasis on prevention and early intervention.

Public Health Scotland employs around 1100 staff and has received £67.8 million of baseline funding as part of the Scottish Government’s Budget for 2025-26.

Scottish Ministers and COSLA are joint partners in the strategic planning and performance review processes for Public Health Scotland. This joint sponsorship arrangement, which is unique for a Public Body in Scotland, reflects the crucial role that local government has in creating the conditions for wellbeing and health across Scotland.