Public appointment: Members appointed to the Scottish Food Commission

The Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform, and Islands today announced the appointments of Mary Brennan, Emilie Combet, and Graeme Jack as members of the Scottish Food Commission. 

Members 

Mary Brennan studied for a Bachelors in Agricultural and Food Engineering from University College Dublin (1994-1998) and moved to Newcastle University in September 1998 to study for a MSc. International Agricultural and Food Marketing before taking up a junior lectureship in Food Marketing in September 1999 igniting her passion for, and deep interest in agricultural and food policy. During her 15 years at Newcastle University, Mary was immersed in, and schooled in, interdisciplinary research and expert committee activity working on a variety of agricultural and food policy related projects funded by the Food Standards Agency, Safefood - Food Safety Promotions Board, DEFRA, and the EU Framework 6 and 7 programmes whilst also completing her PhD by published work on domestic food safety practices in Dec 2010. In November 2013, Mary moved to University of Edinburgh Business School quickly immersing herself in the dynamic and evolving world of Scottish Food Policy. Mary became Chair of the Scottish Food Coalition in Sept 2018, helping to lead the Coalitions development, involvement, and significant contributions during the Good Food Nation journey. Not long after the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act became Scots Law, Mary led a successful transdisciplinary, multi-partner bid to the Wellcome Trust to create a Living Good Food Nation Lab. 

Emilie Combet is a professor of human nutrition at the University of Glasgow, with experience in forming and sustaining complex, multidisciplinary networks across sectors relevant to food, nutrition, and public health. As Director of the Scottish Alliance for Food, her focus is to increase the visibility and reach of research in the field, and bridging disciplinary siloes to develop novel evidence that will help shape the food system. Through her research in human nutrition, Emilie has experience in designing and evaluating observational and interventional studies with relevant to human health as well as food production and consumption. She also is actively engaged in translating evidence into practical strategies, particularly in the fields of food, nutrition, obesity, and weight management. Part of this includes communicating science to a broad range of audiences and sectors. 

Graeme Jack comes from an arable and dairy farming background in Aberdeenshire, and has been heavily involved in agri-food and food production for more than 30 years. Graeme was a member of the executive board at Robert Wiseman Dairies PLS, one of Scotland’s best-known entrepreneurial success stories, and a director of Muller UK & Ireland, a leading supplier of fresh milk and dairy products, working with 1300 farmers across the UK. Graeme stepped back in early 2024, to take up non-executive roles, and was appointed as an independent director of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), a statutory levy board, funded by farmers, growers and others in the supply chain to help the industry succeed in a rapidly growing changing world. Graeme is a committed runner and medallist at Scottish Masters level, and chairs Athletics Trust Scotland, a charitable trust established by Scottish Athletics, which aims to transform lives through participation in running. 

Appointment 

Mary’s appointment will be for 4 years and will run from 16 June 2025 to 15 June 2029. 

Emilie’s appointment will be for 3 years and will run from 16 June 2025 to 15 June 2028. 

Graeme’s appointment will be for 3 years and will run from 16 June 2025 to 15 June 2028. 

These appointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner. 

Remuneration 

These appointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £171 for a time commitment of 4 days per month. 

Other ministerial appointments 

Mary is a member of ‘Safefood – Food Safety Promotions Board Ireland’ for which she receives no remuneration. The time commitment is 4-6 days per annum. 

Graeme is an independent director of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), for which he receives remuneration of £12600 per annum. The time commitment is 3 days per month. 

Emilie 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.    

Mary, Emilie and Graeme have had no political activity within the last five years.  

Background 

The Scottish Food Commission is a new executive non-departmental public body that is being established to provide oversight over provisions made in the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act 2022. 

The Commission’s main functions will include: scrutinising and making recommendations in relation to the Good Food Nation Plans and progress reports; conducting research; and providing advice to Scottish minister, Local Authorities and Health Boards in relation to their good food nation plans. 

The Commission will be the main oversight body to support, advise and improve the efforts of Scottish ministers and relevant authorities towards becoming a Good Food Nation. It will play a key role in transforming Scotland’s food system. 

The three new members will be joining Dennis Overton, Chair of the Scottish Food Commission, to continue the work to develop this new public body.