Public appointment: Members appointed to the Scottish Futures Trust

The Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise, Mr McKee, today announced the appointment of Stella Matko, Nick Rowan and Stephen Slessor as new Board Members of the Scottish Futures Trust.

Members

Stella Matko is an experienced architect who has worked in the private, commercial and public sectors in excess of 30 Years . She has spent the majority of her career working in the Higher Education sector and during that time has delivered in excess of £1billion of Capital Projects. Stella currently holds the post of Director of Estates at the University of Strathclyde, which she has held for the past nine years. She has been Chair of the Scottish Association of Directors of Estates from 2019 to 2022, and an executive member of the UK Association of Directors of Estates and is currently a Board Member of Fife College Project Board, guiding the delivery of the new £120M college building in Dunfermline.

Nick Rowan has nearly 30 years’ experience in the construction industry and will bring knowledge and input from a tier one contracting perspective to the Scottish Futures Trust board. Nick currently holds the senior level position of Director of New Business at Balfour Beatty’s building and civil engineering business in Scotland and is a non-executive board member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors’ Scotland Board.

Stephen Slessor is an experience director, policy maker and surveyor, with a track record in advising public and private sector clients on key strategic issues. He is a Director of CECA Scotland, former President of the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors, visiting Professor at Robert Gordon University and Managing Director of Galliford Try Environment. With over 25 years of infrastructure project delivery, he has particular expertise in transformation based on digital and net zero which will help bring new ideas and drive forward key changes in delivering modern infrastructure across Scotland.

Appointment

The appointments will be for four years and will run from 16 January 2023 to 15 January 2027.

The appointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

The appointments are part-time and attracts a remuneration of £325 per day for a time commitment of two days per month.

Other ministerial appointments

Stella Matko, Nick Rowan and Stephen Slessor 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.   

Stella Matko, Nick Rowan and Stephen Slessor have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

Scottish Futures Trust was established by the Scottish Government in 2008. It is an infrastructure centre of expertise that  works in collaboration with many partners across the private and public sectors.

Its industry partners range from investors, infrastructure operators, property developers, architects and constructors through to those involved in maintaining and enhancing Scotland’s public sector buildings and assets.