Public appointment: Members reappointed to sportscotland

The Minister for Drugs and Alcohol Policy and Sport, today announced the reappointment of Allan Watt, Hala Ousta and Tejesh Mistry as Members of sportscotland.

Members

Allan Watt has served on the sportscotland Board for the last four years, recently as Vice Chair and Clean Sport Lead and as a member of the Audit & Risk Committee. He is currently a Senior Advisor to the Global Ethical Finance Initiative and Chair of the Social Enterprise Academy. Allan has worked in leadership roles in public, private and third sectors based in Scotland, London, and Asia Pacific, with experience of global sports sponsorship and the power of sport to empower young people and change their lives through participation and teamwork. Allan is still an active rower, with experience of competing at national and international events and has been a club committee member overseeing major fundraising and building projects. His four boys all play different sports from weightlifting and judo to parkour; Allan has volunteered as a mini rugby coach, but he now spends most weeknights and weekends standing on the touchline watching youth football and admiring the commitment of the volunteer coaches and parents who make it all possible.

Hala Ousta is responsible for leading FIFA’s work on diversity and accessibility ensuring the inclusion and active participation of disabled people and people of limited mobility at all levels, with a particular focus on their flagship tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup. This includes the development and implementation of the Sustainability strategies ensuring adequate and accessible infrastructure, services, and communications. Prior to joining FIFA, Hala led the Scottish FA’s diversity and inclusion efforts to become one of the first national sporting bodies to secure the Advanced Level Equality Standard for Sport and led the establishment of its Equality & Diversity Advisory Board. Hala is currently a Board Director of Scotland’s national agency for sport, sportscotland, while formerly serving as a Director and Advisor on various boards and committees such as the global network of Women in Football, the British Council, the Sport Minister’s Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board and the Scottish Commission for Children & Young People (SCCYP). Hala graduated from the University of Glasgow with a Master’s in Public Policy (with emphasis on Equality & Human Rights). She also received a Post Graduate Diploma in Equality & Discrimination from the University of Strathclyde, while achieving a Merit in her studies of Football Management joint programme with University of Lausanne and UEFA.

Tejesh Mistry is Chief Executive at Voluntary Health Scotland (VHS) and is passionate about creating equity within society. He is an experienced senior leader within the charity sector having developed and led national services that provide support to marginalised communities. His career has been focussed around utilising the power of the nature, social connection, and physical activity in roles with Cycling UK, Royal Voluntary Service and Venture Trust. He serves as a Member of the Board at Sport Scotland and was proud to be part of the inaugural Impetus Leadership Academy designed to support talented ethnic minority leaders.

Reappointments

Allan Watt and Tejesh Mistry’s reappointments will be for 4 years and will run from 16 April 2026 until 15 April 2030. Hala Ousta’s reappointment will be for 2 years and will run from 16 April 2026 until 15 April 2028.

The reappointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

The reappointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £191.51 for a time commitment of 16 days per year.

Other ministerial appointments

Allan Watt, Hala Ousta and Tejesh Mistry 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. 

Allan Watt, Hala Ousta and Tejesh Mistry have had no political activity within the last five years. 

Background

sportscotland is the national agency for sport in Scotland. Our vision is an active Scotland where everyone benefits from sport. In an active Scotland we will all find ways to be physically active every day. Keeping moving at home and at work. Taking an active approach to getting around. Choosing to be active in our leisure time.