Public appointment: reappointment of members of the Board of Scottish Enterprise

The Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, Kate Forbes MSP, today announced the reappointments of Willie Mackie, Dr Poonam Malik, Dr Sue Paterson Karthik Subramanya and Carmel Teusner as Members of the Board of Scottish Enterprise.

Reappointments

Willie Mackie has an extensive career in financial services, and established his own consultancy business in 2013. Over the past 20 years, he has held a number of senior roles supporting skills, education and economic development. Mr Mackie was appointed to the Board of Scottish Enterprise in 2016 and is Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. He is also a member of the Board of Skills Development Scotland and Regional Chair of Ayrshire College.

Dr Poonam Malik is an entrepreneurial academic business strategy leader, holding roles across public, private, higher education and social enterprise sectors and an investor in Innovation. She has extensive experience of working in research, innovation, enterprise, governance, health and business sectors globally and is a GlobalScot. She is a Climate Champion for the Scottish Enterprise Board and a member of the Board of Skills Development Scotland. She is also a member of two of Scottish Enterprise’s Board Committees: Nominations and Governance Committee and Remuneration Committee. She was recently appointed as Head of Investments at the University of Strathclyde.

Dr Sue Paterson is an oil and gas professional with many years of UK and international experience. She has experience of both technical and managerial roles within the industry. She is currently involved in helping deliver the transition to the low carbon economy in Scotland. Sue is also a Climate Champion for the Scottish Enterprise Board and a member of Scottish Enterprise’s Audit and Risk Committee. 

Karthik Subramanya is currently a Senior Advisor with Boston Consulting Group advising their energy and utilities clients on strategy and investments. He served on the Board of Creative Scotland and is a Panel Member of the Competition and Markets Authority. He is also a Trustee of Changing the Chemistry and a Director of Indian Arts Connection, delivering excellence and inclusion in arts in Scotland. He previously held senior leadership positions in the utilities industry with SSE and in banking and financial services with Lloyds/HBOS. Karthik is a member of Scottish Enterprise’s Audit and Risk Committee.

Carmel Teusner is an organisational development specialist and brings global business experience spanning a broad range of industries and sectors; gained through consultancy and senior management roles in FTSE 100 and ASX 100 companies. She was Group Head of Organisational Development for Australian engineering and outsourced services company UGL and a former director of Scottish software firm Azalient Ltd. She has hands-on experience of a range of challenges across the business lifecycle, from start-up, strategy development, expansion, consolidation, acquisition, integration and divestment. Carmel is a member of Scottish Enterprise’s Audit and Risk Committee.

These reappointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Length of term, remuneration and time commitment

Dr Malik, Dr Paterson and Mr Subramanya were reappointed for three years from 1 October 2021 until 30 September 2024. Mr Mackie and Ms Teusner will be reappointed for two years from 1 January 2022 until 31 December 2023.

Members of the Scottish Enterprise Board receive £13,260 per annum for a time commitment of 2½ days per month.

Other ministerial appointments

Mr Mackie is Chair of the Board of Management of Ayrshire College and receives £265.00 per day for a time commitment of two days per week. He is also a Member of the Board of Skills Development Scotland and receives £336.00 for a time commitment of two days per month.

Dr Malik is a member of the Board of Skills Development Scotland and receives £336.00 for a time commitment of two days per month.

Dr Paterson, Mr Subramanya and Ms Teusner do not hold any other Ministerial 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.

Mr Mackie, Dr Malik, Dr Paterson, Mr Subramanya and Ms Teusner have had no political activity within the last five years.

Scottish Enterprise

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland’s national economic development agency and has statutory powers to promote and assist economic development, enterprise and international competitiveness and to advise Scottish Ministers on all related matters.