MEMBERS APPOINTMENT AND REAPPOINTMENT TO NATIONAL MUSEUMS SCOTLAND BOARD
The Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop today announced the appointments of Adam Bruce, Ann Allen, Professor Mary Bownes and Janet Stevenson and the reappointments to the National Museums Scotland Board of Professor Christopher Breward, Gordon Drummond, Chris Fletcher and Walter Nimmo.
NEW MEMBERS APPOINTMENT
Adam Bruce practised as a solicitor before joining Airtricty as its UK Chief Executive. He was appointed Unicorn Pursuivant in 2008 by the lord Lyon King of Arms and in 2012 was promoted to the Office of Marchmont Herald. He is a Trustee of the St-Andrews Fund for Scots Heraldry and a Member of the Council of Society of Writers of HM Signet. He sits on a number of advisory bodies, including the Advisory Board of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) SAFE programme, the Steering Board of RE100, and the Development Board of Oxford University’s Maths, Physics and Life Sciences Division. He was the first Chair of the UK and Scottish Governments’ Offshore Wind Programme Board, and is a former Chair of Renewable UK.
Ann Allen joined Glasgow University as Director of Estates in 2012 during which time she has led the new campus Development Project. A Chartered Surveyor with over 35 years’ experience, she has worked for such organisations as John Lewis; HBOS and UK Government. Since taking the role in Glasgow she has become directly involved in the Town Hall project and supported the National Theatre whilst they developed Rockvilla. Ann is also a Trustee of the Ethical Property Trust and a Member of the Leadership Board for Construction Scotland. She supports the Gentoo Housing Association as a non-executive member of Gentoo Sutherland Board.
Mary Bownes is a Professor of Developmental Biology and has just retired as Vice- Principal of the University of Edinburgh. She ran an active research team for many years and was Head of the Institute of Cell and Molecular Biology becoming Vice- Principal when she led on a variety of projects. She has served on national and international bodies relating to research, postgraduate education, widening access, sustainability and public engagement and has been actively engaged with National Museums Scotland over a number of years, especially during the Science Festival and most recently in advising on the development of National Museum Scotland’s new Science and Technology Galleries.
Janet Stevenson is a Chartered Accountant and for the last twelve years has specialised in the audit of charities. Her interest in systems and controls and governance of charities was funded through a part-time secondment to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator when it was established, and by serving as a Trustee on a number of different charities. She also served on the Governing Board of her professional practice and on the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. In 2014, she was appointed to the Court of Heriot-Watt University and now chairs its Audit & Risk Committee.
MEMBERS REAPPOINTMENT
Christopher Breward is a Professor of Cultural History at the University of Edinburgh, where he also holds the positions of Principal of Edinburgh College of Art and Vice-Principal for Creative and Performing Arts. He has previously worked in the museum sector as Director of Research at the Victoria Albert Museum and brings skills in curating, research and education to his role as Trustee.
Gordon Drummond recently retired as Director of Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh after 13 years embedding the iconic brand into the city. Previously his retail career, which spans over 40 years, included responsibilities for both mainstream stores and visitor centres. His skills are in people motivation and development, project and event management, planning and organisation, together with considerable experience of financial budgeting and cost management. He has non-executive Board experience which includes: a skill-sector council (Skillsmart Retail); a Business Improvement District company (Essential Edinburgh); and a private limited company (Luxury Edinburgh) of which he was Chair. He also sits on the Strategy Group of the Edinburgh Business Forum.
Chris Fletcher has had various charitable roles including with The National Trust for Scotland’s Finance Committee for 14 years, latterly as Convenor, and now as a Trustee of National Museums Scotland. He has compiled a book of recollections of two Highland teachers in Lairg (Sutherland), based on their memories of life in the early part of the 20th century. He is also involved in various other charities including as Treasurer of Mr McFall’s Chamber, a musical group of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra (SCO) with members playing in various locations around Scotland.
Walter Nimmo brings to the National Museums Scotland board experience from his previous role as Chief Executive Officer of Inveresk Research Group and is a graduate in medicine from the University of Edinburgh.
APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS
Both the appointments and reappointments will be for four years and will run from
1 April 2017 to 31 March 2021.
These appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
REMUNERATION
Both appointments and re-appointments are part-time with a time commitment of
10 days per year, and are non-remunerated.
OTHER MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS
None of the members being appointed or reappointed hold other Ministerial Appointments.
POLITICAL ACTIVITY
All appointments and reappointments 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’ and reappointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. The Members being appointed and reappointed to the National Museums Scotland Board have upheld no political activity within the last five years.
BACKGROUND
National Museums Scotland fulfils a statutory role as one of the UK and Europe’s leading museums groups, and cares for collections of over 12 million items of national and international importance. It operates within the context of the Scottish Government’s national outcomes and strategic objectives, including public service reform. Its key priorities take account of its statutory duties of providing education, encouraging research, promoting public awareness of the collections and caring for the items it holds. National Museums Scotland is also a Scottish Charity (no. SC 011130).
As a national centre of excellence it is committed to widening access and participation to its collections, both nationally and internationally, and continuing to support the museum community across Scotland. It has an ambitious programme of development and investment to create visitor experiences which compare with the best internationally by making more effective use of its collections and by reaching out to a wider audience (including through digital delivery).
In 2016, National Museums Scotland completed two major capital projects: a £3.6 million redevelopment has transformed visitors experience at one of its sites - the National Museum of Flight - re-presenting 100 years of aviation and showcasing a pre-eminent collection. A further £14 million investment at the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street has contributed to the creation of ten inspiring galleries of fashion, applied art and design, and science and technology. National Museums Scotland has also made major investments over the past decade at the National Museums Collection Centre in Granton. This site is now a focus for all of the stored National Collections and a state-of-the-art centre for conservation and research.
Core funded by the Scottish Government, like all Public Bodies, National Museums Scotland must operate within a challenging financial climate, and must make the most of opportunities to continue to raise its profile and develop new collaborative partnerships working with other organisations here in Scotland and abroad. One of its key priorities - as set out in its Strategic Plan for 2016-20: Shaping The Future - is its commitment to continue to grow and diversify its commercial and other income streams.
Further information is available at http://www.nms.ac.uk/