Board

The Board of Transport Scotland is an advisory body, without a legal identity, which is charged with supporting and advising the Chief Executive.  The Chief Executive is formally accountable for the performance of the organisation. For further information about the Board, its remit and summary minutes of Board meetings see Board meetings.  Board members are as follows:  

David Middleton 
Bill Reeve
Frances Duffy
Ainslie McLaughlin
Jim Barton
Sharon Fairweather
Dr Richard Scott
Professor Iain Docherty
Dr Jacqueline Redmond



David Middleton
Chief Executive


 
I became Chief Executive in February 2009 having been head of the Scotland Office in the UK Government from October 2007.  I had previously held senior positions in the Scottish Government including Head of Local Government and External Relations between 1999 and 2002 and from October 2002 Head of Agriculture.

I am a career Civil Servant who joined the then Scottish Office from Glasgow University in 1978.  Much of my early career was spent in Housing and Urban Regeneration but included a spell as Head of Policy, Finance and Strategy for the Roads Directorate in the mid 1990s.

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Bill Reeve
Head of Rail Delivery

I am Director of Rail Delivery and responsible for the ScotRail Franchise, the funding relationship with Network Rail in Scotland, and the delivery of a £2bn programme of rail projects.

I have more than twenty years of rail industry experience in both passenger and freight businesses.

A professional engineer, I have worked in rolling stock maintenance, production management, business development, strategy formulation and major project sponsorship and delivery.

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Frances Duffy
Head of Strategy & Investment

I joined the Scottish Executive moving from the Inland Revenue, in 2002. As a fully qualified HM Inspector of Taxes, I have worked across many areas of taxation, finally specialising in the taxation of Scotland's largest financial institutions.

On joining the Development Department in the Scottish Executive, I became Head of Housing Division, responsible for the transfer of housing stock from local authorities to social landlords, including advising on the transfer of Glasgow Council's housing stock.

In 2004, I joined Transport Group as Head of Roads Policy and Group Finance Division, advising Ministers on issues such as congestion charging, tolled bridges, including the Skye Bridge tolls and oversight of Transports' financial management of its £1billion annual budget.

Since 2006,I have been Director of Strategy and Investment in Transport Scotland, which is responsible for advising Scottish Ministers on investment priorities for both the rail and trunk road networks across Scotland. Responsibilities have included directing major feasibility studies including the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which sets out a £6bn investment plan for the next 20 years. Packages range from large infrastructure projects such as the new multi billion pound Forth crossing and a £1bn investment in the Edinburgh - Glasgow rail network to strategic park and ride sites across Scotland.

Brought up in Gourock, a graduate of Strathclyde University, I now live in Falkirk with my husband and teenage daughter.

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Ainslie McLaughlin
Head of Major Transport Infrastructure Projects (MTRIPS)

As Head of the Major Transport Infrastructure Projects Directorate, I am responsible for the design, development, promotion, procurement and construction of the motorway and trunk road programme and the Forth Replacement Crossing project.

I have 30 years experience in the delivery of a wide range of transport projects.

I am a Chartered Engineer, a graduate of Heriot Watt University and have an MBA from the University of Edinburgh.

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Jim Barton
Chief Road Engineer and Head of Trunk Road Network Management (TRNMD)

I am Director of Trunk Road Network Management in Transport Scotland, a post which I have held for the past seven years.

I am responsible for the management and operation of the Scottish Trunk Road Network, some 3500km in total, with an annual budget of £210m to support that function.

My direct responsibilities include trunk road safety, delivering the annual maintenance programme effectively, the implementation and development of the trunk road Intelligent Transport Systems strategy, the management of the trunk road bridges stock and commenting on proposals for development which might impact on the trunk road network.

I am a Chartered Engineer with over thirty years experience in the design, construction and operation of roads. I have recently taken on the title of Chief Road Engineer in which capacity, as Head of Profession, I am responsbile for professional development and training.

Qualifications: CEng, M.I.C.E

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Sharon Fairweather
Director of Finance

As Director of Finance I oversee the financial aspects of the Agency’s corporate and business planning processes and am responsible for the financial management, monitoring and reporting of the Agency’s spend.

I have twenty years of experience of working in and with the public sector, including a period of time in the then Scottish Office, and as a Director of Finance for an NHS Trust.

I am a Chartered Accountant and a graduate of Edinburgh University

Dr Richard Scott
Director of Business Improvement and Corporate Services

As Director of Business Improvement and Corporate Services, I am responsible for delivering key support services including communications, human resources, legal services and IT.  I am also responsible for developing and implementing improvements across Transport Scotland to enhance our effectiveness and our liaison with stakeholders.

I have over 30 years experience working in the public sector in Scotland, heading various Divisions in the Scottish Government. I have also worked in Ministerial Private Office, undertaken a secondment with Shell and been Chief Executive of the Scottish Legal Aid Board.

Qualifications: MA(Hons), PhD.

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Professor Iain Docherty
Non-Executive Director of Transport Scotland's Board

Iain Docherty, BSc PhD MCILT, is Professor of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Glasgow. Iain’s research and teaching addresses the interconnecting issues of public management and policy, institutional change and regional competitiveness, with particular emphasis on the structures and changing management processes of local and regional governance, policies for improved economic performance, and the development and implementation of strategic planning and transport policies.

In addition to his role as Non-Executive Director of Transport Scotland, Iain is a member of the Commission for Integrated Transport’s Expert Academic Panel, and advises a range of private sector, governmental and other organisations in the UK, Europe and North America.

I am based in The Hague, and have recently taken up a new appointment within Shell International’s Gas and Power business, focusing on Global LNG Strategy.

Prior to this I spent twelve years with ScottishPower, latterly holding the position of Director of Corporate Strategy and Planning with the responsibility for strategic projects to originate, evaluate, recommend and deliver options to develop the ScottishPower Group portfolio through merger, acquisition, joint ventures or divestment. I have led Risk Management teams in the UK and US and was influential in the development of Financial Risk Management within the UK Utility industry.

I am a Fellow of the Global Association of Risk Professionals and a Member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. I received my Ph.D. from Strathclyde University having completed my B.Eng (Hons) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Paisley College of Technology.