News
31 July 2017
CHAIR AND MEMBERS APPOINTED TO THE
SCOTTISH LEGAL AID BOARD
The Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs today announced the
appointment of Ray Macfarlane as Chair of the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) and
of Marieke Dwarshuis, Tim McKay, Sarah O’Neill, Paul Reid and Lesley Ward as
Board members of SLAB bringing the composition of the board to 7 women and 7
men.
SLAB is an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body established under the Legal
Aid (Scotland) Act 1986 to manage legal aid in Scotland. Its primary aims are to:
provide access to a range of quality assured legal help in Scotland, when and where
it is needed; obtain best value for the tax payer through the delivery of efficient legal
assistance services in Scotland; and to contribute to an efficient justice system.
CHAIR
Ray Macfarlane Practised as a solicitor in Glasgow before moving into senior
management roles in Scottish Enterprise, where she was Managing Director, and
HBOS plc, where she was a Senior Director. Ray is the Chairman of Home Scotland
and a Director of Home Group, a Trustee of the National Galleries of Scotland
Foundation and of the Hopetoun House Foundation. She has held several board
appointments in the public, private and voluntary sectors including the Scottish
Housing Regulator.
MEMBER
Marieke Dwarshuis' career in Scotland spans over 20 years in the public and
voluntary sectors in a wide range of roles including Director of Consumer Focus
Scotland and positions at the Scottish Government, Office of the Scottish Charity
Regulator, Citizens Advice Scotland and Shelter Scotland and she was Chair of the
Scottish Tribunals and Administrative Justice Advisory Committee. Marieke currently
serves as a member of the Board of Food Standards Scotland and the Board of the
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and is Vice-Chair of Hillcrest Housing Association.
Tim McKay is a Chartered Accountant And Investment Analyst based in Edinburgh.
He has 8 years’ experience as a non-executive director and as a member of various
public sector oversight bodies including current membership of the accounts
commission and chair of the NHS pension Board in Scotland.
Sarah O’Neill is a non-practising solicitor, with experience in the private, public and
voluntary sectors. She is an independent consultant specialising in legal and
consumer policy, and has many years’ experience of working on consumer and
access to justice issues. She was formerly the Director of Policy at Consumer Focus
Scotland. Sarah is currently a chairperson member of the Homeowner Housing
Panel and Private Rented Housing Panel. She is also an accredited mediator, and is
a member of the board of trustees of the Scottish Mediation Network.
Paul Reid is a solicitor advocate with extended rights of audience to appear before
the High Court of Justiciary, Court of Session and the Supreme Court.
Lesley Ward is an experienced solicitor who worked in private practice as a family
law practitioner for 13 years until 2003. In 2004 Mrs Ward was appointed as a legal
convenor of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland. Lesley is a member of the
recently constituted School Closure Review Panel. She also has a background in
professional regulation as the Chair of the Investigation Committee of the Chartered
Institute of Management Accountants. Mrs Ward brings a wealth of experience in
her new role with the Scottish Legal Aid Board.
Ray Macfarlane’s appointment is for three years, starting on the 1 April 2016 and
ending on the 31 March 2019. The new appointed Members appointment will range
between two and three years, starting on the 1 April 2016.
Ray Macfarlane’s appointment is part time and attracts a remuneration of £307.51
per day for a time commitment of 2 days per week.
Ray Macfarlane does not hold any other Public Appointment positions.
Marieke Dwarshuis, Tim McKay and Paul Reid have been appointed for three years 01 April 2016 to 31 March 2019.
Lesley Ward and Sarah O’Neill have been
appointed for two years - 01 April 2016 to 31 March 2018.
Each member’s appointment is part time and attracts a remuneration of £216.40 per
day for a time commitment of 3.5 days a month.
Marieke Dwarshuis is currently a board member on the Food Standards Scotland
Board where she receives a remuneration of £200 per day for a time commitment of
4 days a month, and a board member of Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Board
where she receives a remuneration of £280 a day for a time commitment of 5 days a
month.
Tim McKay is currently the Chair of NHS Pension Board and receives a
remuneration of £232 a day for time commitment of 2 days a month.
Lesley Ward is currently a Legal Convenor for the Mental Health Tribunal for
Scotland Board where receives a remuneration of £438 a day for a time commitment
of 2 days a month.
Sarah O’Neill and Paul Reid do not hold any other Public Appointments
These appointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in
Public Life in Scotland.
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. Ray Macfarlane
does not have any political activity. Marieke Dwarshuis, Sarah O’Neill, Paul Reid and
Lesley Ward have not declared any political activity. Tim McKay has stood as a
candidate for the Councillor in the Inverleith Ward of the City of Edinburgh Council
and has assisted the Liberal Democrat Party over the past 5 years.