The Transport Scotland Board is an advisory body, supporting and advising the Chief Executive. As an advisory body, the Board is not collectively accountable to Ministers for the performance of Transport Scotland, nor is the Chief Executive accountable to the Board. Accountability is vested in the Chief Executive by the Principal Accountable Officer and the Chief Executive is personally accountable to Ministers and Parliament through his role as Transport Scotland's Accountable Officer.
For further information about the Board, its remit and summary minutes of Board meetings see Board meetings. Board members are as follows:
David Middleton
Aidan Grisewood
Ainslie McLaughlin
Roy Brannen
Alastair Wilson
Donald Carmichael
Sharon Fairweather
Details are also available about Transport Scotland's Audit and Risk Committee.
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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Aidan Grisewood
Director of Rail
I became Transport Scotland’s Director of Rail in early 2012 and I am responsible for:
In my role I work closely with the Commercial Unit, led by Bill Reeve.
I joined the Scottish Government in 2006 and have held a variety of senior roles in Housing, including leading work in developing a 10-year Housing Strategy.
An economist by background, I previously worked at the Royal Bank of Scotland; HM Treasury and the Department of Transport where I worked on a variety of issues including rail regulation.
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Ainslie McLaughlin
Director 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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Roy Brannen
Director of Trunk Road and Bus Operations
I took over the role as Director of Trunk Road and Bus Operations in Transport Scotland in April 2011. I have responsibility for the management and operation of the Scottish Trunk Road Network, some 3500km in total for which my direct responsibilities include trunk road safety, delivering the annual maintenance programme effectively, the implementation and development of ITS, the maintenance of the trunk road bridges stock and commenting on proposals for development which might impact on the Trunk Road Network. My responsibilities also include the operation of Scotland’s National Concessionary Travel Schemes, the Bus Service Operator’s Grant and the development of a national Smart and Integrated Ticketing strategy.
I am a Chartered Civil Engineer and a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers with over 25 years experience in the field of highway engineering. My previous post was Head of Network Operations where I was responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the strategic trunk road network, as well as transport resilience across all modes. I was also tasked with ensuring that new technologies – Intelligent Transport Systems – are fully exploited in the delivery of wider Government policy objectives.
Alastair Wilson
Director of Aviation, Maritime, Freight and Canals
Following the creation of the new Transport Scotland agency in August 2010, subsidised ferries were added to my existing responsibilities since 2006 for aviation, ports, freight and inland waterways. From 2002-05 I headed up the then Scottish Executive's External Relations Division, and subsequently its European Policy Division, following a short spell in the First Minister's policy unit. Prior to that I undertook a 4-year secondment to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office as First Secretary (Agriculture and Trade Policy) at the British Embassy in Washington DC. This followed a range of assignments covering the Common Agricultural Policy, economic development and food safety policy and 2 years in the Permanent Secretary's office.
Donald Carmichael
Director of Transport Policy
I am a career Civil Servant, having spent 10 years working for the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall followed by 16 years in what is now the Scottish Government. My Senior Civil Service postings have been in criminal justice, sea fisheries, community care, and as Policy Director for Historic Scotland.
My current focus is on the more holistic end of transport policy development; high-level engagement with external partners; and associated legal and policy frameworks.
The policy role takes in Scotland's National Transport Strategy; the climate change and sustainable transport agenda; road safety; modal shift and buses; and accessibility. This includes oversight of the Concessionary Fares regime, and a range of sustainable transport initiatives linked to active travel.
The high-level engagement with external partners takes in Scotland's Road Safety Framework to 2020; the relationship with DfT, other Devolved Administrations, COSLA, Local Authorities and Regional Transport Partnerships; and the relationship with the bus and wider sustainable transport sectors.
The legal and policy frameworks include governance and guidance on regional transport (for example, RTPs); and on local roads (for example, signage and sponsorship of the Scottish Road Works Commissioner). We also have a casework function, advising Ministers in their decision-making capacity on road and rail projects, whether promoted nationally or locally.
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
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