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Water Industry Commission for Scotland
23/12/2011
Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, today announced the appointment of Libby Gawith and John Reynolds from January 1, 2012 and Ross Finnie from July 1, 2012 as members of the Water Industry Commission for Scotland.
Brief pen pictures of the three new members:
Libby Gawith: Libby trained as a civil engineer at King College, London University and is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers. She has spent her career working on management of major water and wastewater infrastructure projects in the UK and overseas and became Engineering and Operations Director for Wessex Water in England. This was followed by 2 years as Customer Services Director for Southern Water and other industrial roles in the UK and overseas, including Managing Director of Earth Tech Europe where she was responsible for large environmental and PFI projects. The skills she brings to the Commission are associated with her extensive experience in the regulated water industry from the perspective of operations, capital investment, construction, customer services and the challenges of the regulatory regime.
John Reynolds: John has advised many of the leading utilities in Scotland, the UK, Europe and the USA on strategy, finance and regulation. He has worked on deregulation and the creation of competitive utility markets. John also has particular expertise in corporate governance and was Chairman of the Church of England Ethical Investment Advisory Group from 2006-2011. John lives in a rural part of Scotland and is particularly interested in the provision of services to rural communities.
Ross Finnie: Ross brings experience of both the financial, environmental and regulatory requirements of the water industry in Scotland. Ross is a Chartered Accountant by profession who worked in the regulated financial services sector for over twenty years specialising in corporate finance. He served in the Scottish Parliament from 1999 - 2011 and was a Cabinet Minister from 1999-2007 during which time he held the Rural Development and Environment portfolio and had the responsibility for establishing Scottish Water and the Water Industry Commission for Scotland.
Mr Neil said:
"Independent economic regulation by the Water Industry Commission for Scotland has been key to driving improved efficiency and service levels at Scottish Water. Libby Gawith, John Reynolds and Ross Finnie bring a broad range of skill, knowledge and experience to the Commission to enable it to continue its vital role in the Water Industry in Scotland."
The appointments will be for four years and will run from January 1, 2012 and July 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015 and June 30, 2016.
The posts are part-time and attract a remuneration of £13,780 per year for a time commitment of one day per week.
The Water Industry Commission for Scotland is an Executive NDPB of six members comprising five non-executive members, including the Chair, and a Chief Executive. It has collective responsibility for the promotion of the interests of water customers through the robust and objective economic regulation of Scottish Water. The Commission is funded through a levy on water charges.
The Commission was established to improve the accountability and transparency of economic regulation of the water industry in Scotland. Its principal roles are to determine the charge income that Scottish Water requires to achieve Ministers' objectives at lowest overall reasonable cost, to monitor and report on Scottish Water's performance, and to control through a licensing regime the provision of retail water and sewerage services to non-domestic customers. F
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 to be made public. Libby Gawith has declared no political activity in the last five years, John Reynolds donated £5,000 to Brent North Labour Party in March 2009 and Ross Finnie was Scottish Liberal Democrat List Member of the Scottish Parliament for the West of Scotland from 1999 - 2011 and also served as Cabinet Minister in the Scottish Government 1999 - 2007.