Food Standards Scotland makes multiple appointments

FSS will provide Scotland with advice on regulation, food safety and standards, food information and nutrition.

The board members are George Brechin, Marieke Dwarshuis, Heather Kelman, Dr Carrie Ruxton, Dr Susan Walker, Dr Anne Maree Wallace, and Louise Welsh.

It will be working in a ‘shadow’ basis in the run-up to vesting day. For more information on the new board members see the bottom of this article.

Ross Finnie ​

Their appointments follow the selection of Scottish Liberal Democrat politician Ross Finnie as chair of the body in November 2014.

Finnie said the group would begin working in the next week or so to ensure that FSS was ready to meet its objectives.

Geoff Ogle, director of the FSA in Scotland, said: “The board appointments will bring a wide range of expertise and backgrounds that demonstrate a commitment to protecting consumers and improving the health of the Scottish public, and will put FSS in a strong position as it establishes itself as a trusted authority that continues to provide independent, evidence based advice to consumers and Ministers in Scotland.”​

The new board members​

Brechin​ is a former ceo of National Health Service (NHS) Fife and will leave his current position as interim ceo of the State Hospitals Board in March.

Dwarshuis​ is a member of the board of Scottish Fire and Rescue Services and chairs the Scottish Tribunals and Administrative Justice Advisory Committee and is vice chair of Hillcrest Housing Association.

Kelman ​has worked for the NHS for more than 30 years as a dietician and in strategic planning and general management.

Ruxton ​is a member of the Scottish Food Advisory Committee and a freelance dietician with more than 20 years’ experience

Walker ​is deputy chair of Scottish Natural Heritage, a member of the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland, and is a member of the Customer Forum which negotiates with Scottish Water on behalf of customers regarding future spending plans and charges.

Wallace ​is a non-executive director for NHS Health Scotland and has previously held a number of directorial roles for the NHS Public Health.

Welsh ​was the first woman to be appointed board member of Quality Meat Scotland, the red meat industry body, and has previously worked in senior management at Morrisons.