Management Advisory Board

Image

Paul has experience in governance in both NXD and senior executive roles, judicial and public service appointments, and public service leadership. His current portfolio is diverse. He is a lay member of the Judicial Appointments Board for Scotland, a non-executive director at the Care Inspectorate, an honorary senior research fellow at the University of Glasgow, a fellow of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and a senior advisor to public affairs firm Charlotte Street Partners. He is also a founder director of a small consulting and advisory company, Newlands Murray Ltd.

Paul spent 40 years in the civil service, leaving in 2019.  He held a number of director general posts in Scottish government, culminating in the role of chief executive of NHS Scotland and Director General for health and social care. 

Image

Mark joined SPPA’s Audit & Risk Committee and Management Advisory Board in June 2024. As an experienced public service pensions trustee, Audit & Risk Committee Chair and fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, with over 20 years senior executive leadership in the rail industry, he uses his skills and experience to help organisations in a non-executive capacity in both audit and risk and across the board of directors, particularly in governance and strategic decision-making.

Image

Alan Wright has held a number of senior roles across policing over the last 30 years and has significant experience of corporate governance and transformational change. He is currently a Director and Chair of East Dunbartonshire Leisure and Culture Trust where he provides strategic oversight and guidance to the senior management team. Alan is also a Board member of the Scottish Mental Welfare Commission and an Associate Inspector with His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Image

Norman is an IT professional with over thirty years’ experience in the utility industry before taking early retirement in December 2018. In his last role he was responsible for Scottish Power’s IT finance, contracts, governance, risk, audit and security, but he brings broad experience across all aspects of IT delivery. He qualified as a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) in 2007 and holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School.

In addition, Norman has been a member-nominated Trustee Director of the Scottish Power Pension Scheme for over twenty years and has successfully completed The Pensions Regulator Trustee Toolkit. As such, he brings extensive knowledge and experience of both defined-benefit pensions provision and the broader UK pensions governance and regulatory regime.

Image

Andrew held a number of key leadership roles in the British Army for over 30 years. He then spent a short time with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde overseeing workforce, recruitment and staff bank. He has been with Barclays for 3½ years, starting in Talent (Executive Development) and then becoming an HR Business Manager.

He has significant experience of people and workforce, talent management, strategy, organisational change and transformation, and supporting military communities.

When fit, he is a keen orienteer and cyclist; and his hobbies include reading, litter picking and foodbank volunteering.

Image

Deborah brings nearly 25 years of working at senior levels within the Scottish Government, and has experience across policy areas as diverse as policing, housing, the constitution, children's rights and international issues. She has a particular interest in recruiting and developing people and organisational development. 

Deborah lives in Edinburgh with her husband and 2 teenage children. 

Image

Darren is a senior digital and transformation leader with over 20 years’ experience delivering large-scale Digital, Data and Technology (DDaT) change across central government and national public services. He has held executive leadership roles within the NHS, including Chief Officer and Executive Director responsibilities, leading national digital services and complex transformation programmes in highly regulated environments. 

Darren has a strong track record in strategy development, organisational design and implementation, investment decision-making, and governance, with experience advising at Board and Executive Committee level on risk, assurance, and long-term sustainability. He combines deep technical understanding with a clear focus on public value and service outcomes.

Alongside his professional career, Darren is passionate about improving social mobility and widening access to digital and technology careers, particularly through initiatives supporting under-represented groups in the North East of England.

Image

Victoria is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years experience in the pensions industry.  She has held senior executive roles at both the Railways Pension Scheme and the UK government backed auto-enrolment scheme, NEST and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience of both defined benefit and public sector pensions landscape.   Following early retirement in mid-2025 she now uses her skills and experience to support purpose driven organisations in a non-executive capacity, particularly in areas such as audit, risk, financial oversight and governance.

Victoria is also a Trustee and Investment Committee member of the Remploy Pension Scheme, an independent member of the AQA Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee and a Trustee Director of the Auckland Project.