Chief Executive - Stephen Pathirana

Stephen was recently appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA), which administers the pensions of public sector workers.

A civil servant for over 20 years, Stephen is driven by the potential to make the future better, which will be a key focus in his new role as the SPPA works to improve the service it delivers for its 640,000 members. Stephen will also be working to ensure SPPA has a culture that supports wellbeing and development, where everyone feels valued for the contribution they make.

His previous roles include Director of the Lifelong Learning and Skills Directorate in core Scottish Government, Acting Director of Justice, Deputy Director for Trade and Investment Delivery and Deputy Director for Scotland's Grenfell Response. Stephen started his career as a research scientist at Edinburgh University and has a PhD in Developmental Biology, he has also worked for the UK Government and the European Commission.

Chief Operating Officer - Frances Graham

Frances joined the SPPA as Chief Operating Officer in March 2023.  Frances was born and brought up in Musselburgh, moving to Peebles in the Scottish Borders in 2000.

Frances has a background in project management and has been a senior operational manager for over 30 years, with the last 15 years in Life Pensions and Investments. 

The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for the following departments:

  • Customer Services
  • Change & IT

Head of Finance and Procurement - John Burns

Previously Chief Finance Officer of Lothian Pension Fund. John, has a background in both the public and private sector focusing on securing group taxation efficiencies, property development and economic regeneration.

This Head of Finance and Procurement is responsible for the following departments:

  • Finance 
  • Procurement

Head of People - Debbie Trafford

Debbie is from Northumberland. She was an Army Officer in the Royal Artillery, where she served in Afghanistan and the Falkland Islands on a range of missile and radar systems. She joined the SPPA in 2020, and is a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.

The Head of People is responsible for the following departments:

  • Human Resources
  • Learning & Development

Head of Strategy and Communications - Laura Pacey

Laura joined SPPA in 2023, after 18 years in the UK civil service. Laura’s experience is mostly in Operations, but includes roles across Finance, Communications and Change.

After regularly travelling up to Edinburgh for work, Laura relocated to Fife from England in 2020. Having lived in some of the most land-locked parts of the country, she now takes full advantage of living by the coast to enjoy wild swimming and coastal walks with her three dogs.

The Head of Strategy and Communications is responsible for the following departments:

  • Estates and Environment 
  • Communications and Engagement 
  • Corporate Office 
  • Governance 
  • Risk

Head of Policy - Iain Coltman

Iain joined SPPA in 2008, working as an administrator in the Service, Awards and Transfers teams. He went on to join the Policy Directorate in 2014 to support work introducing the CARE scheme reforms, firstly on the police and firefighters’ schemes and then also on the Local Government scheme.

Iain currently lives in Galashiels with his wife and two children and is a founding trustee of the charity that runs Mac Arts, the music and arts venue in the town.

The Head of Policy is responsible for the following department:

  • Policy
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