We are delighted to announce three new Committee members following an open recruitment process.
- Vivien Currie MBE joins the Governance, Nominations, Remuneration and Finance (GNRF) Committee.
- Alison Macdonald and Dr James McCourt join the Audit and Risk Committee.
As independent committee members, they each bring specialist expertise which will strengthen the Trust’s governance and assurance in key areas.
Welcoming these new appointments, Chair of the Trust Morag McNeill said:
“I am delighted to welcome Vivien, Alison and James to The Robertson Trust. Our committees play a crucial role in the success of the trust. Vivien, Alison and James are highly experienced individuals and share the trust’s vision and values. Their expertise will be hugely valuable as we deliver Change Takes Trust.”
Vivien Currie, MBE
"I am honoured to become involved with The Robertson Trust at this important time as its Change Takes Trust delivery plan is launched to achieve their very important objectives for the next three years. I look forward to contributing to the Trust's great work."
Alison Macdonald
"I've long admired the breadth of focus of The Robertson Trust and the work it enables to prevent and reduce poverty and trauma across Scotland. I am delighted to join as an Independent Committee Member at such an exciting time and contribute to its strategic journey to effect meaningful social change."
Dr James McCourt
"I'm delighted to be serving as a member of the Risk Committee at The Robertson Trust. My passion for equal opportunities in education and supporting those from disadvantaged backgrounds aligns perfectly with the Trust's purpose. I firmly believe that talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not, and I am excited to contribute to the Trust's mission of bridging this gap."
Biographies
Vivien Currie is a Non-Executive Director of a number of companies which are: Scottish Event Campus, including the renowned OVO Hydro in Glasgow, where she chairs the Audit & Risk Committee and is a member of the Remuneration Committee; Scottish Golf where she chairs the Commercial Committee of this sports authority; and she is also a Director and Trustee of The Merchants House of Glasgow, the oldest social enterprise in the city, which provides benefits and grants to relieve poverty.
Vivien was awarded an MBE in the Queen's 2020 New Year's Honours.
Her executive career saw her predominantly in the horse racing industry where she was also a Non-Executive Director of the British Horseracing Authority, the sport’s peak governing body, also sitting on the Audit & Risk Committee. Prior to that she was Vice Chairman of the Racecourse Association which represents the interests of the 59 racecourses in Great Britain, where she also Chaired the Nomination Committee, and served on both the Remuneration and Audit Committees. Vivien has also been a Board member of The Royal Stables in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, a historic equestrian centre in the heart of the city.
Additionally, Vivien was a member of Marie Curie’s Development Board raising funds for and promoting the Glasgow Hospice.
Prior to Vivien building her portfolio of Non-Executive positions, she was Chief Executive of Ascot Racecourse and of Hamilton Park Racecourse Group, diversifying it into an all-year-round award-winning resort, conceptualising and building a Hampton by Hilton hotel in the racecourse grounds.
Previously, Vivien was part owner and Chief Executive of Livingston Football Club, taking it out of Administration. She also sat on the Scottish Football League Management Committee being the first female in its over 100-year existence.
Qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with EY, Vivien worked in London, Australia and Glasgow then joined the global telecoms business Damovo as Director of Strategy before becoming head of Global Sales & Solutions.
Alison Macdonald is a Chartered Banker with a financial services background and also has a non-executive focus on sustainability, innovation as well as social and financial inclusion.
In her executive career she held senior leadership roles in Lloyds Banking Group, most recently as Chief Controls Officer - Insurance, Pensions & Investments.
She is currently a Trustee of Lar Housing Trust, Chair of climate resilience charity Verture and Non-Executive Director of Revenue Scotland. She also spent a number of years on the boards of the Bank of Scotland Foundation and risk consortium ORIC International.
Alison has significant experience in risk, resilience, governance and the oversight and delivery of strategic change.
Dr James McCourt is a member of the Group Executive Committee at Royal London, the largest mutual in the UK with over 10 million members and £200bn of assets under management. As Royal London’s Group Chief Risk Officer, he is responsible for defining and executing the Group’s risk management strategy. With over 30 years’ experience in the financial services industry, he has held senior roles in banking, private equity, asset management, pensions and insurance. At Royal London, he has held roles as Chief Risk Officer for Royal London Asset Management, Group Chief Conduct Officer and Group Investment Director. Prior to that, he held senior risk and compliance roles within RBS and Aegon’s Positive Solutions and is a past lecturer at Glasgow Law School on Investment and Taxation.
During his time as Royal London’s Group Investment Director, his oversight of investment philosophy, strategic asset allocation and fund performance, in close collaboration with Royal London Asset Management, drove record performance. James spearheaded the Environmental, Social and Governance Investment strategy, and led the implementation of a landmark tilt of £55bn of investment to green credentials, in one of the largest moves of its kind by any organisation.
James has extensive experience of operating at board level and in addition to his executive experience, he was the Non-executive Director and Chair of the Risk and Capital Committee of Ascentric PLC, a £15bn investment platform business.