Our Advisory Groups

Section 33(1) of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Act 2020 provides that the Commissioner must establish and maintain an Advisory Group. The purpose of the group is to give advice and information to the Commissioner about matters relating to the Commissioner’s functions.

The members of the group are determined by the Commissioner, subject to the approval of the Parliamentary Corporation as to the number of members, the persons to be appointed, and any remuneration or expenses.

The procedure for the group is to be such as the Commissioner determines, and the group will initially meet twice per year. This will be reviewed after the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner has completed one business cycle.

As part of its governance arrangements, the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB) has established an Advisory Audit Board (AAB) to perform a function like that of an Audit Committee. The main purpose of the AAB is to provide advice to the Clerk/Chief Executive of the Parliament and, where appropriate, the SPCB on the standard of corporate governance and internal control across the organisation.  The terms of reference can be found here.

The members of the AAB are as follows:

David Watt

David Watt is an experienced non-executive director/trustee, deploying skills in financial reporting, strategic and performance development at senior level. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.

David spent 36 years in professional practice with KPMG, leading financial reporting and assurance services to publicly-funded and non-for-profit organisations in central and local government, housing, further and higher education and the NHS. Current appointments include non-executive directorship of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, independent membership of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Advisory Audit Board and of a number of its Officeholder Advisory Audit Boards, membership of the Board of Management of Glasgow Clyde College and membership of the audit and risk committee of the University of Glasgow.  David is also a member of the Public Sector Panel of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.

David Watt - Declaration of Interest 2024/25

Steve Renwick

Steve Renwick is a highly experienced Executive and Non-Executive Director with a passion for good governance.  He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Touche Ross (now Deloitte) and was awarded honorary membership of CIPFA in recognition of work to integrate the NHS in Scotland Finance function with CIPFA.  Most recently Steve was Director of Finance for Together for Children Sunderland Limited, an arms-length Company of that city’s Council running it’s Children’s services.  Having been Ofsted Inadequate, a transformation process saw the unprecedented leap to Outstanding; Steve retired in Easter 2024.  Steve’s other appointment is as Board Member of the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration.

Steve Renwick - Declaration of Interest 2024/25

Parliamentary Commissioners have access to the services of the AAB. This provides a mechanism for the AAB to oversee the management of risk and audit issues within the office of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner and to advise the Commissioner on matters relating to good governance. This includes: