Trio of appointments to Food Standards Scotland Board

Food Standards Scotland announces the first new appointments to its Board since it was formed in 2015. This follows the launch of its six year Strategy to 2026, which focuses on issues that matter most to people in Scotland including improving the Scottish diet.

Food industry specialist, Alban Denton and public health expert, Dr Carol Evans will join on 1 July 2021, with Chartered Accountant and finance leader, Aileen Brown joining on 1 January 2022. Each new Board member will join for a four-year period.

After serving on the Board since the organisation was incepted in 2015, public health specialist, Dr Anne Maree Wallace will complete her term at the end of this month (June 2021) and public sector professional, Marieke Dwarshuis will finish on 31 December 2021. Very sadly, George Brechin died on 17 October 2020.

Food Standards Scotland’s Chair of the Board, Ross Finnie, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Alban Denton, Dr Carol Evans and Aileen Brown to the Board, bringing with them a wealth of public and private sector experience, and specialist knowledge, which will support and guide Food Standards Scotland as it continues to adapt to a changing food environment, protecting the interest of consumers.

“We will undoubtedly benefit from their combined leadership and vast experience across the food and drink industry, science, public health, and corporate services sectors.

“I thank Dr Anne Maree Wallace and Marieke Dwarshuis for their immense contribution to the strategic governance and development of Food Standards Scotland since it was established more than six years ago, and I also pay tribute to the late George Brechin, who was a much respected member of our first Board.”

Alban Denton has been involved in many of Scotland’s food businesses over the past 30 years and has held a range of Director and Managing Director roles in Kettle Produce, Grampian Food Group, Eden Esk Group, Warburton’s and, until he recently retired, he was the Managing Director of Loch Duart, one of Scotland’s salmon farmers.

Alban was also a Director of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation and Chair of Scottish Quality Salmon.

Dr Carol Evans held senior European roles in PepsiCo, Kellogg’s and Reckitt Benckiser and was instrumental in improving food quality and re-design across Europe.

With her combined chemistry / biochemistry PhD, food industry experience and 10 years pharmaceutical experience and personal research, she understands food components, additives and their effect on the body. 

Aileen Brown has held Finance Director positions in a diverse range of sectors working with multi-disciplinary leadership teams. She had executive oversight of other disciplines such as HR, IT, legal, risk, compliance, and a detailed understanding of governance from working in regulated businesses, and as an auditor and risk management consultant at Ernst & Young.

The Board provides Food Standards Scotland with strategic direction, oversight and governance, meeting regularly in public.

See our Board Meetings page for information on future and previous meetings, or search for Board agendas and papers.