New Members appointed to the Creative Scotland Board

Posted: August 11, 2023

Muslim scholar, Patrick Brown, Norah Campbell, Heather Stewart, and Louise Wilson have been chosen to serve as Members of the Creative Scotland Board.

Introducing the fresh faces joining Creative Scotland's esteemed Board of Members! On the upper row, starting from the left, we have Heather Stewart and Louise Wilson. And on the lower row, from left to right, we proudly present Muslim Alim, Norah Campbell, and Patrick Brown.

The Scottish Government has selected the Board to lead the way for Creative Scotland. Their main responsibilities include guiding the organization's overall plan, ensuring it is well governed and financially responsible, and making sure it provides value to the public.

Robert Wilson, the head of Creative Scotland, stated:

I am extremely pleased to extend a warm welcome to Muslim, Patrick, Norah, Heather, and Louise as the newest additions to Creative Scotland's Board. Their extensive knowledge and skills are of immense value to Creative Scotland and will contribute to a prosperous future for the arts, screen, and creative sectors throughout Scotland.

Scotland's Innovative Board Members

Muslim Alim has worked for the BBC for almost two decades, creating exceptional content for radio, television, and online platforms. He began his career as a researcher in the entertainment department and later went on to produce shows for BBC Radio 1. Additionally, he played a crucial role in developing the popular digital youth platform called BBC The Social. During his time there, he oversaw the creation of diverse content that spanned various genres, including collaborations with news outlets, a YouTube series set in Edinburgh, and numerous viral sensations across social media platforms.

In 2017, he became a part of the BBC Daytime commissioning team. He is responsible for overseeing well-established shows like 'Homes Under The Hammer' and 'Antiques Road Trip', as well as new projects like 'The Travelling Auctioneers' and 'Clive Myrie's Italian Road Trip'. Additionally, he takes the lead for BBC Daytime in Scotland and Northern Ireland. In his role as Commissioning Editor, he is interested in exploring how changing audience habits and advancements in technology can change the way content is created, produced, and distributed.

Patrick Brown holds the esteemed title of a Chartered Accountant and is proudly affiliated with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS). His expertise spans across various domains, including the public, private, and charitable sectors. Presently, he serves as the Head of Finance at Police Scotland, showcasing his competence in financial matters. Before his current position, Patrick excelled as a distinguished Senior Civil Servant within the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, where he efficiently carried out the responsibilities of Deputy Director of Finance.

In 2015, 2016, and 2017, Patrick earned recognition as one of ICAS' finest Chartered Accountants below the age of 35. In 2019, he was also acknowledged as one of the top 100 young CA's.

Norah Campbell holds the position of Arts Lead at the British Council in Scotland, where she collaborates with various stakeholders and creative organizations from Scotland, the UK, and around the world. Her role involves fostering global connections, encouraging collaboration, and identifying promising opportunities for Scottish arts projects on an international scale.

Norah, who completed her studies at Edinburgh College of Art and Strathclyde University, boasts a rich background of over 25 years in the Scottish arts industry. She has garnered extensive expertise in various facets of the field, such as organizing events, overseeing venues, prioritizing education, engaging in international collaborations, offering consultation services, governing institutions, and shaping art policies and strategies.

Previous positions have encompassed the role of Skills Leader for Creative Cultural Skills, Executive of An Tuireann, Chief of Scottish Music Centre, Committee Member of Puppet Animation Scotland, and Committee Member of Arts Council of Wales.

For the past 13 years, Heather Stewart has held the position of Creative Director at the British Film Institute (BFI). Throughout her tenure, she has amassed a considerable amount of expertise in various areas, such as spearheading initiatives to engage audiences in cinemas, festivals, and streaming platforms. Additionally, she has played a pivotal role in overseeing the distribution and commercialization of films, both within the United Kingdom and on a global scale.

She has been a member of the BFI Lottery committee to allocate funds for the creation, distribution, and display of films. Additionally, she has contributed to the BFI Production Board, focusing on the growth of aspiring filmmakers. Furthermore, she has played a role in the Arts Council England Artists' Film and Video Panel, offering her assistance to artists involved in the production of moving images.

With extensive engagement in the global exchange of film programs, she has served as a specialist member of the European Film Festivals Fund, Creative Europe Media Programme, and a jury member at various film festivals across the globe. Heather is now delighted to receive an invitation to contribute her profound understanding of film culture and diverse expertise to the Creative Scotland Board.

Louise Wilson is a highly accomplished business executive who has acquired a diverse range of skills and knowledge in both the corporate and non-profit sectors. Over the course of her impressive three-decade-long international career, she has gained extensive experience in various commercial, marketing, and sponsorship roles at renowned companies like Accenture, Proctor & Gamble, and The Coca-Cola Company. In addition, she has demonstrated her entrepreneurial spirit by founding her own global agency. Furthermore, her expertise has been recognized at the highest level as she served as a director for the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

Louise has successfully fulfilled the role of a proactive Non-Executive Director within several distinctive sectors, encompassing culture, education, heritage, visitor attractions, faith, and diversity. Her valuable contributions have been made to renowned organizations such as Historic Royal Palaces, the University of Nottingham, DRET Education Academy Trust, the International Women’s Forum, Harvard Leadership Trust, the Marketing Group of Great Britain, the Northern Ireland Office, and The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust.

Louise holds a prestigious position as a member of the Royal Society of Arts and was granted a Fellowship in Advanced Global Leadership after completing her education at Harvard University. She is still invited to speak as a guest lecturer at Harvard, a role that she finds fulfilling in addition to her diverse range of career pursuits. Louise has a deep passion for the creative industry and believes in fostering cultural richness in every aspect. She eagerly anticipates contributing to Creative Scotland's mission of expanding the availability and excellence of opportunities for individuals to nurture their full potential through artistic expression and creativity.

For the most up-to-date roster of board members, we encourage you to check out Creative Scotland's website.

These terms of office will be for a duration of four years, commencing on 1st August 2023 and concluding on 31st July 2027.

These positions are not full-time and offer a payment of £218 per day for a commitment of one day each month.

The scheduling of these meetings is overseen by the Commissioner of Ethical Standards.

Creative Scotland is the governmental institution that backs the arts, screen, and creative sectors all around Scotland by allocating funds from the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. For more details, visit creativescotland.com. Stay connected with us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Discover the significance of art and creativity in Scotland and get involved by visiting www.ourcreativevoice.scot.

For inquiries, please get in touch with Sophie Bambrough, the Media Relations & PR Officer at Creative Scotland. You can reach her via email at [email protected] or give her a call at +44 (0) 7747 606 146.