About the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Board

Pension boards for the schemes administered by SPPA were established in 2015. We have four Pension Boards covering our Police, Firefighters, NHS and Teachers Schemes.

The boards have equal number of employer representatives and member representatives and are each led by an Independent Chair and Independent Vice-Chair.

Pension Boards are responsible for assisting the Scheme Manager with the governance and administration of the Scheme. This includes ensuring compliance with the Scheme regulations, and any other relevant legislation and requirements as set out by The Pensions Regulator (TPR) in relation to the Scheme.

Every individual who is a member of the Pension Board must be conversant with the rules of the Schemes; in other words the Regulations and other legislation governing the Schemes; and have knowledge and understanding of the law relating to pensions. The Pension Boards meet four times a year.

Scottish Teachers’ Pension Board Members

Mark Cook, Independent Chair

Raised in the North East of Scotland Mark is a Biochemistry graduate of Aberdeen University with postgraduate MBA from Edinburgh Business School and has spent 30 years in roles within the life science sector including biologicals/pharmaceuticals, medical technology and consultancy. Currently he is Chair of Life Sciences Scotland and also Chair of The Association Of British Healthtech Industries Scotland both of which are dedicated to improving the health and wealth of Scotland through innovation in life sciences. In addition, Mark has published on healthcare resource utilisation in areas such as diabetes, hypertension and heart failure.

Mark is taking on the independent Chairmanship of the Teachers Pension Board after 4 years as Vice Chair of the NHS Pension Board at the SPPA. Historically Mark was also the Chair of a defined benefit pension scheme in the private sector. The role as Chair of Life Sciences Scotland Industrial Leadership Group has brought a sharp focus on the need for a highly skilled workforce and the critical value of the STEM in education across the school, college and University sectors in Scotland.

Married with 3 adult children in his spare time Mark enjoys mountain biking, archery & travel.

Richard Giles, Independent Vice Chair

Richard has 30+ years working in the pension industry. He has fulfilled a number of roles including as Scheme Actuary with Mercer, a Partner at PwC and most recently as the Head of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme (England and Wales). In his role as Head of the Teachers’ Pension Scheme Richard was responsible for the relationships with Department for Education and the TPS Pension Board and led a team of 330 people.

In addition to his role with SPPA, Richard has two Board roles on an “extra-curricular” basis; he is a trustee of the Board of Bradford Diocesan Academy Trust, a Multi-Academy Trust that manages 17 schools; and he is Chairman of Ilkley Town AFC, a volunteer-run sports club.

Richard lives in Ilkley, West Yorkshire with his wife. He has two grown up children.

Maureen Kennedy, member representative

Maureen Kennedy has taught in Scottish Secondary schools for 30 years and is currently working as a teacher of Mathematics in South Lanarkshire.

She joined the Scottish Teachers Pension Board in January 2023, representing member interests, and is the Local Association Secretary for the NASUWT in South Lanarkshire.

David McGinty, member representative

David was a Trustee of the EIS Superannuation Scheme for Officers, Officials and Staff from 2004 to 2016. During that time, he worked with, and received training from, two firms of actuaries: Mercers and First Actuarial. From 2008, David was Convenor of Trustees and chaired all the meetings.

Drew Morrice, member representative

Drew was assistant secretary of the Educational Institute of Scotland from October 2003 until February 2017. During that period he had responsibility for pension matters. He has been a member of the Teachers' Superannuation Working Party, SPPA Management Advisory Group Scotland (MAGS), The Scottish Teachers' Pension Scheme Negotiations and the STPA Advisory Board.

Leah Stalker, member representative

Leah has been employed by the Educational Institute of Scotland in her current role for nearly five years, advising and representing teachers and lecturers on employment matters including pension enquiries.

Graham Hutton, member representative

I have been a teacher for 37 years and currently Rector of Grove Academy in Dundee, a post I have held for the past eight years. Prior to this post, I was Head Teacher of Dumbarton Academy for three years.  I am currently President of School Leaders Scotland.  This is a prestigious post in an Association representing the interest of school leaders (from Business Managers, Principal Teachers to Deputes and Head Teachers). I am also involved in discussion and negotiations with Scottish Government Ministers and civil servants, and representatives of SQA, Education Scotland, Universities and Colleges across Scotland.

Stuart Hunter, member representative

Stuart has been a teacher of Religious and Moral Education in West Lothian since 1997 and he has been a member of the SSTA since that date. Stuart has been involved in the SSTA in various roles, firstly as a School Representative, then a member of Council, the Finance Committee and was elected to SSTA Executive in 2015. Stuart has also been part of a National Religious and Moral Education Working Group.

In 2021 Stuart was elected Vice President of the SSTA and will take up the role of President at our Congress in May 2023, a position he will hold until May 2025.

Kirsty Robb, employer representative

Kirsty joined Borders College in September 2022 as Vice Principal responsible for a wide range of support services including Finance, estates and IT and is member of the College’s senior management team. She was nominated to the Board by Colleges Scotland to represent the college sector employers.

Prior to joining the Borders College, she worked at Scottish Borders Council for 18 years, initially leading a small team within the Council providing the financial advice, management and support to programmes, partnerships and to large scale capital projects, including schools, major roads, railway and Waste projects. She was latterly responsible for the treasury function of the Council and for the management of the external investments and the overall governance of Scottish Borders Council Pension Fund. This experience has given her strong understanding of the issues and challenges facing public sector pension funds and the implications of these to the wider College finances.

During her time at Scottish Borders Council she was member of CIPFA Scotland – Treasury Management Forum and Chair from 2017 to 2022. Prior to Scottish Borders Council Kirsty worked in various finance roles within NHS Borders. Kirsty qualified as a Chartered Public Finance Accountant in 1998.

Louise Wright, employer representative

Louise has worked in local government in Scotland for over 25 years, firstly as a practitioner in housing and urban regeneration, before moving into strategic policy roles, specialising in social justice, tackling poverty and health inequalities. Following a period working as a Best Value Performance Auditor with Audit Scotland, she returned to local government, working across corporate governance, social inclusion, and health and social care. An experienced people and project manager, she also developed core strategies for the city council and community planning partnership where she worked for many years. In 2016, she moved into Third Sector children’s services, both as a volunteer and an employee, latterly working for a major charity, on additional support for learning, policy development, and managing a national partnership project to support children’s wellbeing. Joining the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) in 2019, she has worked as Policy Manager in both in the Health and Social Care Team (Workforce Portfolio) and most recently, in COSLA’s Employer Team.

Andy McGoff, employer representative

Andy is Finance and Operations Director of Edinburgh Napier University and sits on the University Leadership team.

He has full responsibility for the finance of the University and sits on the Finance and Property Committee and Pensions subcommittee which is responsible for reviewing and monitoring pension matters within the University.

Andy also chairs the Scottish Universities Finance Director Group and has good oversight of sector matters.

Councillor Brian McGinley employer representative

Brian has a 30-year employment background and degree level qualifications on community and post school education, a Masters degree in Public Policy and a strong record of experience in partnership working and community planning along with a history of lecturing in Higher Education. He also brings board-level Governance experience to the Pension Board and has been a Councillor in South Ayrshire since 2012 , currently Depute Council Leader and Portfolio Carrier for Finance and Performance. Brian has extensive knowledge and experience of understanding, managing and developing governance and organisational structures, systems and processes.

Vacancy, employer representative

 

Vacancy, employer representative

 

 

Further reading

Related documents

Please contact us if you wish access to previous years reports.

Minutes and Agendas

2023

2022

2021

2020

Please contact us if you require access to previous years minutes.

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