Board Members

The Board comprises of the Chair, three Executive and seven Non-Executive Members, offering leadership, direction and guidance. 

Alex Plant, Chief Executive  

Alex took up the role of Chief Executive on June 1, 2023. He was previously Director of Strategy and Regulation at Anglian Water, where he worked from 2014. Prior to working in the water sector, he held roles at Cambridgeshire County Council, Civil Aviation Authority, HM Treasury and Inland Revenue. He has also held several non-executive director roles, including with NHS Cambridgeshire and Centre for Cities. Alex is a graduate of Nottingham University.

Peter Farrer, Chief Operating Officer  

Peter was appointed as Chief Operating Officer in 2013, having formerly been Customer Service Delivery Director, General Manager of Asset Planning and Business Performance and General Manager of Operations. Prior to this, he held various operational and engineering roles within Scottish Water’s predecessor organisations, East of Scotland Water and Lothian Water and Drainage. He has 39 years experience in the water industry since graduating from Heriot Watt University as a Civil Engineer in 1984. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer, gained an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School in 2001 and is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Vice President of the Institute of Customer Service.

Alan Dingwall, Chief Financial Officer

Alan Dingwall joined Scottish Water in June 2024 after a career in different industries in a range of finance and commercial leadership positions. Prior to working at Scottish Water, he spent a decade with Serco, a provider of public services to local and central governments in a range of environments including healthcare, justice, defence and transport.  Alan brings a passion for public services and supporting customers and communities, as well as strong business and commercial instincts. He has worked at Board level in executive positions and as a non-executive director.

Non-Executive Members:  

Deirdre Michie OBE

Deirdre was appointed Chair of Scottish Water on 1st January 2024. Deirdre is a senior leader and business executive in the global energy industry with significant experience in both executive and non-executive roles. Deirdre’s experience covered the energy value chain before Deirdre was appointed as CEO of Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) in 2015, a position that she held for almost 8 years. During her tenure at OEUK, Deirdre was instrumental in landing the landmark North Sea Transition Deal, aimed at helping to deliver UK net zero by 2050. She was also a leading member of several UK and Scottish industry and business government forums, including the Women’s Business Council. Deirdre is also a Board member of Opportunity North East Ltd. Deirdre was awarded an OBE for her services to the energy Industry (2018), an Honorary Doctorate from Robert Gordon University (2021) and a Fellowship from the North East of Scotland College (2019).

Allan Clow

 Allan is an experienced Non-Executive Director and former main Board Managing and Finance Director. He is currently a Non-Executive Director of Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Wheatley Homes Glasgow, Wheatley Developments Scotland, the University of the Highlands & Islands, Turning Point Scotland and Glencraft Mattresses. He is a Chartered Management Accountant and is the Audit Chair of the University of Highlands & Islands, and is a member of the Audit & Risk Committees of Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Wheatley Group and Turning Point Scotland. Previously, he was Chief Financial Officer of Superglass Plc, CHAP Holdings Ltd, and Bancon Development Holdings Ltd. He was also the Managing Director of Bancon Homes Ltd and Bancon Construction Ltd.

Graham Dalton

Graham is a chartered civil engineer and fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering with 35 years of experience planning, building and operating large-scale infrastructure in the UK, Middle East and Far East. From 2016 to 2022, he was Chief Executive of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, responsible for the Defence Estate in the UK and overseas. Previously, he was Chief Executive of the Highways Agency, where he built the Agency’s capabilities in network operation, asset management and commercial performance before leading the change to a Government-owned company - Highways England - in 2015. Graham’s earlier career was spent with consulting engineering firm Mouchel and with contractor Bovis. Graham is also a non-executive director of Energy and Utility Skills  Ltd and a Policy Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Steven Dickson

Steven brings more than 30 years communications, media, and digital experience, having worked for BT since 1989. Roles included leading teams across Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific, focusing on global contracts, strategic controls and revenue assurance. He is a non-executive director on the board of the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service and a Member of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body. Steven is also a Prospect Union Member Nominated Trustee Director of the BT Pension Scheme, and Chair of the Prospect Scotland Regional Branch. He was a member of the National Executive Committee for Prospect, having occupied various executive positions since 2013 and was a senior negotiator on the BT Pay and Reward Committee. He served on the governance board of BT’s Defined Contribution pension scheme. Steven is a member of the Institute of Directors, winning the Scottish Non-Executive Director of the Year award in 2025.

Belinda Howell

Belinda Howell is an Executive and Non-Executive Director with extensive board experience across public, private and not-for-profit sectors, including natural resources, agri-commodities, energy and through the supply chain to retail.  She is a biochemist and brings deep expertise in sustainability strategy and digital transformation.  She is currently a Non-Executive Director on the boards of Digital Catapult, the London Pensions Fund Authority, and a member of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council. Previously, she served on the boards of the Marine Management Organisation, National Centre for Atmospheric Science and Defence Safety and Environment Committee.

Ian McAulay

Ian McAulay is an experienced senior executive in the global water, environmental and energy sectors.  Over 40 years, he has worked with many utility companies, including Scottish Water, in delivering major infrastructure and operational enhancement investment programmes. In the UK, he most recently spent ten years as CEO of Viridor and Southern Water, leading all aspects of the businesses. Before that, he was Global Chief of Strategy for MWH, living and working across the world.  He is Chair of Papilo Ltd and Isle Utilities Ltd, a board member of the Institute of Water and was awarded a Fellowship of the Institution of Civil Engineers in 2020.

Barry White

Barry is an experienced infrastructure leader with a career spanning senior roles across the public and private sectors. A civil engineer by background and former Army officer, he brings a disciplined, delivery-focused approach to complex programmes. Barry has held Chief Executive roles at Scottish Futures Trust and Transport for the North, and senior leadership positions at BAM, Skanska and Morrison Construction. He is currently Chair of Infrastructure Managers Ltd. With deep expertise in infrastructure investment, governance and large-scale delivery, Barry provides strong strategic insight, constructive challenge and a clear focus on long-term value, resilience and sustainable growth. 

Catriona Schmolke, CBE

Catriona joined the Board of Scottish Water in November 2021 and is a member of the Audit & Risk Committee. Catriona is an experienced Non-Executive Director, chartered engineer and brings more than 35 years knowledge of working in the infrastructure sector. Prior to her Non-Executive Director appointments, Catriona was global Senior Vice President with Jacobs, where she operated internationally, delivering purposeful transformation and organisational change in the areas of safety and sustainability, including ESG. As an Operations Vice President, she was accountable for projects in both public and private sectors, including Environmental, Utilities, Nuclear, Mining, Transport and Industrial. In 2020, she was recognised by the National Safety Council of America for safety leadership. Catriona is the Chair of Artus Air Ltd and a Non-Executive Director with NPL Ltd and NES Fircroft Ltd. In the 2024 King’s New Year's Honours, Catriona received a CBE for services to engineering. She is a Member of the Court of Strathclyde University, a Visiting Professor of Sustainability with Newcastle University and is a Fellow, Trustee and Vice President of the Royal Academy of Engineering.