Board Members

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

Chair

Deirdre Michie OBE

Deirdre is a senior leader and business executive. Her experience covers the energy value chain. She was appointed CEO of Offshore Energies UK in 2015, which she held for eight years and was instrumental in landing the landmark North Sea Transition Deal. She was a leading member of several UK and Scottish industry and business government forums including the Women’s Business Council. Deirdre is also Chair of the SSEN T Independent Stakeholder Group, a Board member of Opportunity North East Ltd and a patron of Scottish Ballet. 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).

 

Executive Members

Alex Plant, Chief Executive  

Alex took up the role of Chief Executive in June 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 HM Treasury, the Civil Aviation Authority, and in local government. He has also held several Non-executive director roles including with NHS Cambridgeshire, the Centre for Cities, and Cambridge Ahead. Alex is a graduate of Nottingham University.

 

Peter Farrer, Chief Operating Officer  

Peter was appointed 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 operational and engineering roles in Scottish Water’s predecessor organisations, East of Scotland Water and Lothian Water and Drainage. He has 42 years’ experience in the water industry since graduating from Heriot Watt University as a Civil Engineer. He is a Chartered Civil Engineer, gained an MBA from Edinburgh Business School 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 joined Scottish Water as Chief Financial Officer 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 worked in telecoms, facilities management and the delivery of public services in Finance and General Management roles. 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:  

Allan Clow

Allan is an experienced Non-Executive Director and former main Board Managing and Finance Director. He is a Non-Executive Director of Highlands & Islands Enterprise, Wheatley Homes Glasgow, Wheatley Developments Scotland, University of the Highlands & Islands, and Turning Point Scotland. He is a chartered management accountant and is Audit Chair of the University of Highlands & Islands and Highlands & Islands Enterprise and a member of the Audit & Risk Committees of Wheatley Group and Turning Point Scotland. Previously he was Chief Financial Officer of Superglass Plc, CHAP Holdings Ltd, 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’ experience planning, building and operating large 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 UK Defence Estate. Previously he served 7 years as Chief Executive of National Highways. Graham is a Non-executive director of Energy and Utility Skills Ltd and of Energy and Environment Awards Ltd. He serves on the audit committee of the Royal Academy of Engineering and is a Policy Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers.

Steven Dickson

Steven had a 32-year career in BT, latterly leading BT’s Global Contract Assurance program focusing on major contracts in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific. He was a member of the leadership team at BT Group Business Services. He is also a Non-Executive Director at The Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service, Member of the Armed Forces Pay Review Body and a Trustee Director of the BT Pension Scheme. He was a member of the National Executive Committee for Prospect union, having occupied various executive positions since 2013 and was a senior negotiator on the BT Pay and Reward Committee and served on the governance board of BT’s Retirement Saving Scheme in 2018. He is also Chair of the Prospect Scotland Regional Branch and is a member of the National Federation of Occupational Pensioners.

Belinda Howell

Belinda has extensive board experience across public, private and not-for-profit sectors, including natural resources, agri-commodities, marine, energy and through the supply chain to retail. She is a biochemist and brings deep expertise in climate change and sustainability strategy and digital transformation. She is Chair of PlantSea Ltd, a Non-Executive board member with Digital Catapult and the London Pensions Fund Authority, and serves on the Export Guarantees Advisory Council.

 

Ian McAulay

Ian McAulay is an experienced senior executive in the global water, environmental and energy sectors. In a career spanning over 40 years he worked with many utility companies, including Scottish Water, in delivering major infrastructure and operational enhancement investment programmes. In the UK, he spent ten years until 2022 as CEO of Viridor and Southern Water leading all aspects of their businesses. Prior to that, he was Global Chief of Strategy for MWH, working worldwide. In a non-executive capacity, he is currently Chair of Papilo Ltd and Isle Utilities Ltd and a board member of Severfield plc. He was also a board member of the Institute of Water for several years until 2024. Ian was awarded 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 was appointed Chair of the Remuneration Committee in March 2026. She brings four decades of expertise in the infrastructure sector. She is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and holds the positions of Interim Chair of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Chair of Artus Air Ltd and Chair of Nuada Ltd. Additionally, she is a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Major Programmes at the National Physical Laboratory. She is a Lay member of Court and Convener for Safety Health and Wellbeing at Strathclyde University.