Directors of The Promise Scotland

Fraser McKinlay is the Chief Executive Officer of The Promise Scotland and sits on the Board of Directors.

He spent 16 years working for Audit Scotland, including ten years as Controller of Audit and Director of Performance Audit and Best Value (PABV). He has been running his own consulting business since April 2021.

As Controller of Audit (CoA), Fraser reported to the Accounts Commission on all matters relating to the audit of local authorities in Scotland. In his ten years as CoA, he produced over 60 Best Value audit reports across all local authorities, alongside many other statutory reports.

As Director of PABV, Fraser was responsible for performance audit across all sectors of public services in Scotland. This work focused on:

• governance,
• financial sustainability, and
• value for money.

Before joining Audit Scotland, Fraser was a public services consultant with Eglinton in Edinburgh and KPMG in London. He specialised in leadership, change management, facilitation and process improvement.

Since starting his own business, he has worked with a range of clients in the public and third sectors, specialising in:

• strategy,
• leadership, and
• change.

He is particularly interested in systems change, and how we use public money more effectively to deliver improved outcomes for citizens, families, and communities.

In October 2021, Scottish Ministers appointed him as a member of the Independent Oversight and Assurance Group for Mental Health Services in Tayside.

Fraser holds:

• a Postgraduate Diploma (with Distinction) in Strategic Leadership from Warwick Business School, and
• a degree in Industrial Relations from the University of Strathclyde.

He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.

Fiona Duncan is the Independent Strategic Advisor on the promise, and advises Scottish Ministers in this capacity.

Anna Black is a locum GP in Glasgow, working between:

• Dungavel Immigration Detention Centre,
• St Vincent’s Hospice, and
• practices in Possilpark and Pollokshields.

She also works in the Glasgow Youth Health Service, with a focus on mental and sexual health. She is passionate about reducing health inequalities and improving access to healthcare.

She also regularly teaches at the University of Glasgow, and through NHS Education Scotland’s programme for training for GPs and GP trainees. In her teaching, she covers:

• migration health,
• inclusion health, and
• health inequalities.

Anna is also:

• a non-executive board member at Public Health Scotland ,
• a Scottish Human Rights Commissioner,
• a trustee for the Govan Community Project, and
• a mentor through the MCR Pathways.

David Garbutt has held many policing roles, including:

• Chief Officer of Lothian and Borders Police,
• Chief Officer of Grampian Police,
• Assistant Inspector of Constabulary,
• Director of the Scottish Police College. and

He was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the 2001 New Year Honours.

He has also been a member of:

• the Board of the Scottish Leadership Foundation, and
• the Justice Sector Skills Council.

And has chaired:

• the NHS Education for Scotland (NES) Board,
• the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) Board,
• the NHS Chairs Group, and
• the NHS Active Governance Reference Group.

He currently chairs the NHS National Performance Management Committee, and is a member of:

• the Everyone Matters Implementation Group, and
• the National Leadership Development Programme Board.

Jackie Brock was previously a Deputy Director within Scottish Government, and Chief Executive of Children in Scotland. She acted as The Promise Scotland Interim Chief Operating Officer supporting the set-up of the organisation.

Philip Rycroft was a civil servant for 30 years, in roles including those in education and children and young people's policy.

He worked for 20 years in the Scottish Office, then Executive and Government.

For the last 10 years of his career, he worked in Whitehall, latterly:

• as head of the UK Governance Group in the Cabinet Office, with responsibility for advising ministers on all aspects of the constitution and devolution, and
• as the Permanent Secretary of the Department for Exiting the EU.

He is now a non-executive director, academic and consultant.

Jane O’Donnell was appointed the Chief Executive of COSLA, the voice of local government in Scotland, in March 2023.

COSLA is a councillor-led, cross-party organisation which champions councils’ vital work to improve the lives of everyone in their communities. Jane has over 25 years’ experience working in and with councils and, prior to her appointment, spent two years in senior roles in Scottish Government.

Jane has a particular interest in ensuring a whole system approach to public policy and public services. She has held senior trustee roles in several third sector organisations supporting women and girls. She was a founder member of the Suicide Prevention Leadership Group, and is a strong advocate for the role of local government in wellbeing.

In her spare time, Jane is an avid reader and film fan and enjoys taking her dog for long walks across the country. She lives in West Lothian with her family.

Jim Savege started his career training as a teacher in Liverpool, before working in management consultancy. His career in local government spans nearly two decades ,with previous roles at:

• Staffordshire County Council, and
• Cumbria County Council.

Jim took up post as Chief Executive with Aberdeenshire Council in February 2015. He is:

• Returning Officer for Aberdeenshire Council, and
• Clerk to the Lieutenancy of Aberdeenshire.

He is Chair of the Scottish Resilience Partnership, and a past Chair of Solace Scotland, continuing to work across public services locally and nationally to ensure the most effective team approach. He's passionate about working with communities to help people achieve their dreams.

Vicky Underwood is Head of Leadership, Governance and Research at the College Development Network (CDN).

A key focus of her work is driving forward enhancement within colleges. In this way, she supports them to deliver for learners, their families and communities. She is passionate about the role colleges – and the wider education system – play in addressing poverty.

Before joining CDN, Vicky worked in several roles in the UK and around the world, delivering projects in:

• international education,
• business development, and
• policy.

She comes from a large family which includes care experienced young people, and they have had a profound impact on her personal and professional life. She's passionately committed to playing her part in helping Scotland keep the promise.