The appointment of Julie Hesketh-Laird and Stephen Ramsay will be to the Revenue Scotland’s Audit and Risk Committee. They will join the Committees' existing Board Members, Martin McEwen, Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee (who will be stepping down from the Board in July 2025), Robert MacIntosh and Simon Cunningham.
The appointment of Elizabeth Barnes will be to the Revenue Scotland Staffing and Equalities Committee where she will join the Committees existing Board Members, Jean Lindsay, Chair of the Staffing and Equalities Committee, Idong Usoro and Rt Hon Ken MacIntosh.
Welcoming the appointments, Aidan O’Carroll, Chair of Revenue Scotland, said:
“We are delighted to welcome three new co-opted board members to Revenue Scotland. Their expertise will be really helpful in guiding us as we work to achieve our current vision and ambitions whilst also looking ahead.
Elizabeth Barnes brings significant expertise in organisational redesign and high-value HR strategies, which will be immensely beneficial to the Revenue Scotland Staffing and Equalities Committee (SEC). Her insights will help us shape our agenda around our staff and culture for the future.
Julie Hesketh-Laird has extensive experience in audit, risk, finance, and upholding the highest standards of corporate governance, compliance, and performance improvement. Her experience will be really helpful in contributing to the insights that Revenue Scotland’s Audit and Risk Committee (ARC) brings to the Board.
Stephen Ramsay has a diverse background that includes managing IT systems for small businesses and financial services, as well as developing "Privacy by Design" frameworks for global enterprises. His success in leading cybersecurity and privacy operations across 93 countries, along with his experience as a seasoned Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Data Protection Officer (DPO), will be invaluable to the Revenue Scotland Audit and Risk Committee (ARC).
It is a great privilege to work with Elizabeth, Julie, and Stephen on the Revenue Scotland Board.”
Elaine Lorimer, Chief Executive of Revenue Scotland, added:
“Appointing co-opted members to our committees helps develop Board experience as well as benefiting Revenue Scotland from individuals’ expertise. I am delighted to welcome Julie, Stephen and Elizabeth and my team and I look forward to working with them over the next 18 months.”
The appointments will be for an initial period of eighteen months. The term of the appointment will run from 3 February 2025 to 2 August 2026 and may be renewed by mutual agreement.
About the appointments
Biographies
Stephen Ramsay brings over 20 years of leadership in cybersecurity, governance, risk management, and compliance to Revenue Scotland’s Audit and Risk Committee. As a seasoned Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and Data Protection Officer (DPO), he specialises in building and developing management systems and governance frameworks that align with business needs, international regulations and industry standards.
Stephen’s professional journey includes managing IT systems for small businesses, financial services, and developing Privacy by Design frameworks for global enterprises. He has successfully led cybersecurity and privacy operations across 93 countries, combining technical expertise with strategic vision to address emerging risks, as well as personally delivering industry-recognised certifications including ISO 27001, ISO 27701 and Cyber Essentials Plus.
An advocate for cybersecurity education, Stephen holds CISA, CISM, CIPP/e and ISO 27001 Lead Audit Practitioner qualifications and earned a distinction in Leadership in Board Governance. His dedication to fostering accountability and resilience strengthens Revenue Scotland’s mission of safeguarding public revenue.
Julie Hesketh-Laird is the Chief Executive of FIVS, the global federation for the wine and vine sector. Julie’s career is presently and has mostly been spent championing the food and drink sector where she held senior roles in the Scotch Whisky Association and Salmon Scotland. In those roles, Julie has worked with and advised companies of all sizes from multinationals to local start-ups. She has experience in regulatory affairs across many global markets.
Julie has also spent over three years in the public sector, as Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Strategy and Government of Food Standards Scotland, a Non-Ministerial Office of the Scottish Government. In that role she had responsibility for the organisation’s strategy and governance including audit, risk, finance and ensuring the highest standards of corporate governance, compliance and performance improvement.
Elizabeth Barnes is the Deputy Chief Officer for Corporate Services for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) where she has also previously held the post of Director of People. Elizabeth’s professional journey includes senior leadership roles in human resources and employee relations with a range of public and private sector organisations, such as SFRS, Hovis, Amazon, EE and Castle View Services as well as non-executive roles with the T-Mobile Pension Scheme, SPPAs Firefighter Pension Scheme and the Family Support Trust.
As a passionate advocate for change leadership, and transformation, Elizabeth has successfully driven organisational re-design, enhanced employee engagement and implemented high-value HR strategies throughout her career. She holds a Masters in Employment Law as well as CIPD Chartered Fellow status and have an ILM L7 in Executive Coaching and Mentoring.
Outside of her professional life, Liz lives in Glasgow with her husband, daughter and dog and loves travelling the world at every opportunity.
Appointment details
- The appointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £303.52 per day for every 7.5 hours devoted to performing their functions on a pro rata basis.
- For the Audit and Risk Committee a commitment to four quarterly meetings, a Risk Strategy session and ad hoc meetings is required. For the Staffing and Equalities Committee commitment to three meetings over the year and ad hoc meetings is required.
- These roles are as Co-opted Non-Executive Committee Member roles. They are not full Board Member roles and therefore a non-voting role.
- These roles are not regulated by the Ethical Standards Commission.
- Stephen Ramsay, Julie Hesketh-Laird and Elizabeth Barnes do not hold any other public appointments.
- All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.
- Stephen Ramsay, Julie Hesketh-Laird and Elizabeth Barnes have had no political activity within the last five years.