Annex Four: Stewarding Group terms of reference and membership
Terms of reference
As required by the remit and terms of reference for the Citizens’ Assembly of Scotland, the Conveners will appoint a Stewarding Group. This Group will provide strategic advice to Conveners in delivering that remit and terms of reference, in particular to ensure that all aspects of the planning of the Assembly and the Assembly meetings proceed in accordance with the underpinning principles set out in that remit and terms of reference.
The Group will provide strategic expert advice to Conveners, and the Secretariat acting on their behalf, on the planning and delivery of the Assembly. This will include:
- advising on planning and preparations for Assembly meetings and reviewing Assembly meetings;
- advising on establishment of relevant governance arrangements, including in relation to members conduct, transparency and reporting and Assembly proceedings;
- quality assurance of the overall process of delivery and the evidence presented to the Assembly, to ensure the objectivity and impartiality of methods and structures and the evidence presented to the Assembly is relevant, accessible, balanced and proportionate;
- assisting with the identification of relevant experts to provide evidence to the Assembly;
- encouraging wider visibility and positive commentary upon the Assembly through advising on wider engagement activity and, although not advocating for the Assembly in a formal sense and acting within agreed parameters, commenting upon and explaining the work of the Assembly and the evidence presented to it through relevant professional networks.
The Group operates in an advisory capacity only; decision making authority is retained by the Conveners or the Secretariat working on their behalf. The Group will report to Conveners and will not participate in providing evidence to the Assembly but may attend meetings of the Assembly and support its delivery in other ways.
The Group will operate in an open and transparent manner. These terms of reference, names of Group members, minutes of meetings and details of the advice provided to the Conveners will be published on the Assembly website.
The members of the Group are appointed by the Conveners and have a responsibility to and are expected to act in a cooperative and collegiate manner. Appointments are made on the basis of relevant expertise and availability. Membership of the Group is in a voluntary capacity and will not be remunerated. Members will be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in this role.
The Group will meet monthly during the period of the Assembly commencing in September 2019 and will provide such advice and commentary on an individual or collective basis between meetings as may be required and as other commitments permit.
Membership as at November 2020
Alan Renwick
Role: Deputy Director of the Constitution Unit, University College London
Summary of Experience: Alan’s expertise lies mainly in the areas of electoral systems, referendums, and other modes of engaging the public in decision-making processes, such as citizens’ assemblies. Alan was the Director of the Citizens’ Assembly on Brexit.
David Farrell
Role: Head of School, Professor of Politics, University College Dublin
Summary of Experience: David is a specialist in the study of parties, elections, electoral systems and members of parliament. David’s current research focuses on the role of deliberation in constitutional reform processes. David was the 'research leader' of the Irish Citizens' Assembly.
Nicola McEwen
Role: Professor of Politics at the University of Edinburgh and Associate Director of the Centre on Constitutional Change
Summary of Experience: Nicola is a Professor at the University of Edinburgh and Co-Director of the Centre on Constitutional Change. She specialises in devolution, territorial politics and multi-level government, especially on Scotland’s place in the UK.
Doreen Grove
Role: Open Government Partnership
Summary of Experience: Doreen leads the Scottish Government’s participation in the Open Government Partnership, at both a national and international level. Globally, Open Government is driving changes to ensure that people are able to see, understand, and influence the decisions that affect their lives, and are also able to make the government accountable.
Audrey MacDougall
Role: Scottish Government Chief Social Researcher
Summary of Experience: Audrey is the Scottish Government’s Chief Social Researcher and Deputy Director of the Communities Analytical Division. The Office of the Chief Researcher leads the social research group and the analytical services team by developing policy and procedure on the collection and use of social research.
Willie Sullivan
Role: Director of the Electoral Reform Society Scotland
Summary of Experience: Willie is the director of ERS Scotland and has worked at senior levels in the business, voluntary and public sector. Willie was the Campaign consultant on the successful Fairshare Campaign for the introduction of STV for Scottish Local Government and Campaign Director for Vote for a Change, the campaign to secure a referendum on electoral reform.
Erica Reid
Role: Associate Director of Nursing and AHPs and Chief Nurse for the Health and Social Care Partnership
Summary of Experience: Erica Reid is a nurse with extensive experience of using quality improvement at local, regional and national levels to improve and transform healthcare systems. Erica is the inspiration behind Our Voice Scotland which is creating a cultural shift in engaging and involving the public and people who use health and social care. She has recently chaired the National Oversight Panel for Scotland’s first Citizen Jury on healthcare.
John Sturrock
Role: Founder and Senior Mediator, Core Solutions
Summary of Experience: John is an expert in the field of mediation, working with professionals and commerce across the UK and internationally. John trained at Harvard University, became a Queen’s Counsel in 1999 and is a visiting professor at Edinburgh University.
Graham Smith
Role: Professor of Politics and Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy, University of Westminster
Summary of Experience: Graham is an expert in democratic theory and practice, in particular participatory democratic institutions. He is a recognised specialist in citizens' assemblies and was one of the organisers of the Citizens' Assembly on Brexit.