Douglas Millican, former CEO of Scottish Water (2012 – 2023), has been appointed by Sir Jon Cunliffe as an additional member to the Independent Water Commission Advisory Group.
Photo: Douglas Millican, former Scottish Water CEO
He brings direct operational experience from the water industry to the group, alongside the expertise represented from areas including the environment, public health, consumers, infrastructure and investors.
In January the Commission, chaired by Sir Jon Cunliffe. appointed the following members:
- Richard Benwell (environment expert), Chief Executive of Wildlife and Countryside Link, a coalition of environmental charities. Previously policy adviser to the Defra Secretary of State and worked in policy and advocacy roles for the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust and RSPB.
- Chris Whitty (public health expert), Chief Medical Officer for England and Chief Medical Adviser to the UK Government.
- Professor Isabelle Durance (environmental science and Welsh water system expert), Founder and Director of the Water Research Institute at Cardiff University, and Professor of Integrated Water Sciences
- Peter Harrison (investment expert), Former Group CEO at Schroders plc. Member of the Capital Markets Industry Taskforce (CMIT), Chair of the charity Business in the Community, and chair-designate of Morgan Sindall plc.
- Dame Yve Buckland (consumers advocate), Founding Chair of the Consumer Council for Water (2005 –2015). Chair of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust since 2023.
- Jonathan Haskel (economics expert) Professor of Economics at Imperial College Business School. Previously board member at the UK Statistics Authority and a member of the Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England.
- Philip Graham (infrastructure), Executive Director of Good Growth at Greater London Authority. Previously Chief Executive of the National Infrastructure Commission.
- Jon Loveday (project delivery and commercial expert), Director of Infrastructure, Enterprise and Growth at the Infrastructure and Projects Authority (IPA). Shareholder Non-Executive Director of Crossrail International and Sizewell C. Former Executive Director within the water, telecoms and energy sectors.
- Stephen Peacock (planning and place-making expert), CEO of West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. Former CEO and Executive Director of growth and regeneration at Bristol City Council.
The wide-ranging Call for Evidence announced by the Commission on 27th February will run until 23 April. Call for Evidence is examining at the management of the overall water system, regulatory reform, and the role of water companies, owners and investors.
A set of recommendations will be delivered later this year to the Defra Secretary of State Steve Reed and Huw Irranca Davies, Wales’ Deputy First Minister with responsibility for Climate Change and Rural Affairs.
The Commission is operating independently of the UK and Welsh Ministers. The Chair and advisory group are supported by a Defra Secretariat.
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