The Commission

Chair

Ailsa Henderson - Appointed 1 June 2023 for a period of 4 years 

Ailsa Henderson is a Professor of Political Science in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Edinburgh, where she gained her PhD and now teaches courses on research methods, quantitative analysis, UK and comparative politics. Her published research examines sub-state political behaviour, including voter turnout, political culture and civic engagement. She was previously Assistant Professor of Political Science at Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Toronto and was formerly Working Groups Chair of the Ontario Citizens' Assembly for Electoral Reform. She is currently a Commissioner for the Boundary Commission for Scotland.

Deputy Chair

Currently vacant.

Commissioners

Gordon Macmillan is a graduate of Aberdeen University with a honours degree in Politics and Economics. He was a senior journalist and media executive for more than thirty five years, working for the BBC in London and Scotland, CNN in Atlanta USA and most recently with STV as Head of News. At STV he oversaw the broadcaster’s coverage of political issues at local, regional and national level. He led the teams covering Holyrood elections, European Parliament campaigns, Westminster elections as well as local government elections and the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum. Gordon has a proven track record of objective assessment of political issues and has a developed understanding of Scotland’s political landscape and the concerns and interests of local communities.

Alan Stewart - Appointed 1 June 2023 for a period of 4 years.

Secretary

The work of the Commission is supported by a small Secretariat which is headed by the Secretary, Isabel Drummond-Murray. Isabel is a civil servant employed by Scottish Government where she has worked on a range of policy issues and as Secretary of the Council of Scottish Government Unions.

Appointments

Appointments to Boundaries Scotland are made under Schedule 4 to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973.

Members of the Commission are appointed by Scottish Ministers, following procedures approved by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. Appointments are normally for 3 or 4 years, with the possibility of renewal. These posts receive a daily fee, plus expenses. Vacant posts are advertised in the national press and be subject to a process of selection and interview by a panel including the Chair and a representative of the Scottish Government. The final appointment is made by the Scottish Ministers.

Commissioners must be politically neutral.