As we mark International Women’s Day 2025, we would like to introduce you to 5 of our female Commissioners.
Commissioners support our Chief Executive and Directors through a number of Committees and Boards providing oversight and strategic direction.
Elaine Wilkinson, Chair
Elaine has been Chair of the Board of Commissioners since 2023 and before that was a Commissioner (Non-Executive Director) for over six years. Elaine is a finance professional with many years’ experience as a senior civil servant in Northern Ireland and as a non-executive director in the public sector in Scotland.
“International Women’s Day is a great opportunity to recognise the contributions of women in every sphere of life.
“Diversity on the Board of Commissioners is really welcome and contributes to better governance and decision making. Of the 19 Board members (co-opted Commissioners, ex-officio Commissioners and Senior Executives) we are fortunate that 8 are women. They bring a variety of skills and experience and play a key role in informing our work and culture in what is a male dominated environment.”
Ruth Charteris, Solicitor General for Scotland
Ruth was appointed as Solicitor General for Scotland in 2021 and has been a Commissioner since that time.
“My role as a Commissioner has been the most amazing and wonderfully surprising aspect of my position as Solicitor General. It is an amazing privilege to see the work that is done first hand and to meet the staff, both at the offices in George Street and on visits to the lighthouses.
“Everywhere I go the people at NLB have been so friendly and so utterly impressive and professional. I have had two unforgettable trips on the west coast on the MV Pharos – and both times we were blessed with some fantastic weather!”
In addition to their court work, Sheriffs Principal are responsible for ensuring the speedy and efficient disposal of business in their sheriffdom. They also have advisory, consultative and ceremonial functions as well as some powers of appointment. One function includes serving as Commissioners of the Northern Lighthouse Board.
Kate Dowdalls, Sheriff Principal of South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway
After leaving the University of Strathclyde in 1984, Sheriff Principal Kate Dowdalls spent 13 years as a solicitor in private practice. She was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in June 2000 and took silk in September 2013. She has appeared in the Sheriff Court, the Sheriff Appeal Court, the Outer and Inner Houses of the Court of Session and the UK Supreme Court. In July 2018 Kate was appointed Scottish Law Commissioner, to lead the Aspects of family law project, phase 1 of which was completed in November 2022, on publication of the SLC’s Report on Cohabitation.
“My role as Sheriff Principal includes appointment as a Commissioner of the Northern Lighthouse Board. Since I took up that post in 2023, my knowledge and understanding of the good work that is done by NLB has increased enormously. It was a huge privilege last May to travel onboard PHAROS and to visit some of the lighthouses as part of an inspection tour.
“The trip gave me the opportunity to observe up close the difficult and valuable work that NLB does to keep mariners and others safe. I was hugely impressed by the commitment of all who were involved in that work. I would venture to say that being a Commissioner of the Northern Lighthouse Board is one of my favourite aspects of being Sheriff Principal.”
Commissioners’ Inspection Voyages form an integral part of NLB’s Corporate Governance. They provide an opportunity to view recently completed works, proposed scheduled refurbishments and get an insight into the challenges of maintaining our Aids to Navigation. And as NLB moves towards a greener and carbon net zero estate it is an invaluable opportunity to see new technology being put into practice and helps inform future decision making.
Gillian Wade, Sheriff Principal for Tayside, Central and Fife
Sheriff Principal Gillian Wade KC is a graduate of the University of Glasgow. Having qualified in both Scottish and English law she became a partner in firms in Glasgow and London with a particular interest in media law and defamation. She was admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1998 practising in the field of civil law and appearing in the Outer and Inner House of the Court of Session and the House of Lords. She was appointed as Legal Convenor of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland in 2004.
In 2008 SP Wade was appointed as a full time Advocate Depute and served as a Senior Advocate depute from 2011 until 2014, during which time she conducted a number of high profile criminal appeals and prosecutions and was appointed head of the National Sexual Crimes Unit. She took silk in 2013.
In 2015 SP Wade became a full-time sheriff in Tayside, Central and Fife and has been a resident sheriff in Perth since 2016. In 2018 she was appointed as a part time judge of the Court of Session and regularly presides over High Court trials. In 2022 she was appointed to the Sheriff Appeal Court.
“As Sheriff Principal of Tayside Central and Fife I have the great privilege of being a statutory Commissioner for the Northern Lighthouse Board for the duration of my tenure of that office. It has been a fascinating journey so far and something of a sharp learning curve as I navigate the unfamiliar waters of ATONs, the Audit and Risk Committee, helicopters, new vessel projects and biodiversity dogs none of which feature very prominently in my day job.
“The Commissioner’s inspection voyage aboard PHAROS was the highlight of my year as can be seen from the beaming smile on my face. I have so enjoyed meeting the people of the NLB and look forward to serving many more years – in salutem omnium.”
Councillor Jacqueline McLaren, Lord Provost of Glasgow
Councillor Jacqueline McLaren represents the Scottish National Party. She was elected in 2017 to represent Canal Ward 16 and then again in 2022 when she became Glasgow’s Lord Provost.
Born in Maryhill in the north of the city, her first home was in Rolland street. She later moved to the Valley area of Maryhill and grew up in and around the Forth and Clyde Canal. Before being elected to represent Canal Ward the Lord Provost worked in her partner’s legal practice Ian C McCarthy Solicitors in the Partick area of Glasgow. Lord Provost McLaren came into politics to empower her community and improve the lives of others.
“It is a privilege to have a role in such an amazing organisation. Thank you for all that you do.”
When the Northern Lighthouse Board was established in 1786, the Commissioners appointed at the time were the law agents of the Crown, Sheriffs of coastal counties, and the Lord Provosts and Provosts of Scottish cities and towns whose mercantile interests were involved. Over the years the numbers of the Commissioners varied, and further changes were brought about as a result of local government and sheriffdom reorganisation.
Today our Board of Commissioners are the Lord Advocate and the Solicitor General for Scotland; the Lords Provost of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, and the conveners of the Councils for Highland, and Argyll and Bute; the Sheriffs Principal of all the sheriffdoms in Scotland; a person nominated by the Lieutenant Governor of the Isle of Man and appointed by the Secretary of State; and up to five co-opted Commissioners.
