Senior Management Team
Alison Irvine
Interim Chief Executive
I’ve held various policy and delivery posts across the Scottish Government latterly leading the Cabinet, Parliament and Governance Division in Scottish Government covering all legislation and parliament business, the running of Cabinet as well as Protocol and Honours.
Having first joined Transport Scotland in 2008, I was Director of Transport Strategy and Analysis and was responsible for the development of the new National Transport Strategy, the transport aspects of the Climate Change Plan and setting the investment priorities for transport across Scotland through the second Strategic Transport Projects Review. My remit also included responsibility for supporting ministers through the transport response to Covid-19, EU Exit and the development of business cases and post opening evaluation for Scottish Minister’s trunk road and rail investment programmes.
Prior to joining Transport Scotland, I spent 18 years working in the consultancy sector as a transport planner. I’m a graduate from the University of Strathclyde and a Chartered Civil Engineer.
Fiona Brown
Interim Director of Transport Strategy and Analysis
I joined the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland in 2013 and prior to that, I worked at one of the major engineering consultancies for 11 years as a transport planner. I focussed on local transport schemes, both designing and modelling then latterly was part of the London 2012 and Glasgow 2014 games transport planning teams. I then moved to Transport Scotland to work on more strategic and national matters.
As well as all things transport appraisal and business cases, I have previously been responsible for data collection for Transport Scotland, the management and maintenance of the strategic road network in the northern half of the country and Traffic Scotland operations.
I have a degree in Civil engineering and an MSc in Transport Planning and Engineering. I am a Chartered Engineer, a volunteer with Women in Transport and lead for the transport planning graduate development programme in Transport Scotland.
As Director for Transport Strategy and Analysis, my portfolio represents a broad range of technical, analytical, policy and coordination areas, including: constitution and UK relations, child poverty and climate change; Just transition, Covid strategy, economic development, land-use and planning; Future of transport governance, public transport and demand from travel; and transport economics, statistics, modelling and research.
It’s a broad and diverse portfolio and I am proud to lead a Directorate of highly skilled analysts and policy leads, as we strive for better cross-government working and collaboration, inclusive stakeholder engagement, evidence-led policy making, and to provide effective advice across our wide-ranging portfolio.
Morna Cannon
Director of Low Carbon Economy
As Director of Low Carbon Economy at Transport Scotland, I lead an expert team from a diverse range of professional backgrounds and disciplines. Together we are driving forward a mission-based approach to decarbonising transport and delivering economic benefit for Scotland. Whether managing the ChargePlace Scotland public charging network, exploring refuelling networks for HGVs of the future, or supporting new skills and supply chains, our mission draws together partners across the country to put Scotland at the forefront of markets for net zero.
Prior to joining Transport Scotland in 2021, I spent 14 years in climate and energy roles spanning the public and private sectors - from project managing environmental consents for offshore windfarms, to establishing the national net zero strategy for the maritime sector, and also representing the UK in UN negotiations on a global climate deal for shipping. My academic background is in environmental economics and law, and I'm a graduate of Cambridge University and the Paris Institute of Political Studies.
Hugh Gillies
Director of Roads
I have over 30 years' experience in roads and transportation. Prior to joining Transport Scotland I had a diverse career which took me north and south of the border while working in both the private and public sectors. I am a graduate of Edinburgh Napier University, a Chartered Civil Engineer, a Transport Planning Professional and a member of the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation.
Roddy Macdonald
Director of Ferries
I joined Transport Scotland as Director of Ferries in December 2022, leading on strategy related to islands connectivity, vessel and infrastructure upgrading and network contract management.
I have worked for the Scottish Government since 1999 and been a member of the Senior Civil Service since 2009. I have led policy development and project delivery in a wide range of areas in that time including higher education and science, economic development and innovation, planning and social enterprise.
Prior to joining the Scottish Government I worked in town planning and economic development research and consultancy in the private sector and at Oxford Brookes University, where I also undertook my PhD.
Bill Reeve
Director of Rail
I joined Transport Scotland to establish its new rail team, following the devolution of rail powers to the Scottish Parliament in 2005. I have worked in a number of roles in Transport Scotland, and am now Director of Rail.
I have more than 30 years of experience of the passenger and freight transport industry, working in British Rail, the privatised rail industry, and as Director of Project Sponsorship at the Strategic Rail Authority prior to joining Transport Scotland.
My career has included front line production management; rail freight business development; policy and strategy development; management of franchise contracts; and major rail project sponsorship including new railways, rolling stock and service developments.
I am a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and recently served as Chairman of its Railway Division.
Lawrence Shackman
Director of Major Projects
With more than 36 years’ engineering experience, I was recently appointed as Transport Scotland’s Director of Major Projects, responsible for projects such as A9 and A96 Dualling. I am also the Director of Purchasing.
This follows four years as Head of Rail Projects and Technical Services where I was responsible for the development and delivery of all rail projects in Scotland including the £120m Queen Street station redevelopment, upgrade of the East Kilbride line, reopening of the Levenmouth branch and delivery of the Plan to Decarbonise all passenger services in Scotland by 2035.
Before this, I was Project Manager for the iconic Queensferry Crossing, seeing the project through from inception to completion over an 11 year period, and I was awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering Major Projects Award in 2020 for this role.
I have extensive experience of project design, maintenance and construction, delivering many projects through management positions in Transport Scotland’s network management and construction divisions. In my early career, I was a project manager with Thorburn Colquhoun, now AECOM, where I worked on the 45 mile long A14 M1-A1 link road.
I am a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, and am also Transport Scotland’s Supervising Civil Engineer responsible for the training of ICE graduates.
Bettina Sizeland
Director of Bus, Accessibility and Active Travel
I recently joined Transport Scotland as Director for Bus, Accessibility and Active Travel (BAAT), having previously worked for the Scottish Government as Deputy Director for Culture and Historic Environment and before that, as Deputy Director for Tourism and Major Events.
I’m a chartered civil engineer and hold an MBA. Before my time in the Scottish Government, I worked for ten years overseas in Africa and Asia as an engineering adviser for the Department for International Development. Here, I worked on transport, water and building projects – working with communities to build roads, paths and bridges in Nepal, water points across East Africa and rebuild villages after the war in Mozambique.
Closer to home, I’ve been part of projects such Edinburgh’s Usher Hall and Kings theatre refurbishment, Wester Hailes master planning, Edinburgh City Centre redevelopment, NHS asset management and eHealth development.
As Director for BAAT, I oversee the delivery of an ambitious policy agenda, working with delivery partners to improve sustainable, accessible transport options and get the travelling public back to buses, walking, cycling and wheeling. My Directorate also operates concessionary travel schemes for disabled, older and young people and we’re working with operators to ensure all journeys on Scotland’s bus, rail, ferry, subway and tram networks can be ticketed or paid for using smart technologies.
Kerry Twyman
Director of Finance and Corporate Services
I took over as Director of Finance and Corporate Services in June 2021, moving across from the Scottish Government where I held a variety of finance and exchequer posts since joining in 2003.
I am a graduate of the University of St. Andrews with an MBA from the University of London and I am a Chartered Accountant with over 20 years' experience gained in both the public and private sectors.
The Finance and Corporate Services Directorate supports the operation and governance of Transport Scotland, including providing core services and advice in the Finance, Human Resources, Learning and Development, Information governance, IT, Facilities, Health and Safety, Secretariat and Communications areas. It also plays a leading role on a range of corporate governance functions including risk management, the operation of the Audit and Risk Committee and corporate reporting requirements.