Professor Graeme Roy has been appointed to be the new chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, Scotland’s official independent economic and fiscal forecaster.
Following a vote in the Scottish Parliament, Kate Forbes, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy, sealed the appointment of Professor Roy as successor to the current chair Dame Susan Rice.
Graeme Roy is currently Professor in Economics and Dean of External Engagement in the College of Social Sciences at the University of Glasgow. Between 2016 and 2021, he led the Fraser of Allander Institute and was the Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Strathclyde.
The Commission also welcomes the appointment of economist and public policy expert Dr Domenico Lombardi as a new Commissioner following the departure of Professor Alasdair Smith. Dr Lombardi told the Finance and Public Administration recently of his extensive experience and interest in the complexities of the Scottish economy as it relates to the broader UK, European and world context.
Welcoming the new appointments outgoing chair Dame Susan Rice said: ‘Professor Roy has outstanding credentials to guide the Scottish Fiscal Commission as it continues to expand its responsibilities and build on its reputation as Scotland’s official and independent forecaster. I’m also delighted Dr Domenico Lombardi will be joining as a Commissioner, as he brings a unique and valuable international perspective to the Commission’s work.”
Professor Roy said: “I’m hugely looking forward to working with the Commission’s team of talented analysts and economists. The quality of the Commission’s work to date is a testament to those stepping down – in particular Dame Susan as its chair, and I look forward to playing my part in upholding its high standards and leading the Commission in its important work.”
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PROFILES
Professor Graeme Roy
Graeme Roy is Professor in Economics and Dean of External Engagement in the College of Social Sciences at the University of Glasgow. Between 2016 and 2021, he led the Fraser of Allander Institute and was the Head of the Department of Economics at the University of Strathclyde. He is a former Senior Economist and Senior Civil Servant in the Scottish Government. Graeme has research interests in fiscal devolution and regional economic development. He is an editor of the Economic and Social Research Council’s Economic Observatory and a past adviser to the cross-party Economy Committee of the Scottish Parliament.
Dr Domenico Lombardi
Domenico Lombardi is an economist and a public policy expert. A former executive in banks and financial institutions, he was a think tank executive at CIGI, Canada, a senior scholar at the Brookings Institution in Washington, and an advisor to several think tanks worldwide.
He has led high-profile evaluations on the governance of the Financial Stability Board, the World Bank and the IMF. Previously, he served as an executive board member of the IMF and the World Bank. He holds a degree summa cum laude from Bocconi University, Milan and a Ph.D. in economics from Oxford University, Nuffield College, where he was a Chevening Scholar.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. You are welcome to use these downloadable images of Professor Graeme Roy and Dr Domenico Lombardi. You can read the Scottish Government’s media release on these appointments here
2. Both appointments will begin on 1 June 2022 and run for four years. They are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland. Dame Susan Rice will step down as chair on 30 June and Professor Roy will take over on 1 July 2022.
3. The appointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £477.92 per day for the role of chair and £343.92 for the role of commissioner and require a time commitment of 78 days per annum.
4. Serving Commissioners Professor David Ulph and Professor Frances Breedon have both been re-appointed for a further three-year term.
5. The Scottish Fiscal Commission is a non-Ministerial Office. It produces independent, robust forecasts and assessments of Scotland’s economy, devolved tax revenues and social security spending, to improve the transparency and scrutiny of the Scottish Budget.
6. We will publish our next set of forecasts on 31 May 2022. You are invited to attend our online presentation and Q & A session following publication at 11am on 14 June. Please register here to attend.