The Scottish Procurement Alliance (SPA) has announced the appointment of Alan Russell as Chair and Catriona Peden as Vice Chair of its advisory committee.

The committee is integral to the SPA's operations, providing the strategic oversight and sector-specific insights necessary to ensure procurement frameworks remain responsive to the needs of public bodies across Scotland.

The advisory committee brings together professionals from local authorities, housing associations, and other public organisations to facilitate collaboration, shared learning, and open discussion.

New Leadership Appointments:

• Alan Russell (Chair): Currently a procurement advisor at South Lanarkshire Council, Mr. Russell has been a committee member since 2019 and previously served as Vice Chair. He succeeds Laurie Carberry, who held the position for six years.

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• Catriona Peden (Vice Chair): A senior procurement officer with West Lothian Council, Ms. Peden has served on the committee since 2022.

In his new role, Alan Russell intends to focus on the committee as a platform for sharing expertise while addressing critical industry challenges, such as the growing skills shortage within the procurement sector. "Strong engagement is essential if we are to continue delivering procurement solutions that genuinely support the sector," he noted.

Catriona Peden emphasised the committee's role in bridging the gap between the SPA and its partners to ensure value is consistently delivered. "The role of the committee is to ensure those solutions continue to meet the needs of the sector and evolve alongside it," she said, adding that raising awareness of the SPA's impact—including over £1 million distributed via its community benefit fund—remains a key priority.

The SPA currently manages more than 900 active projects valued at over £1.4 billion, providing compliant routes to market for construction, refurbishment, maintenance, compliance, and consultancy projects.