This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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National Museums of Scotland
27/09/2006
The reappointments of Professor Michael Lynch and Mr Ian Ritchie to the National Museums of Scotland have been announced by Culture Minister Patricia Ferguson.
Michael Lynch was Professor of Scottish History and Palaeography at the University of Edinburgh. He has previously been Chair of the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland and President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He holds no Ministerial appointment.
Ian Ritchie is Chair of the Interactive University, a Member of the Board of Dynamic Earth, and a Trustee of Bletchley Park. He is a Member of the Board of the Scottish Higher and Further Education Funding Council (SHFEFC). He is a Non-Executive Director of Digital Bridges and has a range of other business interests.
As a member of the SHFEFC he receives £13,800 per annum. He holds no other Ministerial appointments.
The reappointments will be for four years and will run from October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2010.
The posts are part-time and not remunerated. Board members are expected to prepare for and attend approximately six Board meetings a year and may be involved in additional meetings and events.
NMS has over three million objects in its care, gathered over two centuries - priceless collections of national and international importance.
NMS has a staff of 400, a budget of £26 million for 2006/07, and an ambitious programme of expansion to reach a larger and wider audience, supported by significant modernisation. Committed to innovation and excellence, NMS has been working hard to become more user-focused, effective and efficient.
In the next decade two major redevelopment projects - the transformation of the Royal Museum and the Museum of Flight - will create a visitor experience to compare with the best internationally.
Ministerial public appointments are made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Within the last five years, both Professor Lynch and Mr Ritchie have not been involved in any political activity.