Colleges Scotland is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its Board. These appointees are the first Independent Trustees to join since the organisation introduced a new governance structure in March this year.

The three new Trustees are:

• Dave Anderson
• Linda Johnston
• Dr Yekemi Otaru.

Dave Anderson is a Trustee of homelessness prevention charity Right There, and former Chair of City of Glasgow College. He spent his early career working in the Civil Service, managing Job Centres and Benefit Offices and youth and adult training, before joining Scottish Enterprise (SE) as Director of Skills Development in Ayrshire then Chief Executive of Dunbartonshire Enterprise. 

Dave Anderson said: “I’m honoured to join the Board of Trustees of Colleges Scotland at such a pivotal time. I look forward to contributing to the organisation’s strategic direction and helping ensure Scotland’s colleges continue to deliver exceptional value for learners, communities, and the economy.”

Linda Johnston is a former Vice-Chair of West College Scotland and a public sector leader with over 25+ years’ experience and key skills in policy development, good governance, stakeholder engagement, digital transformation, audit and scrutiny, best value and community planning.  Currently, Linda is the Strategy & Customer Experience Manager at North Lanarkshire Council.

Linda said: "I am delighted to be joining the Board of Trustees of Colleges Scotland.  The college sector is so important in shaping the lives of so many and I hope to use my knowledge and skills to support the organisation to grow and flourish”.

Dr Yekemi Otaru is an award-winning entrepreneur and Chief Executive at Somebody Cares SCIO, an Aberdeen-based charity that supports over 13,000 people annually. In 2021, she was appointed the Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland, making history as the first black woman to take up the role at a Scottish university. Yekemi is a mentor, speaker and champion for education, entrepreneurship and social impact in Scotland.

Yekemi said: “It’s an exciting time to be joining Colleges Scotland, championing and advocating for the further education sector. I look forward to working with the rest of the Board over the coming months to help drive better outcomes for Scotland’s colleges.”

Commenting on the new appointments, Colleges Scotland Board Trustee, Susan Elston, said:

"We are delighted to welcome Dave, Linda, and Yekemi to the Board. Each brings a wealth of experience and fresh perspectives that will strengthen our strategic leadership and help us deliver on our mission to support Scotland’s colleges. Their expertise will be invaluable as we continue to champion the sector and ensure it meets the needs of learners, employers, and communities across the country."