Our Advisory Groups

Section 33(1) of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner Act 2020 provides that the Commissioner must establish and maintain an Advisory Group. The purpose of the group is to give advice and information to the Commissioner about matters relating to the Commissioner’s functions.

The members of the group are determined by the Commissioner, subject to the approval of the Parliamentary Corporation as to the number of members, the persons to be appointed, and any remuneration or expenses.

The procedure for the group is to be such as the Commissioner determines, and the group will initially meet twice per year. This will be reviewed after the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner has completed one business cycle.

As part of its governance arrangements, the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB) has established an Advisory Audit Board (AAB) to perform a function like that of an Audit Committee. The main purpose of the AAB is to provide advice to the Clerk/Chief Executive of the Parliament and, where appropriate, the SPCB on the standard of corporate governance and internal control across the organisation.  The terms of reference can be found here.

The members of the AAB are as follows:

Joe Al-Gharabally

Joe Al-Gharabally is a senior board leader, transformational strategist, and trusted advisor to both public-sector institutions and global private-sector organisations. Over a three-decade career spanning 15 countries, and through senior roles with the Royal Bank of Scotland, AT&T Solutions, Deloitte, and most recently as a Partner at EY, he has led some of the most complex governance, technology, and organisational transformations across the UK public sector and international financial-services landscape. Joe brings a distinctive blend of board-level governance expertise, transformational delivery and assurance, digital and operational leadership, and deep experience operating within politically sensitive, high-stakes environments.

Previously, Joe served eight years as a Board member Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee for the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service, where he played a central role in justice reform, strengthening governance, modernising court services, and ensuring operational resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Joe is widely recognised for delivering major digital and organisational transformations—reshaping core operating models and leading global programmes across platform modernisation, cloud, cyber, AI, digital case management, finance, and HR. He has led teams of more than 500 specialists and overseen investment portfolios exceeding £750 million, consistently driving improvements in performance, governance, and public value.

Known as an influential and integrity-driven leader, Joe brings strategic clarity, constructive challenge, and direction to executive teams and boards. His ability to combine governance strength with transformational delivery makes him a highly sought-after advisor for organisations requiring assurance or facing major change, regulatory scrutiny, or digital modernisation at scale.

Joe Al-Gharabally - Declaration of Interest 2025/26

Steve Renwick

Steve Renwick is a highly experienced Executive and Non-Executive Director with a passion for good governance.  He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Touche Ross (now Deloitte) and was awarded honorary membership of CIPFA in recognition of work to integrate the NHS in Scotland Finance function with CIPFA.  Most recently Steve was Director of Finance for Together for Children Sunderland Limited, an arms-length Company of that city’s Council running it’s Children’s services.  Having been Ofsted Inadequate, a transformation process saw the unprecedented leap to Outstanding; Steve retired in Easter 2024.  Steve’s other appointment is as Board Member of the Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration.

Steve Renwick - Declaration of Interest 2024/25

Parliamentary Commissioners have access to the services of the AAB. This provides a mechanism for the AAB to oversee the management of risk and audit issues within the office of the Scottish Biometrics Commissioner and to advise the Commissioner on matters relating to good governance. This includes: