Steering Group member Kathryn Dapré to be new SSN Chair
12 Febuary 2019
Kathryn (Kate) Dapré will take up the SSN Chair role in March. The current Chair, Chris Wood Gee, will step down after three years as Chair of the Network.
As Head of Energy and Sustainability within NHS National Services Scotland Kate and her team provide professional support to NHS Scotland boards, Scottish Government and other stakeholders in relation to all aspects of climate change resilience, energy management and sustainability for the NHS estate. Kate has been part of the SSN Steering Group since 2013 when the Network broadened to include major players outside the local authorities.
Kate has been involved in sustainability and climate change work for over 20 years. Following a period in energy consultancy where she worked with a range of public and private sector clients, she joined the NHS in 2012. She has overseen the implementation of the first Energy Performance Contracts on the NHS Scotland estate and more recently, has overseen the development of the NHS Sustainablity Action campaign to encourage sustainability behaviour change across the service.
Kate Dapré said:
“I am delighted to be taking on the role of SSN Steering Group Chair. Scotland has big ambitions in relation to climate change and sustainability, and our public sector bodies will be crucial in realising those ambitions. I am looking forward to taking the SSN forward in providing much needed support to the public sector, and ensuring that Scotland remains a world leader in climate change mitigation and adaptation.”
Kate will help welcome eight new members to the Steering Group and kick off the Group’s annual planning meeting on 4 March.
Chris Wood-Gee has been active in the SSN for many years, as a member and on the Steering Group, and he will continue to be involved with the Network. The Network and the secretariat team have greatly benefited from Chris’ contribution and support.
Reflecting on his experience as Chair, Chris Wood-Gee said:
“Being chair of the SSN Steering Group has been a privilege. The Network has always been a really positive resource and the sharing that is key to the success of SSN continues to develop and thrive. Participation in the Group has added an exciting dimension to my own work and provided new opportunities. From giving evidence in parliamentary committees to involvement in the recent tender process for the secretariat. With the new energy this has brought and the influx of new Steering Group members I feel its is a good opportunity for a new Chair to take up the reins. Kate Dapré has a huge amount of experience and is ideally placed to take the Network through its latest exciting phase.”
SSN’s Steering Group is the principal leadership group for the SSN, providing strategic and practical support. The Group provides a senior-level, trusted space for public sector practitioners and decision-makers to engage directly with the Scottish Government, to work directly with peers from across the public sector, and to steer the development of SSN.
Membership in the SSN offers a valuable opportunity for public sector sustainability and climate change champions to engage at national level and to guide the development and delivery of Scotland’s premier public sector network on sustainable development and climate change.
The SSN Steering Group includes 16 representatives and meets quarterly to advise the SSN secretariat and contribute to the development of the annual work programme. Read about new appointments to the Steering Group here.