Benny has held the position of Chairman of Sistema Scotland since 2018. He believes passionately in the transformative power of the arts, and grew up in Govanhill, one of six Big Noise communities. Benny has held a number of senior executive roles in the banking sector, including being the former Chief Executive of Tesco Bank. In June 2018, Benny was appointed by the Scottish Government as strategic adviser for the establishment of the Scottish National Investment Bank.
Benny is heavily invested in social and philanthropic activities, and is Chairman and on the board of several organisations including the Edinburgh Fringe Society, and The National Galleries of Scotland.
Catherine Muirden is a People Director who specialises in Business Change. After graduating from Edinburgh University, she has held a number of senior HR positions including as Group Head of Recruitment at Marks & Spencer, Human Resources Director in the Retail Bank at Barlcays, and as People Director at the Co-operative Group until her retirement in December 2019.
She maintains a keen interest in youth employability, leadership development, and culture change in business. Catherine is a current board member at Scottish Ballet, a former Trustee of the National Galleries of Scotland, and former Chair of The Fruitmarket Gallery in Edinburgh.
Paul established himself on the professional stage as the founding Principal Timpanist of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in 1998. He has appeared as a guest performer with many renowned ensembles around the world, including the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, the Philharmonia, BBC Symphony, the Hallé, Qatar Philharmonic and Seoul Philharmonic.
In 2015, Paul became the founding Principal Timpanist of the Chineke! Orchestra. He was also appointed Principal Timpanist of the Orchestra of Opera North, before moving to Scotland where he is now the Principal Timpanist and a former Player-Director with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, a Timpani Tutor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Paul also sits on the board of the Association of British Orchestras and was awarded an MBE for services to music in 2020.
Sally was Chief Executive of Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) for 7 years until June 2023. Prior to that she was Chief Executive of Argyll and Bute Council for 8 years. Her career has seen her working in communities and at the centre of significant policy development in Scotland – with local government and people at its heart.
Sally is an accredited mediator, mentor, leadership consultant and policy advisor. She’s passionate about supporting system leaders to improve people’s lives.
Sally has also held various non-Executive positions within SOLACE (Society of Local Authority Chief Executives) Scotland, the Electoral Management Board for Scotland, Scottish Council for Development and Industry, the Improvement Service, the Promise Scotland Board and ALACE (Association of Local Authority Chief Executives).
Luke is BBC Scotland’s Head of Corporate Affairs and Public Policy. He leads the BBC’s corporate affairs, public affairs, policy & governance, press office and complaints teams in Scotland, and is based at BBC Edinburgh. A member of the BBC Scotland Exec Team, he is accountable for telling the story of the BBC in the nation.
A former commercial radio Managing Director, Programme Director and radio broadcaster and journalist in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, Luke joined the BBC to lead the Digital Switchover in Scotland, and has also worked for the BBC’s Licence Fee team.
He recently stood down as Chair of the Corra Foundation at the end of his term of office, and, having worked previously as an actor, remains a member of Equity.
Karen brings a wealth of experience in both banking and the third sector. She was head of operations at Royal Bank of Scotland and capital appeal director at St Andrews Hospice.
She has supported, led, and participated in many charitable events and causes throughout her career will use her skills and experience to make a difference for children and young people at Sistema Scotland.
