The Advisory Committee for Scotland advises Ofcom about the interests and opinions, in relation to communications matters, of persons living in Scotland.
The Committee usually meets up to five times a year. The Committee’s minutes are provided to the Ofcom Board.
The remit of the Advisory Committee is to:
- seek to identify issues affecting the communications and postal sectors in Scotland, both collectively as a Committee and individually for Members, with particular reference to the sectors where they have particular knowledge or expertise
- provide advice to Ofcom about general and specific issues concerning the communications and postal sectors arising within Scotland
- provide advice and comment as required on matters brought to the Committee by Ofcom
- offer comment as appropriate on consultations undertaken by Ofcom
- where requested by the Content Board, provide specific advice to that Board on matters relating to television, radio and other content on services regulated by Ofcom
- when so requested by the Ofcom Board, provide advice to the Communications Consumer Panel on matters affecting consumers in Scotland in the communications sector.
- produce an annual report reflecting issues within the communications and postal sectors in Scotland
22 February 2024
5 June 2024
26 September 2024
27 November 2024
2023
Minutes of the 92nd meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland - 6 June 2023 (PDF, 191.7 KB)
2022
Minutes of the 90th meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland - 8 December 2022 (PDF, 160.6 KB)
Minutes of the 89th meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland - 4 October 2022 (PDF, 159.2 KB)
Minutes of the 88th meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland - 14 June 2022 (PDF, 165.8 KB)
2021
Minutes of the 86th meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland – 8 December 2021 (PDF, 176.4 KB)
Minutes of the 84th meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland – 16 June 2021 (PDF, 187.1 KB)
Minutes of the 83rd meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland – 24 March 2021 (PDF, 153.9 KB)
2020
Minutes of the 82nd meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland – 1 December 2020 (PDF, 170.6 KB)
Minutes of the 79th meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland – 9 June 2020 (PDF, 155.4 KB)
2019
Minutes of the 76th meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland – 4 December 2019 (PDF, 199.9 KB)
Minutes of the 76th meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland – 25 June 2019 (PDF, 128.2 KB)
Minutes of the 74th meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland – 14 March 2019 (PDF, 124.7 KB)
2018
Minutes of the 71st meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland – 21 June 2018 (PDF, 191.4 KB)
Minutes of the 70th meeting of the Advisory Committee for Scotland – 1 May 2018 (PDF, 191.0 KB)
Older minutes can be accessed via the National Archives.
Elizabeth Partyka (Chair)
Elizabeth began her career at Radio Clyde with responsibility for developing its social action programming, Clyde Action and Cash for Kids, before joining the BBC as a producer. After a period working as a network producer for Disney in London, she returned to Scotland, joining STV as Head of Childrens. She then spent eight years as Managing Director of STV Productions, before becoming Channel Controller of STV and Deputy Director of all of STVs channels. Elizabeth has held non-executive roles including a member of Court at Edinburgh Napier University (Scotland’s Screen Academy) and is currently a Board member of Creative Scotland (where she is a member of the Screen Committee and is the Chair of the Finance Committee).
Elizabeth was one of the founders of the broadcasting charity, the STV Appeal, and in 2015 was recognised by the Royal Television Society Scotland for her contribution to television in Scotland.
Elizabeth joined the Committee on 1 September 2020 and her appointment runs until 31 August 2025.
Stephen Speirs
Stephen has worked for Cisco Systems since 2000. Before this he worked for Atlantech Technologies Ltd, a UK network management start-up that was acquired by Cisco.
Stephen’s earlier career included roles in Software Development and Sales Support in the following organisations: Objective Software Technology Ltd, Sun Microsystems, JVC Manufacturing and Honeywell Control Systems. His roles at Cisco have been in Product Management and Network Management and latterly he has been a Customer Experience (Professional Services) Product Management Leader covering data centres, cloud, 5G and networking professional services. Collaborating with Strathclyde University and others, Stephen co-created the 5G RuralFirst project, the world’s most ambitious rural 5G trial to date.
Stephen has an MBA from the University of Strathclyde, a MSc in Digital Systems Engineering from Heriott-Watt University, and a First-Class Honours Degree in Applied Physics, also from Strathclyde.
Stephen joined the Committee on 1 May 2019 and his appointment runs until 30 April 2024.
Jessica McBeath
Jess McBeath is an online safety consultant. She founded her online harms consultancy in 2016, with a focus on digital citizenship and harnessing the opportunities of digital whilst keeping safe. Jess is a member of the Advertising Advisory Committee (Advertising Standards Authority) and she is also a member of Borders College Regional Board. Jess was awarded the NSPCC Childhood Champion Award as Schools Volunteer Scotland 2018 and has a degree in Linguistics and Artificial Intelligence, and an MBA.
Jess joined the Committee on 1 September 2020 and her appointment runs until 31 August 2026.
Ashe Hussain
Ashe started her career in the screen sector as a researcher and producer at BBC Scotland. For the past 25 years she has worked either directly or in partnerships with broadcasters, screen agencies and training bodies in Scotland and the UK managing and delivering training programmes across film, television and animation.
Ashe has been on a number of advisory groups and committees including the Creative Scotland Equalities Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Group, Board Member of Glasgow Film Theatre, Children’s Panel Member, the Committee for Royal Television Society Scotland and a Jury Panel Member for the Cultural Diversity Network Awards.
Ashe is currently the Business Development Manager for FOCUS, Film City Futures which provides consultancy support for the growth of independent production companies based in Scotland.
Ashe joined the Committee on 1 September 2021 and her appointment runs until 31 August 2024.
Polly Tolley
Polly is Head of Public Policy for Retail Banking at NatWest, a role which spans the NatWest, RBS and Ulsterbank brands. Prior to this she was Director of Impact at Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS), the national element of Scotland’s Citizens Advice network. In this role she led a research, policy and campaigning team that seeks to make a positive difference to society by campaigning and influencing to tackle the root causes of the problems people face. This included work to directly tackle digital exclusion and ensure access to safe and affordable telecommunications services.
Polly was also a member of the Bank of England’s CBDC Engagement Forum where she worked to ensure that the development of any future UK digital currency meets financial inclusion and capability aims, and a member of the Open Banking Data Expert Panel. Polly has had an extensive career in a range of communications roles both at CAS and in the retail banking sector, at Tesco Bank and RBS.
Polly joined the Committee on 1 March 2023 and her appointment runs until 28 February 2026.
As well as the appointed Members of the Advisory Committee, the Content Board Member, and the Communications Consumer Panel Member for the respective Nations are invited to attend Advisory Committee Meetings.
In Scotland this is:
- Amanda Britain - Communications Consumer Panel
- Maggie Cunningham - Content Board
