Dr James Wildgoose
Monday 20 April 2009
SFAC member and interim Chair
Edinburgh-based, Jim Wildgoose was a career civil servant for 34 years in London and Edinburgh. As an economist to training he now undertakes some small freelance consultancy projects mainly of an economics nature.
Jim holds a BSc (Honours) in Agricultural Economics from the University of Edinburgh and a D Phil from the University of Oxford. Approximately half his civil service career has been as a professional economist and the other half as a policy administrator. He became a senior civil servant in 1990 and his final posting was as Head of the Scotland Office, which is part of the UK Government.
While Head of Food Safety, Animal Health and Welfare Division in the Scottish Office and then Executive, Jim was responsible, in Scotland, for the setting up of the Food Standards Agency - both the policy and legislative development and its implementation.
In early 2008, Jim took over as acting Secretary to the Shucksmith Inquiry on Crofting (which has now completed its work) and is part-time special economic advisor (non-political) to the Secretary of State for Scotland (likely to continue for several months in 2009).
Register of interests
Consultancies and/or direct employment
Acting Secretary to Shucksmith Inquiry on Crofting: March – May 2008 (latterly part-time). (Inquiry independent – but financed by Scottish Government)
Part-time (half-time) special economic advisor (non-political) to the Secretary of State for Scotland: October ongoing. (This work involves advising on the enhancement of economic analysis available to the Scotland Office and the Secretary of State for Scotland. It is short term – likely to last for 4-6 months from October 2008).
Part-time consultancy work for the Commission for Rural Communities – Uplands Inquiry. (March – September 2009.)
Fee paid work
None
Shareholdings
None
Clubs and other organisations
None
Other personal interests
None associated with Industry or other relevant body.
Non-personal interests
Fellowships
None
Indirect support
None
Trusteeships
None
Land and property
None
Other public appointments
None
Other non-personal interests
None