Chair of the Commission

Angela O’Hagan was most recently Professor of Equality and Public Policy at Glasgow Caledonian University where she created the current MSc in Human Rights and previously led the MSc in Citizenship and Human Rights. She was also Deputy Director of the WISE Centre for Economic Justice.

Her career encompasses leadership roles in the community and statutory sectors in Scotland, including as Director of Carers Scotland, and Head of Campaigns and Communications with Oxfam Scotland, after a period with the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Throughout her career Professor O’Hagan has focused on integrating equality and human rights analysis in public policy, policy analysis and service design. She has served on a number of advisory and project groups with successive Scottish Governments including previously as a member of the Equality and Human Rights Budget Advisory Group,  the National Advisory Council on Women and Girls, and the Commission on Local Tax Reform.

Professor O’Hagan has an international profile, particularly in gender and human rights budgeting, and through membership of academic and civil society networks.  In 2019, she was awarded the Jo Cox Award for Public Service and Activity Citizenship by the Political Studies Association.

 

 Professor Angela O'Hagan smiling and leaning on a railing outside of the SHRC office

 

Register of Interest

Members of the Commission and Executive Director

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    Aaliya Seyal

    Member of the Commission

    Aaliya currently serves as Chief Executive of Legal Services Agency, a law centre promoting access to justice in Scotland. With over two decades of senior leadership experience in the voluntary legal advice sector,  she has held strategic roles at Citizens Advice Scotland, Airdrie CAB, the Ethnic Minorities Law Centre, and the Immigration Advisory Service.

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    Rosemary Agnew

    Member of the Commission

    Prior to joining the SHRC, Rosemary was the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, Scottish Information Commissioner, CEO of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission, and held roles with the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in England. She also sits on the World Bank’s Access to Information Appeals Board.

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    Shelley Gray

    Member of the Commission

    Shelley has 20 years’ experience in the third sector in roles spanning engagement, policy and strategy development and she is currently Head of Policy and Communications at Corra Foundation, where she has a focus on human rights, diversity, equity and inclusion and racial justice.

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    Claire Methven O’Brien

    Member of the Commission

    Dr Claire Methven O’Brien has worked internationally as a human rights researcher, practitioner and advocate for more than 20 years and currently holds teaching and other positions at the University of Dundee, the University of Strathclyde Business School and the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

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    Jan Savage

    Executive Director

    Jan leads and shapes the delivery of operational and strategic priorities across the Commission. She has experience in leadership, corporate governance, human rights, communications, public affairs, and participation work, with a particular focus on campaigns to achieve real change.

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