The appointment follows the decision by current Deputy Chairs, Alasdair Henderson and Eryl Besse, to step down from their positions, whilst remaining part of the EHRC’s Board in their Commissioner roles.
Dr Sawers is currently a non-executive director of Crosswinds Developments Ltd and a Trustee of SmartWorks Scotland. She was awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours in 2018 for services to Equality and Business.
Previously Sawers was Vice Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor for Business, Enterprise and Innovation at Glasgow Caledonian University, Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry and Deputy Chair of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency amongst other positions.
The process to appoint a permanent Deputy Chair will be undertaken in due course.