Sarah is a Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA), Chartered Internal Auditor (CMIIA), and Specialist Member of the Institute of Risk Management (SIRM). She spent her executive career as an internal auditor and business risk assurance professional, travelling internationally and specialising in the ‘GRACE’ (Governance, Risk Management, Assurance, Controls and Efficiency) subjects across a broad range of business and corporate functions.
Sarah became a portfolio non-executive in 2020. She currently holds board roles with, and chairs, the audit and risk assurance committees of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, and the UK Space Agency. She also chairs Disclosure Scotland’s Audit and Risk Committee and is an independent member of the Scottish Fiscal Commission’s Audit and Risk Committee. She has previously held board roles with Aberdeen Heat and Power, and Livestock Information Ltd.
SIA Chair Heather Baily said
I am delighted to welcome Sarah to the Board of the SIA. I know her previous experience, as well as her understanding of the current issues relevant to our partners in Scotland, will add real value to the deliberations and decision-making of the Board.
Sarah took up her appointment on 13 October 2025.
Background
The SIA is the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry in the UK, reporting to the Home Secretary under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA’s main duties are the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities and managing the voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme (ACS).
The SIA is governed by a Board, which is made up of
- our non-executive directors, including our Chair
- our executive directors, including our Chief Executive
The Board’s role is to ensure that the SIA’s statutory responsibilities are met.
The SIA’s pages on GOV.UK contain further details on the Board members.
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