Auditor General on judging panel for public services awards

The Auditor General for Scotland is one of the judges of a newly launched awards ceremony to celebrate excellence and outstanding achievement within public services.

Holyrood Magazine's Scottish Public Service Awards, supported by the Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and with EY as Headline Sponsor, aim to recognise the rich diversity of public life in Scotland and the vital relationships that cut across departmental, geographic and institutional boundaries.

Caroline Gardner, the Auditor General for Scotland, is sitting on the six-strong independent judging panel, alongside leading public figures such as Sir Peter Housden, the Permanent Secretary to the Scottish Government, and Professor Alice Brown CBE, chair of the Scottish Funding Council.

Ms Gardner said: "I was delighted to be invited onto the judging panel of the inaugural Scottish Public Service Awards.

"As Auditor General I, and my colleagues in Audit Scotland, engage with people working across all levels and departments of the public sector in the course of our work; this gives us a unique and independent insight into the commitment and innovation frequently shown by those working to ensure a high standard of public service in Scotland.

"It's therefore fantastic to be part of an event which celebrates those exceptional individuals who go above and beyond in their dedication to that task, even when faced with considerable challenges to overcome."

Categories in the awards will recognise a variety of accomplishments within public services, from emerging talent and lifetime achievement, to leadership and project management.

Entries are now open, and the ceremony which will take place in the Scottish Parliament on December 12th. The deadline for entries is September 30th. To find out more, including a full list of categories, and the criteria for nominations, visit http://scottishpublicserviceawards.holyrood.com/