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Kevin Dunion | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Lord Rector of the University of St Andrews | |
| In office November 2008 – October 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Simon Pepper |
| Succeeded by | Alistair Moffat |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 December 1955 (1955-12-20) (age 69) Bridge of Allan, Stirling, Scotland |
| Alma mater | University of St Andrews (MA) University of Edinburgh (MSc) |
Kevin Harry DunionOBE (born 20 December 1955) is the Convener of theStandards Commission for Scotland and was the firstScottish Information Commissioner 2003−2012. He is an Honorary Professor in theUniversity of Dundee School of Law and a member of theScottish Legal Complaints Commission. He was formerlyRector of the University of St Andrews 2008−11.
Dunion was born inBridge of Allan.[1] His father Harry became a college lecturer and the family moved toAlloa and thenGlenrothes.[2][3] He attended St Andrew's High School in Kirkcaldy.[4] He was educated at theUniversity of St Andrews (MA (Hons) Modern History 1978) and at theUniversity of Edinburgh (MSc (Dist) African Studies 1991).
Dunion spent periods in the civil service and university administration. He was Editor of the pro-devolution magazineRadical Scotland.[5] He joinedOxfam as Campaigns Manager and then took up the post of Chief Executive ofFriends of the Earth Scotland. From 1996 to 2000 he also served as Chairman of Friends of the Earth International, heading delegations to theUnited Nations andEuropean Commission.
Dunion was for many years a notable proponent forfreedom of information, and gave evidence to theJustice Committee scrutinising the passage of the Bill through the Scottish Parliament. He wrote the bookTroublemakers – The Struggle For Environmental Justice In Scotland.[6][7]
Dunion was appointed as the firstScottish Information Commissioner in February 2003. He was reappointed in 2008.[8] Towards the end of his second term he proposed extra powers that he thought that the next Commissioner would need.[9] He left office on 23 February 2012 after two terms - a total of nine years in office, during which time he handled some 1,500 cases.[10][11]
He was elected LordRector of the University of St Andrews in October 2008.[1] He was installed on 3 March 2009.[2] His term ran until 2011.
In 2012 Dunion was appointed Honorary Professor in the University of Dundee School of Law.[12] He is executive director of their Freedom of Information Centre.[13] In 2012 he was appointed by thePresident of the World Bank as a member of the bank's Access to Information Appeals Board.[14]
In April 2013 he was appointed as a non-lawyer member of the Scottish Legal Complaints Commission.[11]
He became a member of the Standards Commission for Scotland on 1 September 2015.[15] In November 2016 it was announced that he would become the Convener of the Commission, taking up the position on 1 February 2017.[16]
In 2000 he was awarded anOBE for his work with Friends of the Earth.
In 2011 he was awarded an honorary degree,LLD, by the University of St Andrews.[17]
Dunion is married to Linda Malloch, who was formerly married toIain Gray, the former leader of the Labour Group in theScottish Parliament.[18]
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | Scottish Information Commissioner 2003 — 2012 | Succeeded by |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by | Rector of the University of St Andrews 2008—2011 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
