Dr Eleanor Ryan and Justine Riccomini have been appointed as new Commissioners at the Scottish Fiscal Commission, Scotland’s official independent economic and fiscal forecaster.
Following approval by the Scottish Parliament, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government, confirmed their appointments. The appointments follow the departures of Professor Francis Breedon and Professor David Ulph, who have served as Commissioners since 2018.
Dr Eleanor Ryan has held senior leadership roles across government and public services, including Scottish Government Director with responsibility for the Scottish Budget, Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service, and the inaugural Chief Executive of Revenue Scotland.
Justine Riccomini has over 30 years’ experience in tax and policy, beginning her career at the Inland Revenue before moving into senior roles in private practice. She later served as a senior adviser at the Office of Tax Simplification in HM Treasury and as Head of Employment and Devolved Taxes at ICAS.
Welcoming the appointments, Chair Professor Graeme Roy said:
“I’m delighted to welcome Eleanor and Justine to the Commission. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience, and I am looking forward to working with them.”
Paying tribute to the outgoing Commissioners, he added:
“Francis and David have played an invaluable role over the past seven years in shaping the Commission’s work and reputation. With the end of their second terms as Commissioners, we are deeply grateful for their contributions and insight.”
ENDS
Profiles
Dr Eleanor Ryan
Dr Eleanor Ryan was the Scottish Government director with responsibility for the Scottish Budget from 2012 to 2015 and again from 2017 to 2019, during which she was involved in implementing many of the changes introduced by the Fiscal Framework. Eleanor started her career as a government statistician, working in HM Treasury before transferring to the Scottish Office where she worked on the initial devolution finance settlement in 1998. She was the Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service for eight years, the initial Chief Executive of Revenue Scotland and is now the Managing Director of Glen Shuraig Consulting.
Justine Riccomini
Justine started her career in tax in 1989 working for the (then) Inland Revenue in London inspecting SMEs in the West End and then based in Manchester inspecting large businesses throughout the UK.
This was followed by 18 years in private practice in the north of England and Scotland at Big 4 and top twenty firms and running her own HR and tax consultancy.
She subsequently spent 10 years in tax policy where she worked for the Office of Tax Simplification in HM Treasury as a senior policy adviser to two Chancellors of the Exchequer and at ICAS as head of employment and devolved taxes.
Justine is also a part time tax writer at Tolley and has been a non-executive director at Glasgow-based inclusive music charity Paragon Music and at the Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP).
NOTES TO EDITORS
- You are welcome to use downloadable images of Dr Eleanor Ryan, Justine Riccomini.
- Both appointments will begin on 8 October 2025 and run for four years. They are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
- The appointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £366.00 per day for the role of Commissioner, requiring a time commitment of 78 days per annum.
- Professor Francis Breedon and Professor David Ulph are standing down, having served as Commissioners since 2018. Both were reappointed in 2022 for a further three-year term.
- The Scottish Fiscal Commission is a non-Ministerial Office. It produces independent forecasts and assessments of Scotland’s economy, devolved tax revenues and social security spending, to improve the transparency and scrutiny of the Scottish Budget.
For further assistance contact press@fiscalcommission.scot