About Martyn

Martyn was Chief Executive of Carnegie UK Trust for ten years and stepped down in March 2019. He has 20 years experience initiating and leading a wide range of independent research and evidence reports both in the Scottish Consumer Council and the Carnegie UK Trust. He is an experienced speaker and broadcaster.

Julia Unwin, Chair of Civil Society Futures and former Chief Executive Office of Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF), said:

“Martyn’s leadership of the Carnegie UK trust has been nothing short of inspirational. He has made sure that the impact of the Trust, across all parts of the UK and Ireland has been felt in responding to some of the most difficult, most over-looked and most important issues. In committing the Trust’s resources, but perhaps most vitally its considerable convening power, to some unrecognised challenges, he has led the Trust to become one of the most influential philanthropic organisations in the UK today.”

Prior to joining the Trust, he was the Director of the Scottish Consumer Council (SCC) from 1998-2008 – an influential and effective consumer policy and research body. He oversaw the successful 2008 merger of the SCC with Energywatch Scotland and Postwatch Scotland. He became the Director of the new organisation – Consumer Focus Scotland. Consumer Focus Scotland was a statutory body providing independent policy research and a voice for the consumer.

He was Chief Executive Officer of Citizens Advice Scotland for five years prior to taking up his post with SCC. Director of Shelter (Scottish Campaign for Homeless People) from 1987-1992.

Martyn was a visiting Professor of Law at the University of Strathclyde from 1995-2001. He was Vice-Chair and then Chair of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland and Chair of its Audit Committee.

Martyn conducted an Independent Strategic Review of Legal Aid for the Scottish Government (2017). He was Co-Chair of the Northern Ireland Roundtable on Wellbeing (2016). He Chaired the Scottish Library National Strategy Group (2015) and the Fairer Fife Commission (2015).

He has been a member of a number of Scottish Government and UK government advisory groups. These include the Independent Scrutiny Panel on Ayr and Monklands hospital services, the MMR Expert Group, the Scottish Charity Law Review Commission (known as the McFadden Commission), the Housing Improvement Task Force, the Cabinet Office review of UK Food Policy and the UK Screening Committee.

Martyn Evans BA (hons) MA (econ) FRSA HmSOM