Paul McFadden, Scottish Public Services Ombudsman
Paul McFadden took on his role as Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in October 2025.
Previously, Paul was the Chief Legal Ombudsman for England and Wales from 2021, providing independent investigation and oversight of legal services and delivering significant transformation through that period.
With almost two decades of senior experience in Ombudsman and investigation roles in Scotland and across the UK, Paul brings a deep understanding of public sector oversight to the SPSO, including leading a number of Ombudsman organisations through significant transformation and growth.
He previously served as Acting Northern Ireland Public Services Ombudsman (NIPSO) and Local Government Commissioner for Standards, with oversight of Northern Ireland’s public services and local government conduct, after serving as Deputy for four years.
Paul established and headed up the SPSO’s Complaints Standards Authority from 2010 to 2016, leading SPSO’s work to improve culture and complaints handling across Scotland’s public bodies and integrating a range of new sectors and statutory functions to SPSO’s remit.
Paul also helped lead the successful establishment of the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland, delivering Scotland’s first independent police complaint investigations, and the first UK Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration.
Andrew Crawford, Head of Improvement, Standards and Engagement
Andrew joined the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) in May 2021 taking on the role of Head of improvement, Standards and Engagement, with responsibility for complaints standards, learning & improvement, training and customer service complaints. Within this time Andrew has contributed to the leadership teams ongoing commitment to rights based approaches to complaints handling, including overseeing the teams development of child friendly complaints procedures for implementation in 2024.
Prior to joining the SPSO Andrew's immediate background was in senior leadership within local government supporting quality assurance, scrutiny and improvement of education services, including being the nominated senior officer responsible for tribunal references. Andrew was an active member of various local authority improvement forums. Before moving into a local authority role, Andrew worked across a full spectrum of Secondary Education establishments holding various promoted roles.
Andrew served as Acting Ombudsman from May to October 2025.
Andrew Crawford - Declaration of Interests 2024 (PDF, 58KB)
Elaine Cameron, Head of Investigations: Independent National Whistleblowing Officer & Scottish Welfare Fund Reviews
Elaine Cameron was appointed as the Head of Investigations for the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer and Scottish Welfare Fund in February 2023. Prior to this, Elaine served as the Chief Executive of a Scottish charity and dedicated over 15 years working in the third sector. Her focus was on improving person-centred services for some of Scotland's most disadvantaged groups.
Elaine is committed to service improvement and ethical decision making.
Elaine Cameron - Declaration of Interests 2024 (PDF, 130KB)
Judy Saddler, Head of Investigations: Public Service Complaints
Judy has been Head of Investigations, Public Service Complaints since October 2022 with responsibility for the operational management of our Public Service Complaints Investigation teams and the Assessment & Guidance team. She joined the Leadership Team in April 2024. Judy has worked for the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman since it was established in 2002 managing and leading a number of different complaint teams.
Prior to this she worked for the Scottish Local Government Ombudsman and in local government.
Judy is committed to delivering organisational learning and improvement from complaints.
Judy Saddler - Declaration of Interests 2024 (PDF, 128KB)
Stuart Crickmar, Head of Corporate & Shared Services
Stuart joined the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman in June 2024, and is responsible for a range of corporate and support services to other Officeholders that enables the efficient and effective use of resources, strategy development, maintaining good standards of governance and managing organisational risk and compliance.
Prior to this he worked in local government for over 30 years.
Stuart is committed to continuous improvement and organisational learning.
Stuart Crickmar - Declaration of Interests 2024 (PDF, 127KB)