Maureen McGinn has been appointed as the chair of the Big Lottery Fund Scotland Committee and to the UK board.

She is has been a member of the Scotland Committee since 2007 and will take up the position at the start of December when current chair Alison Magee stands down.

McGinn said: “It is an honour to be asked to lead such a committed team in working with staff, partners and funded organisations to make a difference to communities across Scotland.”

Between 2010 and 2015 BIG Scotland will distribute £327.5m in Scottish communities and McGinn will be responsible for setting the strategic direction of funding for programmes in Scotland.

BIG Scotland director, Jackie Killeen said: “Over the next four years the chair of our Scotland Committee will play a key role in leading BIG’s work.”

McGinn was appointed by the UK Cabinet Office in partnership with the Scottish government following an open recruitment process.

Minister for the Cabinet Office, Francis Maude said: “Her extensive experience will enable her to provide strong leadership in this important role.”

She previously ran the Laidlaw Youth Trust and is currently an advisor on social justice to the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and a member of the steering group of the Partnership Drugs initiative of the Lloyds TSB Foundation for Scotland.