About Us
The Executive Committee has overall responsibility for ensuring that the Institute meets its key objectives in relation to research, knowledge transfer, capacity building and long term sustainability.
Profiles of the members of the Executive Committee are presented below.
Dr Andrew Wooff
Monica Craig,
School of Social Sciences,
Edinburgh Napier University.
Monica Craig joined the SIPR team in July 2019 from the Australian National University where she was the Manager of the College of Arts and Social Sciences Research Office.
In addition to her undergraduate study in Psychology, Monica is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh where she received a Masters in Criminology and Criminal Justice.
Monica has worked across a variety of sectors including private research consultancy, NGOs, and the Scottish Government’s Justice Analytical Services. She has spent the last eight years in Australia where, in addition to her work with the ANU, she also worked with the Australian Commonwealth Department of Social Services and with the Australian Institute of Criminology where she managed the National Deaths in Custody and National Police Custody programs.
Dr Penny Woolnough,
Abertay University.
I am a Reader in Forensic and Investigative Psychology and Associate Director of the Scottish Institute for Policing Research with specific responsibility for the Evidence and Investigation Network.
With a former police officer colleague I pioneered the development of behavioural profiling of missing persons and my research findings are used by all UK police forces, Search and Rescue Teams, HM Coastguard and allied international agencies.
As an HCPC Registered Forensic Psychologist I have provided expert advice/operational support to over 100 high profile missing person cases around the world. I train Senior Investigating Officers and have worked with the Scottish Government to develop the first National Framework in Scotland for Missing Persons.
Professor Kirsteen Grant,
Network Lead
Kirsteen is Professor of Human Resource Management at Edinburgh Napier University. Her research interests incorporate professional, responsible, and extreme work; future of work; younger workers; and talent management. She has published widely on a variety of work and employment issues, and between 2019-2021 edited the Journal of Management Development. She now serves on multiple editorial, advisory, and review boards.
Kirsteen draws on complementary backgrounds in academia and organisational practice. Her practitioner experience encompassed senior leadership roles geared around leading and supporting complex organisational change, and she has worked extensively in the areas of professional development, leadership, and learning and talent development. Kirsteen is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA), and Certified Management and Business Educator (CMBE).
Dr Niall Hamilton Smith
Network Lead
Dr Shane Horgan
Network Lead
Shane joined Edinburgh Napier University as a Lecturer in Criminology in August 2019. Shane is currently the program leader for the BSc in Policing and Criminology, and teach on the topics of; policing and security, cybercrime and cybersecurity, criminological theory, online research methods, criminal justice, and surveillance.
Shane is an affiliate of the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research and the Scottish Institute of Policing Research, and also convenes the School of Applied Science Research integrity Committee.
Shane’s research interests include the the sociological study of cybercrime and cybersecurity, and police responses. In particular, their work has explored how people and organisations make sense of cybercrime and enact cybersecurity behaviours and policies in their routine everyday lives and operations. Shane is in interested in further developing criminological and sociological perspectives on cybersecurity, the policing of cybercrime, and novel ways ICT is deployed in the governance of security.
Shane is currently accepting doctoral candidates whose research relates to cybercrime and online harm, the sociological dimensions of cybersecurity and privacy, and the impact of new technologies on crime, policing, and criminal justice.
Tom McMahon,
Director – Strategy & Analysis,
Police Scotland.
Tom McMahon is the Director of Strategy and Analysis at Police Scotland.
His portfolio consists of the following business areas:Analysis & Performance Management, Strategy, Planning & Insight, Demand Productivity & Performance, Academic Research and SIPR liaison, Strategic Public and Stakeholder Engagement Planning and Coordination.
Director McMahon previously worked for the Scottish Government in a number of roles including Head of Community Safety. He went on to be Director of Strategy at the Scottish Police Authority and Director of the Policing 2026 Programme. He joined Police Scotland in 2017.
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton,
Policing Together,
Police Scotland.
Assistant Chief Constable Catriona Paton is the executive lead for Policing Together.
ACC Paton’s portfolio consists of the following business areas:
ACC Paton joined Central Scotland Police in June 1991. She was appointed to the rank of Chief Superintendent in July 2020 and served as Divisional Commander for the Lothians and Scottish Borders (J) Division, having previously led the Force Middle Office Remodelling, a Service wide transformation project. Catriona was promoted to ACC in June 2024.
Kevin Ditcham
Research and Insight Manager,
Police Scotland.
Kevin Ditcham is Police Scotland’s Research and Insight Manager. He is the senior manager leading on Police Scotland’s programme of public engagement and participation, colleague engagement and academic research co-ordination, as part of the service’s Strategy, Insight and Engagement function.
Kevin’s professional training and background is in youth and community work. He has initiated and led programmes of engagement for Police Scotland to support change and evidence-led policing. Kevin joined Police Scotland in 2021, having previously worked in local government democracy and national youth participation services.
Fiona Douglas
Director of Forensic Services,
Scottish Police Authority.
Fiona Douglas has been Director of SPA Forensic Service – part of the Scottish Police Authority – since October 2021. Formally Head of Strategic Change at Forensic Services, Fiona has more than 25 years’ experience working in forensic science – the past 10 years in Scotland.
Before becoming Head of Strategic Change, Fiona worked as Head of Biology at Forensic Services and led the national development and implementation of DNA24 technology, which is now at the heart of DNA services serving the justice system in Scotland.
Prior to joining SPA Forensic Services, Fiona had worked at the Government-owned Forensic Science Service at various sites across England and Wales with responsibility across multi-disciplinary forensic evidence and organisational change.
Fiona was instrumental in the development of the Forensic Strategy and – as Head of Strategic Change – responsible for its ongoing delivery.
Amanda Coulthard,
Head of Strategy and Performance,
Scottish Police Authority.
Amanda leads the Strategy and Performance function and reports into the Deputy Chief Executive (Strategy & Performance).
Amanda joined the Authority in February 2021 from a role in West Dunbartonshire Council as the performance advisor to the Chief Executive and Elected Members, leading a team responsible for: Strategic Planning & Performance; Data Analysis; Policy; Consultation & Engagement; Equalities; Community Planning; Partnerships and Local Scrutiny. As the Head of Strategy & Performance for the SPA Amanda leads the Authority’s approach to developing and reviewing the national policing strategy, maintaining a system of performance assurance and reporting to support best value and maintaining public confidence in policing.