Sir Kenneth Darlingston Collins (born 12 August 1939) is a Scottish former politician who was
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament.
When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the ECSC) first met in 1952, its ...
and Chairman of the
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA; gd, Buidheann Dìon Àrainneachd na h-Alba) is Scotland's environmental regulator and national flood forecasting, flood warning and strategic flood risk management authority.Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland and educated at the former
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.
The school was described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, and was featured in a 1950 Scottish Seconda ...
. He later studied at the
University of Glasgow
, image = UofG Coat of Arms.png
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of arms
Flag
, latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis
, motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita
, ...
and
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde ( gd, Oilthigh Shrath Chluaidh) is a public research university located in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded in 1796 as the Andersonian Institute, it is Glasgow's second-oldest university, having received its royal chart ...
, attaining
Bsc
A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years.
The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University ...
On leaving university, Collins worked as a local authority planning officer and lectured at the
Glasgow School of Art
The Glasgow School of Art (GSA; gd, Sgoil-ealain Ghlaschu) is a higher education art school based in Glasgow, Scotland, offering undergraduate degrees, post-graduate awards (both taught and research-led), and PhDs in architecture, fine art, an ...
and Paisley College of Technology subsequently being elected a Member of East Kilbride Town and District Council (1973–79) and of Lanark County Council (1973–75). From 1976 to 1979, Collins was also a member of the East Kilbride Development Corporation and, from 1974 to 1976, Chairman of North East Glasgow Children's Panel.
Later career
In 1979, Ken Collins was elected an MEP, serving as Deputy Leader of the U.K. Labour Group at the
European Parliament
The European Parliament (EP) is one of the legislative bodies of the European Union and one of its seven institutions. Together with the Council of the European Union (known as the Council and informally as the Council of Ministers), it adopts ...
from 1979 to 1984 and as Chairman of the European Parliament's Environment Committee, 1979–84; Vice-Chairman from 1984 to 1987; and again as Chairman from 1989 to 1999. Collins was also Socialist Spokesman on Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection at the European Parliament from 1984 to 1989.
In 1999, Ken Collins was appointed Chairman of the
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA; gd, Buidheann Dìon Àrainneachd na h-Alba) is Scotland's environmental regulator and national flood forecasting, flood warning and strategic flood risk management authority.Scottish Government – news release – 22 September 2003, appointment and biography, Sir Ken Collins Retrieved 28 October 2010
Appointments, awards and honours
Ken Collins is a Fellow of the
Royal Scottish Geographical Society
The Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS) is an educational charity based in Perth, Scotland founded in 1884. The purpose of the society is to advance the subject of geography worldwide, inspire people to learn more about the world around ...
and
The Royal Geographical Society
The Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), often shortened to RGS, is a learned society and professional body for geography based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1830 for the advancement of geographical scien ...
Chartered Institution of Wastes Management
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) is a professional body for the waste management industry in the United Kingdom and other countries. Based in Northampton, it has ten regional centres throughout England, Scotland, Wales, North ...
; and a Fellow of the
Industry and Parliament Trust
The Industry and Parliament Trust (IPT) is a charity that works to promote the mutual understanding of Parliament and business. It works within the Parliament of the United Kingdom and organisations from all sectors of industry. It is non-partisan, ...
.
He is also a board member of the
Institute for European Environmental Policy
Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) is an independent, not for profit policy studies institute, a green think tank and a leading centre for the analysis and development of environmental policy in Europe and beyond. It has a strong ...
, London, and of Energy Action Scotland; a former member of the British Waterways Scotland Group; a Trustee of The Green Foundation; board member of the Central Scotland Forest Trust (2001–04, and Chairman 1998–2001); a former board member, Forward Scotland; a former Chairman (1999–2002) of Tak Tent Cancer Support; and Member of the Management Board, European Environment Agency.
An Ambassador for the National Asthma Campaign, Ken Collins has also served as Hon. Vice-President of the National Society for Clean Air; as Vice-President of the Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland and as Hon. President of the Scottish Association of Geography Teachers.
Collins was invested with knighthood in 2003 for services to environmental protection and awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor from the
University of Paisley
, mottoeng = Learning is success
, established = 1897 (as Paisley College of Technology) 1992 (granted university status) 2007 (renamed to UWS)
, former_names = Paisley College of Technology, Paisley Co ...