Catriona Schmolke CBE FREng is a distinguished portfolio Chair, actively contributing to both public sector organisations and private equity-backed, high-growth businesses. As Chair of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority - the UK government’s largest arms-length body, overseeing an annual budget exceeding £4bn - Catriona plays a pivotal role in shaping national infrastructure. Within the Public Sector, she also serves as a NED with Scottish Water Group, chairing the Remuneration Committee, and with the National Physical Laboratory, where she is the Chair of the Major Projects and Programmes Advisory Council.

Expanding her impact in the climate technology sector, Catriona chairs two innovative companies: Artus Air Ltd, which pioneers low-carbon, energy-efficient air conditioning solutions, and Nuada Ltd, a trailblazer in carbon capture technology. Her expertise also extends to NES Fircroft Ltd, the world’s largest engineering staffing provider, where she serves as a NED for this £2bn revenue, private equity-backed enterprise.

Catriona’s reputation as a Board Mentor at Criticaleye is well established, reflecting her commitment to leadership and governance excellence. Her executive career at Jacobs Solutions, a NYSE-listed Fortune 250 company, was marked by a series of high-impact roles, culminating in the position as one of the company’s top global executives for five years.

Beyond the boardroom, Catriona is a member of the Court at Strathclyde University and chairs the Statutory Safety Health and Wellbeing Committee. Her academic contributions include serving as a Visiting Professor of Sustainability, Risk & Resilience at Newcastle University. She is a recipient of the Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Engineering and has served as a Trustee and Vice President on the Academy Board. In recognition of her outstanding service to engineering, Catriona was awarded a CBE in the 2024 King’s New Year Honours. Based in Glasgow, she enjoys family life with her husband and has three grown-up daughters.