Kenneth Darlingston Collins
Encyclopedia
Dr. Sir Ken Collins is a former MEP
and Chairman of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency
.
Kenneth Darlingston Collins was born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland
, on the 12 August 1939 and was educated at the former Hamilton Academy
. He later studied at the University of Glasgow
and University of Strathclyde
, attaining Bsc
(Hons) and Msc
.
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 1976-79, Collins was also a member of the East Kilbride Development Corporation and, from 1974–76, Chairman of North East Glasgow Children's Panel.
, serving as Deputy Leader of the U.K. Labour
Group at the European Parliament
from 1979–84 and as Chairman of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, 1979–84; Vice-Chairman from 1984–87; and again as Chairman from 1989-99. Collins was also Socialist Spokesman on Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection at the European Parliament from 1984-89.
In 1999, Ken Collins was appointed Chairman of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency
(SEPA) and subsequently re-appointed in 2004, holding the post until December 2007.
and The Royal Geographical Society; an Hon. Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management
and of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management; and a Fellow of the Industry and Parliament Trust
.
He is also a board member of the Institute for European Environmental Policy
, 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.
Kenneth Darlingston Collins was invested with knighthood in 2003 for services to environmental protection and awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor from the University of Paisley
in 2004.
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
and Chairman of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is Scotland’s environmental regulator. Its main role is to protect and improve Scotland's environment...
.
Kenneth Darlingston Collins was born in Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
, on the 12 August 1939 and was educated at the former Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
. He later studied at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and University of Strathclyde
University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde , Glasgow, Scotland, is Glasgow's second university by age, founded in 1796, and receiving its Royal Charter in 1964 as the UK's first technological university...
, attaining Bsc
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
(Hons) and Msc
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
.
Early career
On leaving university, Collins worked as a local authority planning officer and lectured at the Glasgow School of ArtGlasgow School of Art
Glasgow School of Art is one of only two independent art schools in Scotland, situated in the Garnethill area of Glasgow.-History:It was founded in 1845 as the Glasgow Government School of Design. In 1853, it changed its name to The Glasgow School of Art. Initially it was located at 12 Ingram...
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 1976-79, Collins was also a member of the East Kilbride Development Corporation and, from 1974–76, Chairman of North East Glasgow Children's Panel.
Later career
In 1979, Ken Collins was elected an MEPMember of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
, serving as Deputy Leader of the U.K. Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
Group at the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
from 1979–84 and as Chairman of the European Parliament’s Environment Committee, 1979–84; Vice-Chairman from 1984–87; and again as Chairman from 1989-99. Collins was also Socialist Spokesman on Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection at the European Parliament from 1984-89.
In 1999, Ken Collins was appointed Chairman of the Scottish Environment Protection Agency
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is Scotland’s environmental regulator. Its main role is to protect and improve Scotland's environment...
(SEPA) and subsequently re-appointed in 2004, holding the post until December 2007.
Appointments, awards and honours
Ken Collins is a Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical SocietyRoyal Scottish Geographical Society
The Royal Scottish Geographical Society is a learned society founded in 1884 and based in Perth. The Society has a membership of 2500 and aims to advance the science of geography worldwide by supporting education, research, expeditions, through its journal , its newsletter and other publications...
and The Royal Geographical Society; an Hon. Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management
Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management
The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management is an independent professional body and a registered charity, advancing the science and practice of water and environmental management for a clean, green and sustainable world....
and of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management; and a Fellow of the Industry and Parliament Trust
Industry and Parliament Trust
The Industry and Parliament Trust is a charity that works to promote the mutual understanding of Parliament and business. It works within the Parliament of the United Kingdom, the European Parliament and with organisations from all sectors of industry...
.
He is also a board member of the Institute for European Environmental Policy
Institute for European Environmental Policy
Institute for European Environmental Policy 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 reputation among national and European policy-makers and...
, 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
European Environment Agency
European Environment Agency is an agency of the European Union. Its task is to provide sound, independent information on the environment. It is a major information source for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy, and also the general public...
.
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.
Kenneth Darlingston Collins was invested with knighthood in 2003 for services to environmental protection and awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor from the University of Paisley
University of Paisley
The University of the West of Scotland is a university operating from four campuses in south-western Scotland, in the towns of Paisley, Hamilton, Ayr and Dumfries. The present institution dates from August 2007, following the merger of the University of Paisley with Bell College, Hamilton...
in 2004.