Who is the Commissioner?

The current Scottish Veterans Commissioner is Lieutenant Commander (retired) Susie Hamilton.

Born and educated in Edinburgh, Susie served in the WRNS and the Royal Navy as an officer in the Marine Engineering Branch. She undertook a number of shore and sea appointments which included operational service in the Adriatic and the Gulf.

Susie Hamilton

On retiring from the Royal Navy as a Lieutenant Commander she worked for a short period in industry, followed by volunteering work with Scottish Veterans Residences.

She then joined the senior management team of SVR as the Head of External Relations, responsible for Fundraising, Marketing and Communications.

In her 14 successful years at SVR, Susie has met with a great many veterans and gained an extensive understanding of the range of issues that veterans and their families can encounter.

She has worked with organisations and individuals across Scotland who share her commitment in championing and supporting those who have served in the Armed Forces.

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Preparations for the Scottish Poppy Appeal 2026 are already underway. It was lovely to meet Leanne Bonner and Robyn Pattison from @Poppyscotland at the Scottish Parliament today, where they were encouraging parliamentarians and staff to volunteer some of their time for this year’s appeal. Thank you to everyone helping make it happen.

21 minutes ago

A pleasure to meet Gillian Russell, CEO of the Association of Royal Naval Officers and the Royal Naval Officers' Charity last week. We discussed how these organisations provide comradeship and support for anyone who holds or has held commissioned rank in the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and QARRNS, and their spouses or partners. Veterans | Armed Forces Community

1 day ago

I attended a very helpful meeting this week with Kevin Kane, CEO of @sharedparentsco, and Mark Downie, their Armed Forces and Veterans Manager. Our discussion highlighted the importance of ensuring that all family members affected by separation have access to the help they need, especially children, in order to achieve better outcomes for families and communities. If this topic affects you, please reach out to @sharedparentsco

4 days ago

Leaving the Armed Forces is a process unique to each person. One Transition, Many Lives is a new film from Forces in Mind Trust following four different journeys from military to civilian life. It shows how personal circumstances, family life, preparation and access to support can shape what happens next. Most people transition successfully and bring valuable skills and experience into civilian life, but the right support still matters. Click the link in our bio to watch the film.

5 days ago

Who is the Commissioner?

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