Calum McPhail currently works as the environmental quality coordination unit manager for the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) based in East Kilbride, near Glasgow in Scotland.ÂÂ
The EQ coordination unit has a national role which promotes cross-functional working between the SEPA science functions and facilitates coordination between the Operational and Science Directorates as well as working with various external partners to achieve environmental reporting and improvement outcomes as detailed in SEPA’s annual operating plans.
Calum has an additional particular role as chairperson of SEPA’s national bathing water management group reporting on Scotland’s 83 EU Bathing Waters and manages SEPA’s bathing waters electronic signage and water quality prediction system which has been operating successfully now for 9 years. From 2011 this signage system was extended to 23 beaches along with web and smart phone systems to post daily water quality advisories. He works on a number of UK policy and technical groups, advising Government and has worked on bathing water related issues with EU, US and WHO groups.
Calum has worked in environmental science and pollution control for over 25 years, mostly with SEPA since it started in 1996 and previously as a senior scientist and laboratory manager with the river boards in Scotland. He studied agricultural and environmental chemistry at Glasgow University and obtained a PhD in 1982.