Gillian Russell

Gillian Russell was appointed Director for Health Workforce in March 2020.

As Director for Health Workforce Gillian is currently part of the senior management team in DG Health and Social Care. She has national responsibility for the Health workforce setting the overall strategy and national level operational delivery on Once for Scotland arrangements. She leads on all aspects of national level workforce planning for the NHS, medical education and training, pay bargaining, terms and conditions and national level policy around leadership, culture and wellbeing. She also leads on the Health response to public inquires and corporate governance for the DG family.  

She was previously director for Safer Communities overseeing the implementation of the reform of police and fire services. In that role she also Chaired the Justice Board had responsibility for national security related matters including the delivery of counter terrorism arrangements in Scotland; and social policy responsibility for the SG strategy to reduce crime and improve safety in communities across Scotland. In particular she led a population health approach to reducing violence and addressing knife crime. She led on the response to no deal Brexit and overall resilience planning for SG.

Gillian is a lawyer by background and advised across Scottish Government on a range of constitutional, administrative and legislative areas for the first 18 years of her career.