Data for Research Change Management Board minutes - August 2026

Attendees and apologies

Alastair McAlpine, Administrative Data Research Scotland Co-Director, Scottish Government 

Greville Ramsay, Change Management Lead, Scottish Government 

Sean White, Senior Systems Business Analyst, Scottish Government 

Eilidh McLaughlin, Deputy Director, Scottish Government 

Stephen O'Neill, Policy and Impact Lead, Scottish Government 

Alex Ramage, Senior Delivery Manager, ADR Scotland, Scottish Government 

Esther Roughsedge, Head of Demographic Statistics, National Records of Scotland 

Chris Dibben, Co-Director, Administrative Data Research Scotland 

Katherine O'Sullivan, Research Data Scotland 

Natasha Kong, Senior Programme Coordinator, Economic and Social Research Council 

Bill South, Data Access Deputy Director, Office for National Statistics 

Carole Morris, NHS National Services Scotland 

Mark Sawyer, EPCC 

Apologies 

Emma Gordon, Economic and Social Research Council 

Roger Halliday, Research Data Scotland 

Items and actions

Welcome and apologies 

The Chair welcomed members and noted apologies from Emma Gordon and Roger Halliday. Katherine O'Sullivan attended on behalf of Roger Halliday and Natasha Kong attended on behalf of Emma Gordon. The Chair thanked members for their continued support of the Change Management Board programme of work and welcomed constructive challenge as work progressed. 

Record of decisions from meeting 7 

Members reviewed the minutes of meeting 7. The board approved the minutes without amendment. Greville Ramsay confirmed that all actions from meeting 7 had been completed. Members noted continued progress through the task and finish groups during the summer period. 

Researcher access management and approvals 

Sean White reported progress on developing a single researcher access route through the Research Data Scotland website. Members discussed governance arrangements, approval routes, supporting processes and future flexibility requirements. The board agreed that organisations would review the proposal and provide approval to proceed with rough order of magnitude estimates through correspondence. 

Indexing, linking and ingest 

Sean White presented a proposed secure and auditable technical design to support automated indexing, linking and management of de-identified datasets. Members discussed governance arrangements, data controller requirements, de-identification standards, compliance requirements and implementation impacts. Approval to proceed with rough order of magnitude estimates will be sought through correspondence following organisational review. 

Any other business 

Members discussed future engagement with data controllers, information assurance stakeholders and governance bodies. Members also noted the need for supporting business processes, compliance activity and communications planning. 

Agreed actions 

circulate researcher access management and approvals and indexing, linking and ingest proposals for review 

seek organisational approvals to proceed with rough order of magnitude estimates 

continue design of supporting business processes 

progress work on definitions and governance of de-identified datasets 

engage data controllers and governance stakeholders 

present updated proposals and cost estimates at future meetings 

Action owners 

Greville Ramsay to circulate documentation and coordinate approvals 

Sean White to share designs and progress technical estimates 

Chris Dibben and Natasha Kong to progress de-identified data work 

Alastair McAlpine, Eilidh McLaughlin and Carole Morris to engage governance stakeholders 

all members to review proposals and provide feedback within two weeks