Public appointment: Member reappointed to NHS Education for Scotland Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Neil Gray MSP today announced the reappointment of Shona Cowan as a Member of the NHS Education for Scotland Board.

Member

Shona Cowan has spent her career in NHS and Scottish Government in leadership roles which focussed on people services including learning and development, organisational change, and service improvement and redesign. As an experienced senior manager, she has worked in a variety of NHS organisations and has specialist skills in service management, strategy development and policy implementation along with expertise in bringing together networks of professionals from clinical, managerial and academic backgrounds. She has led national improvement collaboratives on areas such as mental health in primary care and was the programme director of the first national education programme for quality improvement in NHS Scotland. Developing the digital and data workforce and leading digital transformation projects was a particular focus and this included working alongside The Data Lab Innovation Centre as Chair of the Skills Advisory Board. For several years Shona has also been a Trustee of the Edinburgh and Lothian Council on Alcohol.

Reappointment

This reappointment will be for 4 years and will run from 1 September 2025 to 31 August 2029.

This reappointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

This reappointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £13,780 based on a time commitment of 52 days per year.

Other ministerial appointments

Shona Cowan does not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.   

Shona Cowan has had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

High quality education, training and lifelong learning are vital to providing excellent health and care services.  NHS Education for Scotland is the Education, Training and Workforce Development Organisation for the NHS and increasingly for the care sector in Scotland. It helps to provide better development opportunities for care sector staff and improved outcomes for patient care by providing educational solutions for workforce development.