Public appointment: members reappointed to the NHS Education for Scotland Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf MSP today announced the reappointments of Linda Dunion and Sandra Walker as Members of the NHS Education for Scotland Board.

Members

Linda Dunion worked on a range of issues for a number of Scottish charities for much of her career and has also served as a Non-Executive Director on the Care Commission and Tayside NHS Board. 

Linda brings experience of leadership in the voluntary and community sector in Scotland, particularly in relation to issues affecting older people, those with a learning disability and people with experience of mental ill health and the stigma associated with it. 

As the former Chair of Perth and Kinross Health and Care Partnership, Linda has first-hand experience of the challenges of delivering integration at a local level.  Her expertise includes consultation, engagement, communication and media relations, particularly in the context of health, care and disadvantage.  She is an experienced Board member, having served on public bodies for the past fourteen years.

Sandra Walker joined the NHS Education for Scotland Board in June 2018 after a successful 35 year career across the Education sector, holding senior leadership roles in further and higher education, most recently as Vice Principal of North East Scotland College; and since 2018 has been a Trustee of the General Nursing Council (Education) Fund.

She spent 10 years as an Associate Assessor with Education Scotland, was the first Chair and Co-founder of the Oil and Gas Academy of Scotland (OGAS), served as a Non-Executive Director of College Development Network (CDN) and chaired the CDN Development Committee.

Sandra has contributed extensively to a wide range of national education initiatives impacting on education policy, including establishing Articulation Links with Universities, Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), Scottish Funding Council Workforce Development and the National Schools’ Reform Advisory Group.

A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD) with extensive experience of regionalisation and merger, she is currently registered with the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) and holds External Verifier and Quality Scotland EFQM Assessor qualifications.

Sandra brings experience of promoting high quality education and training in diverse contexts and a passion for continuous professional development across the NHS workforce.

Reappointments

The reappointments will be for four years and will run from 1st June 2022 to 31st May 2026.

The reappointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

The reappointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £8,842 per annum, for a time commitment of one day per week.

Other ministerial appointments

Linda Dunion and Sandra Walker do 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.   

Linda Dunion and Sandra Walker have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

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