News / 
1 March 2018

MembersAppointed to the NHS Education for Scotland Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport today announced the appointments of Linda Dunion and Sandra Walker as Members of the NHS Education for Scotland Board.

MEMBERS

Linda Dunion spent 20 years of her career in leadership positions in a number of Scottish voluntary organisations, including Age Concern Scotland, Scottish Down’s Syndrome Association and SEAD (Scottish Education and Action for Development). In 2001, she was appointed as the founding Campaign Director of the award-winning ‘see me’ Campaign, which was set up to combat the stigma associated with mental ill health. She held this post until she became an independent consultant in 2007. As an independent consultant, Linda delivered projects for both public and third sector organisations, including health boards, the Scottish Human Rights Commissioner, Scottish Government, the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, Parenting Across Scotland, CIPFA (Chartered Institute for Public Finance Accountants) and Who Cares? Scotland. After a four year term as a Non-Executive Director of the Board of the Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care, Linda was appointed to Tayside NHS Board in 2010, where she served on a number of committees and held the position of Vice Chair of the Board. She is non-executive lead for equality, human rights and diversity and Chair of the Perth and Kinross Integration Joint Board. Linda brings to the Board considerable experience in governance, health and social care integration, communications, campaigns and the media and she has a particular interest in public engagement as evidenced by a long track record of supporting vulnerable people to make their voices heard.

Sandra Walkerhas over 35 years’ experience across the education sector, 15 of which have been in senior leadership roles, including Director of Curriculum and Learning, Aberdeen College and Vice Principal, North East Scotland College. Fully registered with the GTCS, Sandra began her career as a Teacher of English before moving into Further and Higher Education. She spent 10 years as an Associate Assessor with Education Scotland (HMI) and was the first Chair and co-founder of OGAS, the Oil and Gas Academy of Scotland. During her time as a Non-Executive Director of College Development Network, she chaired the CDN Development Committee and was a member of the HR Committee. Sandra has contributed to a wide range of national education initiatives, including Degree Links with Universities, Developing the Young Workforce (DYW), the Scottish Funding Council Thematic Group on Workforce Development and the National Schools’ Reform Advisory Group. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (FCIPD), Sandra has extensive experience of regionalisation and merger and brings to this role a passion for continuous professional development across the workforce.

APPOINTMENT

The appointments will be for four years and will run from 1st June 2018 to 31st May 2022.

Theappointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.

REMUNERATION

The appointments are part-time and attract a remuneration of £8,251 per annum for a time commitment of one day per week.

OTHER MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS

Mrs Dunion is currently a Member of the Tayside NHS Board for which she receives remuneration of £8,251 per annum, for a time commitment of one day per week. She is due to stand down from this role at the end of April this year.

Mrs Walker does not hold any other ministerial 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.

Mrs Dunion and Mrs 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 (NES) 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.