New board members appointed to Qualifications Scotland
Thursday 29 January 2026
- Chair, Shirley Rogers CBE, and 13 members of the inaugural Qualifications Scotland Board announced by the Scottish Government
- Board now has representation from professionals in schools and colleges as well as those who can represent the interests of learners, employers and employee relations.
- Created by the Education (Scotland) Act 2025, Qualifications Scotland has been designed from the ground up to work differently and engage more deeply with learners and educators, placing them at the heart of decision making.
The Scottish Government has today announced the appointment of the chair and members of the inaugural Qualifications Scotland Board. The new board will provide oversight and strategic direction to Scotland’s new awarding and accreditation body, Qualifications Scotland.
Joining the Qualifications Scotland Board will be:
- Gerry O’Neill, Head Teacher at St Ninian’s High School in East Renfrewshire
- Jason Fitzgerald, Depute Head Teacher at Westhill Academy in Aberdeenshire
- Sarah Higgins-Rollo, Vice Principal, Learning and Student Experience at Forth Valley College
- Kirsty Berchtenbreiter, Director of People and Wellbeing at the University of the West of Scotland
- Ewan Carmichael, Policy and External Relations Manager at Quarriers, one of Scotland’s largest health and social care charities. As a recent learner Ewan will represent the interests of learners
- Ian Hughes, Engagement Director for Scotland at the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB)
The new board members bring a wealth of experience to their new roles, and will join previous SQA Board members Seán Hagney, Dr Ken Thomson, Ronnie Erskine, Simon Hewitt, Caroline McFarlane, John Morton and Michelle Wailes who have transferred to the new organisation and will serve the remainder of their board appointment under Qualifications Scotland.
Speaking about the appointments of the new board members, chair Shirley Rogers CBE, said: “I welcome the appointment of our new board members. Their hands-on experience of delivering qualifications, their experience of achieving qualifications and their understanding of the importance of qualifications in providing Scotland with the skilled workforce it needs will be invaluable. This breadth of representation will help us align with the needs and expectations of those we serve.”
Qualifications Scotland – Governance Structure
Qualifications Scotland will have a robust governance structure embedded in the Education (Scotland) Act 2025. In addition to the new board, this includes:
- New Interest Committees dedicated to learners and teachers and practitioners.
- An Accreditation Committee independently appointed and governed, and separate from the main awarding functions.
- A Strategic Advisory Council to advise on functions across education, skills, and the economic system.
Qualifications Scotland Board member biographies
Details of new board members are available on the Scottish Government’s Public Appointments website.