Catherine Ross

Professor Catherine Ross CSci, CBiol, FRSB, FAHCS, FESC, FRCPath (Hon.)
Chief Scientific Officer for Scotland

Catherine Ross is the Chief Scientific Officer for Scotland, Scottish Government’s most senior clinical advisor for Healthcare Science professional issues, and head of profession for the scientific workforce within the NHS in Scotland. She provides expert professional advice to Scottish Ministers and Policy Officials and leadership for all aspects of policy which impact on the scientific workforce including education, research and clinical practice. 

Catherine is a Chartered Scientist and Chartered Biologist and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology, the National Institute of Prevention and Cardiovascular Health in Ireland and the European Society of Cardiology, and Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists and the Academy for Healthcare science.  She is a Visiting Professor at Edinburgh Napier University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Ulster University and Honorary Research Consultant in NHS Lothian. Catherine is a non-executive director of the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Irelands largest health trust.

Catherine holds a number of senior leadership positions Nationally and Internationally. She is the current President of the Science Council, the awarding body of Chartership in Science, having previously held the role of Vice-Chair of the Board and Chair of the Policy Advisory Committee. She has previously served as the President of the Professional Body for Cardiac Scientists. Catherine is currently a Board member of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions within the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) and is the Chair of Allied Professionals National Societies Committee and Chair of the European Society of Cardiology Taskforce on Allied Professionals. She represents Scotland on the International Federation of Medical and Biological Engineering (IFMBE) Board and is a member of the International (IFMBE) scientific programme committee. In recognition of her work supporting women leaders has been an invited delegate for the UK UN Women delegation on the UN Commission on the Status of Women.

Catherine’s professional interests include cross-boundary working, professional identity and heart failure and is an Editorial Board member of the British Journal of Cardiology and peer reviewer for a number of international scientific journals. She has led and been involved in a number of STEM initiatives aimed at inspiring children and in particular girls, to pursue a career in science.