A former chief nursing officer (CNO) for Scotland has been appointed as chair of the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), it has been announced.
Professor Fiona McQueen had been interim chair of the body – which holds Police Scotland to account – since February.
“Policing is a vital public service, delivering an outstanding service in the most challenging circumstances”
Fiona McQueen
She will take up the position substantively from next month.
Professor McQueen first joined the SPA in April 2021, becoming vice chair in 2024 and then being appointed interim chair this year.
Her career spans three decades of executive public sector leadership, across the health system and the civil service.
Most notably, Professor McQueen served as Scotland’s CNO between 2015 and 2020.
In 2022, Professor McQueen was appointed as vice chair of the Scottish Government’s drug deaths taskforce, which aimed to curb the rising number of drug-related deaths in the country.
Meanwhile, in the same year, she was appointed chair of the regional board of Ayrshire College.
Scotland’s cabinet secretary for justice and home affairs, Angela Constance, said she was “delighted” to appoint Professor McQueen into the role at SPA, describing it as “one of the most significant roles in Scottish public life”.
Ms Constance added: “Fiona clearly has the understanding of Scottish policing that the role requires, as well as the skills to manage the board as it scrutinises and supports Police Scotland.
“Furthermore, Fiona’s time as chief nursing officer for Scotland, a key Scottish Government post during the Covid-19 pandemic, gives me confidence that she will be able to maintain strong and positive relationships with a range of bodies with an interest in policing and justice more generally.
“I look forward to working closely with Fiona for the next four years.”
Professor McQueen will take up the part-time post from 7 April 2025 until 6 April 2029.
On her appointment, she said: “Policing is a vital public service, delivering an outstanding service in the most challenging circumstances.
“I am delighted to be appointed as chair of the authority and I look forward to continuing to work with board members, stakeholders and the leadership teams across policing, to further enhance and support policing in the years to come.”
