SQA announces new interim leadership structure
Wednesday 26 February 2025
The Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) today announced a new interim leadership structure.
John Booth has been appointed Interim Chief Executive, with Donna Stewart stepping into the role of Chief Examining Officer – a responsibility previously held within the Chief Executive’s portfolio.
Splitting these key roles reinforces SQA’s commitment to maintaining high standards across assessment, awarding and qualifications, while transforming the organisation ahead of its replacement by Qualifications Scotland later this year. This new structure – following the departure of former CEO Fiona Robertson last week - allows each leader to focus on their core responsibilities:
Interim Chief Executive: John Booth – who joined SQA in 2021 as Director of Communications – will set strategic direction, drive progress on the Prospectus for Change, lead engagement across Scotland’s education and skills community, and serve as the Principal Accountable Officer to ensure the responsible management of public funds.
John has held senior roles with the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise and co-founded Brand Scotland. His proven ability to build strong partnerships will be invaluable as he sets strategic direction and ensures progress on the ambitious commitments of our Prospectus for Change while we proceed with the recruitment of a permanent Chief Executive.
Chief Examining Officer: Donna Stewart – joined SQA in March 2023 as Head of Policy (National Qualifications) and is currently Director of Qualifications Development. She brings over 20 years’ experience as a classroom teacher and former Depute Head. Donna has extensive policy development experience and previously worked for the General Teaching Council of Scotland. She will focus on upholding and modernising the standards of SQA’s qualifications while advising the Board on awarding and quality assurance.
Chief Operations Officer: Director of Operations Jean Blair has accepted the new position of Chief Operations Officer, ensuring focused accountability for day-to-day awarding operations.
Interim Chief Regulator: George Brown, Head of Accreditation since 2001, will assume the role of Interim Chief Regulator, independently managing all accreditation duties and maintaining high standards of quality and fairness.
The recruitment process for a permanent Chief Executive has now begun, to find the individual best placed to lead the successful establishment of Qualifications Scotland, which will replace SQA later this year.
SQA Chair Shirley Rogers said:
“This new leadership structure is designed to provide stability, continuity, and focus while we seek the individual who can lead us on a permanent basis to establish Qualifications Scotland.
“I would encourage candidates with the experience and skills to excel as our new permanent Chief Executive to apply for the role. It is a rare opportunity to establish and lead a new body that will bring positive changes for learners, educators and the wider education community, as well as supporting industry and the wider economy.
“With John and Donna at the helm – supported by our new Chief Operations Officer and Chief Regulator – we are well placed to maintain our high standards and drive meaningful change as we prepare for the arrival of Qualifications Scotland.”
Interim Chief Executive John Booth said:
“I am privileged and proud to take on this role, leading an organisation which touches the lives of so many people in Scotland. Every year, SQA empowers hundreds of thousands of learners to fulfil their potential by enabling them to take the next steps in their education, training or employment.
“I am determined to reset relationships and win back the trust of learners, teachers and parents. Engaging with them will be a key priority and I look forward to travelling across Scotland to visit schools, colleges, training providers and employers.
“We will serve with humility, learning from the past by being more open to criticism, challenge and scrutiny. But we will look resolutely forward, not dwell on what has gone before. The replacement of SQA with Qualifications Scotland provides an unprecedented opportunity for a reset and a fresh start, while continuing to maintain standards and the credibility of our qualifications.”
SQA is also poised to appoint a new Senior Adviser - a current or former head teacher – who will play a crucial role helping to establish a new Schools Unit within the national awarding body.
Chief Examining Officer Donna Stewart added:
“I look forward to working with our new Senior Adviser to establish our Schools Unit. We will harness our shared experience of classroom teaching and school leadership – including the challenges - to bring SQA closer to teachers and the wider profession, and to the learners and communities we serve.
“Together we can and will achieve our shared ambition of an improved qualifications and assessment system that enables every learner, supports every educator, and delivers for Scotland.”
Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth said:
“It is important that interim arrangements have been put in place to ensure there is no impact on SQA operational matters.
“I look forward to working with the new leadership as we establish Qualifications Scotland and implement our plans for transformational change in our education system.”