Nursing professor takes up prestigious national role
An Edinburgh professor has been appointed as Scotland’s most senior advisor on nursing in recognition of their distinguished contribution to the profession.
Professor Aisha Holloway, Chair of Nursing Studies at the University, has been named as Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for Scotland.
The appointment, announced by the Scottish Government, recognises exceptional nursing leadership and policy and practice expertise.
The role has professional responsibility for two-thirds of the NHS Scotland workforce, including nursing, midwifery, allied healthcare professionals and healthcare scientists.
Professor Holloway will be responsible for providing leadership and advice for ministers on a range of health-related policy areas and will lead on key aspects of patient, public and health professions policy.
Professor Holloway is the Programme Director for the Nursing Now Challenge, a global community of more than 220,000 early career nurses, midwives and students across 154 countries.
I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Professor Holloway on her appointment as Chief Nursing Officer.
With 30 years’ experience in the fields of alcohol-related harm, public health and workforce, and a strong focus on health policy, she will play a key role in our plans to improve the NHS in the coming years.
Her national and international experience will focus our efforts to ensure that people across Scotland will continue to access the right care, in the right place.
I would also like to express my thanks to Anne Armstrong for her support and service in the interim and look forward to continuing to work with her as she returns to Deputy Chief Nursing Officer.
Neil Gray
Health Secretary
Professor Holloway co-founded and is co-director of the Edinburgh Global Nursing Initiative, a collaboration between the University’s Nursing Studies and Global Health Academy, to promote the practice and influence of nurses and midwives across the world.
She has held a number of government and non-government advisory and executive board roles within the UK and internationally, including membership of the WHO State of the World’s Nursing Report 2025 Steering Committee.
Research focus
Professor Holloway has a research track-record spanning 30 years in alcohol-related harm, public health and workforce, with a strong focus on health policy and political nurse leadership.
She has extensive experience of developing leadership among early career nurses and influencing policy. She spent a year as a consultant at the World Health Organisation in Geneva working in the Health Workforce Department with a focus on the nursing workforce.
Other accolades include an Adjunct Professorship at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, and Fellowship from the RCSI (Royal College of Ireland) and RCN (Royal College of Nursing).
It's a huge privilege to be appointed as the new Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland. The challenge ahead is great, but one that requires a clear and unwavering focus on improving the health of the people of Scotland.
Those that constitute the NHS health and social care workforce across sectors, have always been the beating heart of this most beloved of our institutions. They must be valued and respected as their contribution knits together the very fabric of our society and wellbeing.
The work we must do now together, will address not only the current demands we face but is an investment into the health of future generations.
I very much look forward to working in meaningful and inclusive ways, to fulfil our full potential, to influence and to impact health outcomes across Scotland.
Professor Aisha Holloway
Professor Holloway will be taking up the role in November, following an external recruitment process. There is a Chief Nursing Officer in all four devolved nations in the UK.
Professor Holloway was appointed as the fifth incumbent of the Chair of Nursing Studies at Edinburgh in 2017. The esteemed Chair, which was established in 1971, was the first in the UK and the first outside of North America.
Nursing Studies, which started at Edinburgh in 1956, plays a vital role in the profession. It continues to undertake ground-breaking research and prepare future nurse leaders through sustained undergraduate, post graduate taught and post graduate research education programmes of quality teaching and clinical experience.
To be named as the Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland is a wonderful recognition of Aisha’s outstanding leadership in championing the nursing profession.
We wish her our warmest congratulations on this achievement. The appointment demonstrates the continued strength and historical contribution of Nursing Studies at the University, which will be celebrating its 70th anniversary next year.
Professor Sir Peter Mathieson
Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Edinburgh
