Welcome and Opening Address: Renewing with Purpose

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09:30 - 10:30

As Scotland’s Health and Care Services continue to navigate a complex landscape, the Opening Session of the NHS Scotland Event 2025 sets the tone for a day focused on delivery, innovation, and collaboration.

This year’s Event comes at a pivotal moment. The First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care have set out a bold agenda for change rooted in people, purpose, and the need to do things differently. From reducing waiting times to shifting care closer to home, building digitally enabled services, and prioritising prevention—these ambitions are already shaping care in communities across Scotland. 

In this session, delegates will hear from Mr Neil Gray MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and Caroline Lamb, Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and Director General Health and Social Care. Together they will reflect on what renewal means in practice, how national priorities are translating into real progress, and why compassionate leadership is more vital than ever. 

Through a focused conversation led by the Event Chair, delegates will hear more about the personal side of leadership in these challenging times—and ask what it takes to lead with hope, honesty and urgency. 

The Opening Session also offers a chance to begin the day grounded in shared purpose, connected to one another, and focused on what truly matters. 

Speakers

Caroline Lamb

Director General  for Health and Social Care, and Chief Executive. NHS Scotland

Caroline Lamb was appointed Director General  for Health and Social Care, and Chief Executive of NHS Scotland in January 2021.

Dr John Harden

NHS Scotland Event Chair, National Clinical Lead for Quality and Safety

John has worked in Scottish Government since 2016, both in the role of Deputy National Clinical Director and as the National Clinical Lead for Quality and Safety and during the early part of the Covid-19 Pandemic as a Senior Medical Advisor to the Chief Medical Officer. In his current role he supports the Chief Operating Officer of NHSScotland and the wider senior team responsible for the NHS in Scotland. 

Mr Neil Gray MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care

Neil Gray was appointed Minister for Culture, Europe and International Development in January 2022. In March 2022 he additionally became Minister with special responsibility for Refugees from Ukraine. He was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy in March 2023, and Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care in February 2024.