Blackett Lecture 2026: Why Evidence Matters: Building Effective Health Policy Through Data Driven Decision Making

This talk explores how science, data, and evidence can be systematically embedded at the heart of health policy making to deliver better outcomes, greater equity, and sustainable public value. Drawing on experience from the Scottish Government, it will examine how robust scientific advice, high quality data, and professional expertise can inform strategic decisions, support accountability, and bridge the gap between evidence, policy design, and implementation in complex health systems.

Please note that this Lecture will form part of the Annual Conference and you will not need to register if you have purchased a conference ticket. For those who would like to attend the Lecture only, please register on this page. 

 Professor Catherine Ross: Chief Scientific Officer for Scotland.

 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.