The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) announced the appointment of Francesca Osowska as its new CEO.

Most recently, Osowska has been CEO at NatureScot. Before that she was a Director of the UK government’s Scotland Office.

The SFC invests around £2 billion a year in Scotland’s 19 universities and 24 colleges for learning and teaching, skills development, research and innovation, staff, buildings and equipment. 

The appointment follows a selection process supported by recruitment firm Gatenby Sanderson.

“Francesca, who takes up the role in mid-January 2025, joins SFC from NatureScot where, as Chief Executive, she led a major change programme, rebranding and transforming the organisation to deliver a more focused and engaging strategy, delivering for people, communities and nature, with a clearer link to Scotland’s national priorities, including a particular focus on addressing the climate emergency,” said SFC.

“Francesca brings with her a strong track record of strategic leadership, team and relationship building, and the successful delivery of major projects.

“Before taking up the helm at NatureScot, she held a key Whitehall post as Director of the Scotland Office, where she successfully repositioned the UK Government in Scotland, leading a more proactive communication and engagement strategy that secured improved relationships with stakeholders and the public.

“Immediately prior to that, as Scottish Government Director for the Commonwealth Games and Sport, she led the delivery of a successful, safe and secure 2014 Games for which she was awarded an OBE for services to Government and the Commonwealth Games in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours in January 2015.

“The Games were delivered within budget and continue to deliver a long-lasting legacy for the whole of Scotland.

“An established strategic leader with strong insight into the workings of government at Scotland, UK and international levels, Francesca has a wealth and breadth of experience in public service, ranging from her role as Principal Private Secretary to the First Minister from 2007 to 2009, through posts in education, justice, culture, external affairs, tourism, housing and regeneration, to her most recent post as CEO of NatureScot and its focus on the natural environment, research and science.”

The Scottish Government’s Higher Education and Further Education Minister Graeme Dey said: “Congratulations to Francesca on her appointment as Chief Executive. I very much look forward to working with her as we set about delivering our planned reforms to post-school education”

SFC chair Mike Cantlay said: “I am delighted to welcome Francesca to SFC. She joins us at an important time in the evolution of the organisation. Her skills as a strategic leader and her superb record of delivery will be crucial as SFC continues to evolve through the reform agenda.”

Osowska said: “It is a huge privilege to join SFC and have the opportunity to lead an organisation that plays such a pivotal role in supporting learners to succeed and researchers and innovators to address the challenges facing Scotland and the world at large.

“I look forward to working with the SFC team, the sectors and our wider stakeholders as we maximise the opportunities and navigate the challenges ahead.”

Osowska is a graduate of the University of Cambridge where she read Economics and a graduate of the College of Europe in Bruges where she read European Studies (Economics).

As a non-departmental public body established by the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005, SFC is directly accountable to Scottish Government Ministers and the Scottish Parliament.