Research Data Scotland announces new Chief Data Officer

As Chief Data Officer, Kate will be part of the RDS Leadership team and oversee the organisation’s Data team as it works towards a core goal of making it faster and simpler for researchers to access a wide range of datasets for research in the public benefit.

Working closely with colleagues across the public sector, Kate will be an integral part of RDS’s mission, driving system-wide operational efficiency and demonstrating trustworthiness in how data is used.

Professor Roger Halliday, CEO of RDS, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Kate as Chief Data Officer. Kate brings significant experience and expertise in areas that are integral to RDS’s mission, including delivering much-needed developments to research infrastructure while ensuring the highest levels of data security are maintained. I look forward to working closely with Kate, and our partners, to continue to widen the range of data available to underpin research that saves time, money and lives.”

Kate O’Sullivan said: “Having worked closely with RDS over the past few years, including as Operational Lead at the Grampian Data Safe Haven based in Aberdeen, I’m delighted to be joining the team. From my experience working in Secure Data Environments across the UK, I’ve seen first-hand some of the challenges faced by organisations that provide Scotland’s research data infrastructure, and I’m excited to tackle some of these challenges head-on. This is an incredible opportunity to help deliver RDS's commitment to realise the potential of Scotland’s world-class research data, drive innovation for public good, and turn insight into real impact for Scotland.”

About Kate O’Sullivan

Kate O'Sullivan has extensive experience leading Secure Data Environments (SDEs) and advancing data-driven research for public benefit. She currently serves as Associate Director (Tech, Data and IG) at the Yorkshire & Humber NHS Secure Data Environment and Head of Secure Data Services at the University of Sheffield, where she oversees the delivery of the University’s Secure Data Services platform and the Data Connect service — both supporting researcher access to routinely collected health data.

Kate has a strong track record in managing both on-premises and cloud Secure Data Environments (SDEs), driving research innovation and ensuring the highest standards of data governance and security. In her previous role as Operational Lead at the Grampian Data Safe Haven, she successfully led the delivery of a wide range of sensitive data for research, including iCAIRD, the Health Foundation's Networked Data Lab, and PIONEER. Whilst at the Grampian Data Safe Haven, Kate contributed to several initiatives in the Scottish Safe Haven Network.

She has played a leading role in national data infrastructure initiatives as a Co-Investigator on DARE UK Phase 1 projects Semi-Automated Risk Assessment (SARA) and Semi-Automated Checking of Research Outputs (SACRO). She is Principal Investigator on the TREvolution Early Adopter PANORAMA project, and as co-lead of several governance and information security working groups, including the Information Governance Interest Group, SDC-REBOOT, and SATRE Governance.

Kate's research interest is on data provenance, principles-based Information Governance, and federation to promote trust and transparency in sensitive data processing in Trusted Research Environments.