The Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities (SCLD) has today announced that the former Children and Young People’s Commissioner of Scotland, Bruce Adamson, has been appointed as its new Chief Executive.

Bruce Adamson is an internationally recognised human rights lawyer with 30 years’ experience working with communities in over 20 countries to advance legal and policy reform. He brings a strong track record of leading system change, strengthening accountability, and embedding the voices of people with lived experience in decision-making.

From 2017 to 2023, he served as Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland. He worked with children, young people, families and civil society, through advocacy and strategic litigation to secure major reforms, including raising the age of criminal responsibility, prohibiting physical punishment, reforming rules on restraint, seclusion and loss of liberty, and incorporating the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child into Scots law.

Bruce has advised national governments and international organisations including the UN, Council of Europe, European Union, OSCE and WHO. He chaired the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (2019–2022) during the COVID-19 pandemic and the escalation of the war in Ukraine.

His career combines strategic leadership with frontline decision-making, including 13 years as a Member of Scotland’s Children’s Panel.
He is a former Professor of Practice at the University of Glasgow School of Law and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He is Vice President of Eurochild, Vice Chair of the global Child and Youth Friendly Governance Project, and Vice Chair of the Scotland Committee of the National Lottery Community Fund.

Welcoming him to his new role with SCLD, Ann Dougan, Chair of SCLD said:

“We were thrilled with the depth and quality of applications for the role of Chief Executive at SCLD and we are delighted to have attracted someone of Bruce’s standing and reputation as our new Chief Executive.

“Bruce’s values align strongly with SCLD’s mission and purpose and his resolute commitment to ensuring that the voices of people with learning disabilities are heard and respected, coupled with his acknowledged expertise in human rights and driving system change make him the perfect candidate to lead SCLD into it next 25 years.”

Commenting on his appointment, Bruce Adamson said:

“I am delighted to be joining SCLD at such an important moment.

SCLD plays a vital role as a human rights defender, bringing together the voices and experiences of people with learning disabilities with robust research and evidence to drive change.

There is a real opportunity to build on the pioneering work over the last 25 years to ensure that rights are realised in practice, that systems are co-designed and the leadership of people with learning disabilities is properly valued and recognised.

SCLD will continue to be a powerful, influential voice for change.

I am particularly excited about the opportunity to further strengthen SCLD’s impact, supporting progress that is focused, evidence-led, and aligned with national priorities, while always grounded in the lived experience of people with learning disabilities.

Ultimately, this is about ensuring that people with learning disabilities can live full, equal and dignified lives, not as a matter of charity, but as a matter of human rights.”

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