Dr Grace Vickers is the Chief Executive of Midlothian Council and the Solace (Scotland) portfolio holder for Education. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Grace holds a Ph.D, SQH and B.Mus (Hons).

Recognised for her very strong and effective Leadership, Grace is committed to improving outcomes and reducing inequalities and has chaired a number of Boards including the national Children and Families Collective Leadership Group.

A forward-thinking visionary leader she implemented the Centres of Excellence model in Midlothian which saw the opening of the first Centre of Excellence in Digital Learning at the new Newbattle High School. She was featured in the University of Edinburgh’s Women in Data series and has assisted the data driven innovation approaches at Roslin Primary School as part of the wider Data Driven innovation programme.

She spearheaded the implementation of a wellbeing economy in 2020 as part of Midlothian Council’s Route Map through and out of the Covid crisis and in her role as this year’s Executive Board Chair of the Edinburgh and South East of Scotland City Deal, she actively promotes the region’s ambition to drive productivity and growth while reducing inequalities and deprivation.