Professor James Buchan is based in the School of Health Sciences. He is also an associate fellow at the Kings Fund, London; an Associate at the WHO European Observatory on Health Systems, and an adjunct professor at the University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.

Professor Buchan has more than twenty years experience of practice, policy research and consultancy on HR and workforce strategy and planning in the health sector, specialising in nursing. He has worked throughout the UK, and also has international work experience in a range of countries in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

His previous employment includes work as a Senior HR Manager in the NHS Executive in Scotland; and as Policy Adviser at Royal College of Nursing. In 2000/01 he was seconded to work on HR issues at W.H.O. He has also worked in the USA, as a Harkness Fellow, at the University of Pennsylvania. Professor Buchan holds a honours degree from the University of Aberdeen and received his Ph.D. at the Business School,  Robert Gordon University.