Karyn Dunning appointed Social Security Scotland Chief Operating Officer

Karyn Dunning has been appointed Chief Operating Officer at Social Security Scotland, 

Karyn was previously Deputy Director of Low Income Benefits & Operational Improvement in the organisation and has over 20 years of experience across the Civil Service, including senior leadership roles at the UK Government’s Home Office. 

The Chief Operating Officer provides strategic leadership across Social Security Scotland, working with Chief Executive David Wallace and the Executive Team, ensuring our core values of dignity, fairness and respect are part of everything we do. 

Karyn will be responsible for overseeing performance and improvement across the organisation and will begin her new role immediately  

On her appointment, Karyn said: 

“I’m honoured to step into the role of Chief Operating Officer at Social Security Scotland at a pivotal time. 2026 will be a period of significant change for us and I take this responsibility seriously — to deliver for the people of Scotland while supporting our colleagues through this transformation.  

“My commitment is to work in true partnership with stakeholders and communities, guided by our values of dignity, fairness, and respect. Together, we will ensure our services meet the needs of clients and create an environment where our teams can thrive.”