John Edward, Head of Operations at the Scottish Council on Global Affairs, succeeds Rt Hon Lady Morag Wise after five years at the helm
Fettes College has announced the appointment of a new Chair of Governors as it embarks upon a fresh era of leadership.
John Edward, Head of Operations at the Scottish Council on Global Affairs, will step into the leading role having served on the independent school’s board for the past two years.
An experienced figure in the education sector, Edward was previously Chief Executive of the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS) for 13 years where he also sat on the Advisory Boards of the Scottish Teachers’ Pension Scheme and the Scottish Qualifications Authority.
He is a graduate of both University of St Andrews and University of Glasgow, was previously Head of the European Parliament’s Office in Scotland and worked in Brussels for Scotland House and the European Policy Centre. He is also a board member of the Association of Governing Bodies of Independent Schools (AGBIS), and a member of the Scottish Commission on School Reform.
Edward’s appointment will be effective from 05 June 2026, where he will succeed The Rt Hon Lady Morag Wise who has served as Chair for the previous five years. His arrival will come shortly before Richard Girvan commences as the next Head of Fettes in September, succeeding Helen Harrison.
Commenting on his appointment, John Edward said: “Lady Wise has chaired Fettes through some of the greatest challenges the school, and the independent education sector, has faced in 150 years.
2The Fettes community and Governing Board have been very fortunate to call on her counsel and leadership, and I am grateful to the Governing Board’s trust in me as I take up this role.
“I firmly believe in the importance of sound and independent governance, and I am committed to do all I can to support the new Head, staff, pupils, families and wider Fettes community as we lead our ground-breaking and modern school forward with the development, wellbeing and joy of young people at its heart.”
The Rt Hon Lady Morag Wise said: “We are extremely fortunate that John has so readily accepted the role of Chair of the Governing Body.
2I have greatly enjoyed working with him over the last couple of years and his considerable and very pertinent experience of the education sector and indeed global context has been, and will continue to prove, invaluable in steering Fettes forward in the future.”
Helen Harrison, Head of Fettes College, added: “On behalf of the school, I would like to take this opportunity to record my personal thanks to Lady Wise for everything she has done for Fettes during her time as Chair.
“She has been a constant presence and an outstanding Chair. Her wise counsel and willingness to make herself available at short notice has benefitted the school and everyone in our community in ways too numerous to mention.
“As she steps down from this role, we are delighted she will continue as a Governor until the end of her eight-year tenure in July and extend our heartfelt thanks and best wishes for the future. We look forward to staying in close contact with her in the years to come.
“In the meantime, I am absolutely delighted at the appointment of John Edward as Chair. The combination of John as Chair and Richard Girvan as Head will be a powerful and dynamic duo for Fettes moving forward.”