Our people

Dr Pauline Stephen was appointed Chief Executive and Registrar of GTC Scotland in 2021. She is the first female Chief Executive and Registrar since the organisation was set up in 1965.

As the Chief Executive and Registrar, Pauline is responsible for the delivery of the strategic plan in line with the organisation’s values. She is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation and is appointed by, and accountable to, GTC Scotland’s Council.

The Chief Executive and Registrar engages with partners nationally and internationally to ensure that the teaching profession in Scotland is trusted and valued.  

Central to her work is ensuring that GTC Scotland operates as a good employer and is effective as an organisation.  

Pauline is a registered teacher and began her career in education as a primary teacher.

She became Principal Psychologist in Aberdeenshire Council and Director of Schools and Learning in Angus Council before joining GTC Scotland as Director of Education, Registration and Professional Learning in October 2019.  

Pauline’s previous research focus centred on effective professional learning of teachers and Pauline is committed to ensuring that teacher education and learning are effective and robust experiences.

• MA (Hons) Psychology, University of Aberdeen
• PGCE (Primary) Moray House School of Education, Edinburgh
• MSc Educational Psychology, University of Dundee
• DEdPsy Educational Psychology, University of Dundee

• Stephen, P. & Simpson, C. (2023) External Change Agents in Professional Learning: The Case for the General Teaching Council for Scotland. In: The Palgrave Handbook of Teacher Education Research. Editor-in-Chief Ian Menter.
• Morley, J., Napier, E., Simpson, C. and Stephen, P. (2022) From student to employed teacher. In: Mentoring Teachers in Scotland, A Practical Guide. Edited By Sandra Eady, Jane Essex, Kay Livingston, Margaret McColl
• Topping, K., Peters, C., Stephen, P. and Whale, M. (2004) Cross-age peer tutoring of science in the primary school: Influence on scientific language and thinking, Educational Psychology, 24 (1), 57-75.

Jennifer Macdonald joined GTC Scotland in 2009 as the organisation’s first in-house Legal Adviser and then progressed through leadership and management roles within the organisation focused on legal compliance, regulatory investigations and governance.

As Strategic Director, Jennifer provides strategic direction and leadership to ensure that GTC Scotland delivers our statutory functions and the requirements set out in our strategic plan. Jennifer brings legal and regulatory expertise to the Executive Team.

Jennifer started her career as a solicitor in private practice working in corporate/commercial roles, latterly in-house in the financial services sector. Jennifer has always been driven by the need to ensure and enhance fairness and social justice for our communities and believes that our legal and education systems are central to that.  

As Strategic Director, Victoria provides strategic direction and leadership to ensure that GTC Scotland delivers our statutory functions and the requirements set out in our strategic plan.  Victoria brings teaching expertise to the Executive Team.

Victoria is a registered teacher and started her career teaching in primary schools before moving into head teacher roles in several schools.  After this Victoria moved into central local authority education leadership positions before joining GTC Scotland in 2021 as Director of Education, Registration and Professional Learning.  

Throughout Victoria’s career she has been driven to make a positive impact on the lives of children, young people, families and communities.

Victoria believes in the power of education and the impact of a qualified, critically informed, trusted teaching profession.