Sue Ross is a qualified social worker with degrees from St. Andrews and Oxford Universities, and a management qualification from Northumbria University. She holds a PhD from Keele University in Systems Change in Organisations. She is a Fellow of the British Cybernetic Society, an external assessor for the General Social Care Council and chair of the Independent Review Mechanism for Adoption for the North of England. She became East Renfrewshire's first Director of Social Work from 1995–2001. As Chief Executive, she established Selby and York Primary Care Trust, one of the largest PTCs in England and Wales. In February 2004, she set up her own health and social care consultancy, interim management and executive coaching to local authorities and other public sector organisations. She undertook a number of interim assignments including Directors of Children's Services for two London Boroughs and a year as the Director of Social Services in Blaenau Gwent.