Welcome to the website of the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland – or OCPAS as we are commonly known. You’ll find information here about who we are and what we do, plus details of the valuable contribution people like you are making to public life in Scotland every day. My office was established to regulate and monitor the way in which ministerial appointments are made to the boards of many of Scotland’s public bodies.

My strategy for enhancing equal opportunities in Scotland's ministerial public appointments process was launched on 01 September 2008. You can find out more about the strategy and the Scottish Government's progress against its recommendations from the diversity page of this website. You can also find out more on the diversity page about courses being run for people who want to learn about the work of our public bodies and how to go about applying for roles.

Here at OCPAS we’re passionate about public appointments, passionate about the fact that the appointments process we regulate must deliver a choice of quality candidates for each position, candidates with relevant expertise and experience who reflect the whole of Scottish society. Why does that matter? These bodies have a major impact on the lives of people in Scotland. It’s important that people are encouraged and enabled to engage in public life through serving on their boards, so that, together, we can help make public services even more effective for the people of Scotland.

Karen Carlton