We are delighted to announce that Jen Henderson has been appointed Head of Professional Learning and Education Programmes at The Data Lab, following nearly five years of leading talent partnerships at Heriot-Watt University.
Before joining The Data Lab, Jen was Head of Talent Partnerships at Heriot-Watt University, where she led a team working across key sectors with employers ranging from multinational organisations to SMEs, alongside industry bodies and academic colleagues, to understand workforce and skills needs, grow employer engagement and develop work-based learning programmes in response to changing industry demand.
From a career in sports to education
Earlier in her career, Jen established and led Developing the Young Workforce Forth Valley, building more than 600 employer–education partnerships and creating stronger pathways for young people to progress into further learning, apprenticeships and employment. Before her career in skills and education, she led the development and delivery of local, regional and national sports and physical activity initiatives.
She is also a board member of College Development Network, Scotland’s national development and enhancement agency for colleges, which supports collaboration and innovation across the college sector.
Building data and AI skills and capability
Jen joins The Data Lab this month, where she will lead the development and delivery of professional learning and education programmes that build workforce skills, confidence and organisational capability to adopt and apply data and AI effectively.
In line with The Data Lab’s vision to foster a more prosperous and equitable society where the responsible use of data and AI empowers everyone to thrive, its education programmes have upskilled 1,600 learners through the Data Skills for Work initiative and supported over 1,200 Masters students through scholarship funding, with over half undertaking vital industry placements.
Additionally, The Data Lab published The Data and AI Skills Framework and Whitepaper in 2025, offering strategic insight and practical guidance to help organisations and individuals thrive in the data and AI economy.
“I’m excited to step into this role to lead The Data Lab’s professional learning and education programmes, to help build the skills and capability Scotland needs for a fast-moving data and AI landscape. As someone who switched from sports to education mid-career, I know the importance of offering a variety of pathways to upskilling and reskilling. Keeping pace with the growing demand for data and AI expertise across all sectors, we want to ensure no one is left behind in the rapidly changing world of work.”
Jen Henderson, Head of Professional Learning and Education Programmes
“I’m looking forward to working with the team, our partners, stakeholders, and community to explore where we can make the biggest difference across data and AI skills in Scotland.”