Kirsten Horsburgh is the Chief Executive Officer of Scottish Drugs Forum (SDF). With over a decade of dedicated service at SDF and a professional background as a mental health nurse in drug treatment services, Kirsten brings a combination of frontline experience and strategic leadership to her role.

Throughout her career, Kirsten has been a passionate and influential advocate for evidence-based, compassionate approaches to drug policy and service delivery. Her work has centred on supporting both national and local services to implement effective drug death prevention strategies. She played a pivotal role in the coordination and development of Scotland’s National Naloxone Programme, a landmark public health initiative that has become a model for overdose prevention globally.

Her expertise has been sought by international bodies including the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), where she has contributed to global guidance and supported the expansion of naloxone provision in multiple countries.

Kirsten is widely recognised for her unwavering commitment to saving lives and improving health outcomes for people who use drugs, and for her leadership in improving Scotland’s approach to drug-related challenges.