Professor Buchan has twenty five years international experience of policy advice, consultancy and research on human resource for health (HRH) issues, specializing in national policies and strategies related to the nursing workforce.

His background includes working as a senior HR manager at national level in the National Health Service (NHS) in Scotland, as Senior Policy Adviser at the Royal College of Nursing, UK; and as a HRH specialist at the World Health Organisation in Geneva.

His other current appointments include Policy Associate at the WHO European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies; Professional Adviser to the Centre for Workforce Intelligence, NHS England; and Adjunct Professor at the WHO Collaborating Centre, University of Technology, Sydney, Australia.