Campbell was born on 18 May 1980 in Perth, Scotland. She grew up on her parents' tenant farm in Perthshire and was educated at Collace Primary School and Perth Academy. She studied Politics and History at the University of Glasgow. From 2005−06 Campbell was national convener of the SNP youth wing, the Young Scots for Independence. Since graduating, she has worked as editor of construction magazine Keystone and was editorial assistant on a short-lived pro-independence newspaper, the Scottish Standard. Before her election to Parliament Campbell also worked for Nicola Sturgeon and as a researcher for Shona Robison and Stewart Hosie. Aileen married Graham Fraser White in Collace Kirk, Perthshire, on 15 August 2009.
Member of the Scottish Parliament
At the 2007 Scottish Parliament election she was the SNP candidate for the Clydesdale constituency where she finished second but was subsequently elected as an addition a member for the South of Scotland region due to Campbell being fifth on the SNP's regional list. Campbell suffered a minor injury on 23 January 2008, receiving medical treatment at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary before returning to the parliament for a vote. The vote was won by 64 votes to 62. In early 2009 Campbell launched the "Play it again" scheme with the Scottish Arts Council and others to encourage people across Scotland to donate their unwanted and unloved musical instruments to be passed on to children across the country to give them the opportunity to enjoy the benefits of music. Campbell was nominated for Real Radio's "Best New Scottish Politician 2009 Award". Campbell was elected as MSP for Clydesdale on 5 May 2011 after receiving an 8.9% swing from Labour, giving her a majority of 4,216. She served as Minister for Local Government and Planning from 25 May 2011 until 6 December 2011. when she was moved to the position of Minister for Children and Young People. On 18 December 2014, Campbell began maternity leave and Fiona McLeod acted as Minister for Children and Young People until Campbell returned on 1 September 2015. This was the first time that a Minister of the Scottish Government had taken maternity leave. In the 2016 election she was re-elected as the MSP for Clydesdale with an increased majority. On 18 May 2016 she was moved to the post of Minister for Public Health and Sport in a reshuffle.
