Chair

As a civil servant, I took early retirement as a Policy Analyst from the Scottish Government in August 2011. I worked closely with Ministers and colleagues in the Department of Health, Home Office and the Ministry of Defence and advised on a variety of policies such as managed migration in Scotland and various aspects of NHS provision of health care. As health is a devolved issue, I represented Scottish interests on a number of UK Committees.  In my last posting I headed up the Scottish Government’s policy unit on NHS maternity services and infant health. This included addressing inequality of NHS provision of infertility services in Scottish Health Boards.

I had previously been responsible for blood policy, including the setting up of a public inquiry, chaired by Lord Penrose, into the acquisition of Hepatitis C from blood and blood products within the NHS in Scotland prior to the introduction of testing.  I also developed the flagship policy of the then, First Minister on managed migration, entitled “The Fresh Talent Initiative” to encourage more talented individuals to come and live and work in Scotland to support public services in a time when the demographics indicate further pressures are looming and also to increase economic activity within Scotland. In 1998 I obtained a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Napier University.

Upon retiring in 2011, I accepted the newly created voluntary post of Community Ambassador for Marie Curie Cancer Care for Edinburgh and the Lothians, and was also invited to join the Board of INUK .  I hope to continue to contribute to the strategic direction of these charities in these difficult and challenging times.  I also advise the recently formed Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Scottish charity (FAS Scotland) on the development of campaigns and policy strategies.