Alan Laing Email & Phone Number

United States

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

Co-ordinating point of contact for 9 country offices with over 30 programs, spending more than $22 million in 2022; providing strategic counsel to the Regional Director, managing hiring, security and operations. Responsible for change management within the division, revising and implementing new policies and procedures to provide a more responsive and robust set of business processes.Helped to coordinate security and procedural response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which directly impacted NDI operations, utilizing conflict-zone experience gained from the MENA region.

Tunis Governorate, Tunisia

- Won over $11 million of donor funding, with responsive and time-critical proposals to both the United States government and the UK government.- Advised and briefed officials from the National Security Council, State Department, USAID, staff from the Senate and House Foreign Affairs Committees, Ambassadors and Washington think-tanks.- Provided policy advice and analysis on H.R.4644 - Libya Stabilization Act prior to its consideration by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. - Redesigned programming to suit an ever-changing operational environment, further adapting to respond to significant armed conflict in and around the capital city and Covid-19.- Introduced new work processes to design in accountability, adaptiveness and transparency.- Led program design and redesign, bringing in new program areas to involve young Libyans.- Developed new and lasting relationships with a wide audience of diplomatic and aid organizations including the United Nations and the European Union.

Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Managed NDI’s programming in Kyrgyzstan, introducing new programmatic work, reformed internal processes, secured registration with the Kyrgyzstani government, secured over $2.5 million of new donor funding, built effective relationships across the Kyrgyzstani political spectrum and among the donor community.• Won a new £1.4 million multi-year funding agreement from the UK’s Department for International Development.• Built effective relationships at the highest levels with parliamentary parties.• Designed and delivered training programs for over 100 political candidates, more than half of the current MPs and 9 political parties.• Introduced new programming ideas in civic education, including an innovative social media campaign held up by USAID as a success story providing exceptional value for money.• Delivered unique pre-election televised national debates and civic education campaigns.• Supported increasing women’s political participation and the Forum of Women MPs.• Redesigned internal NDI processes to reduce legal risk, reduced cash dependence and revised HR policies.• Built highly respected relationships with donors, diplomats and international organizations.

The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh

Appointed to lead on communications for the Shadow Cabinet, the Scottish Parliamentary Group of Labour Members of Parliament, liaison with Westminster parliamentarians and wider party communications, including social media.• Responsible for generating positive media coverage for all Labour Members of Parliament.• Running the press and media functions for three national by-election campaigns, including candidate training. Delivering both local and national press stories.• Developed an extensive network of journalist contacts, both general and specialist in print, radio and television.• An extensive network of political contacts across parties and at local, Scottish, UK and EU level.• Provided strategic media advice to Labour MSPs, MPs, and senior UK Labour politicians including Ed Miliband, Ed Balls and Harriet Harman.• In-depth knowledge and understanding of Scottish and UK public policy.Worked with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy in assisting policy development in political parties in developing democracies.

Managing client activity at both local and national levels. Providing strategic counsel to board-level client executives. Specializing in campaigns, planning, stakeholder engagement, London politics and Westminster.- Won approval for more than $600 million of new commercial and residential developments.

London, United Kingdom

3 consecutive terms as a councillor for Hackney Central Ward.

Appointed by the elected Mayor with political responsibility for a diverse range of services with significant media profile. • Helped to introduce new performance management structures to identify performance issues and drive out value for money, delivering savings in excess of £5.6M over four years• Delivered increased public satisfaction of 20% in key front-line services• Performance in historically failing services improved to top quartile within 24 months• Introduced successful groundbreaking policies in parking, housing and recycling in a diverse borough of 210,000 residents• Significant media spokesperson for the authority, appearing live and in pre-recorded TV, radio and press proactive and reactive media

Appointed by Bloomberg to increase and extend the company’s relationship with UK and EU politicians answering to global head of government relations, CEO and Chairman.• Transformed the internal perception of the function within Bloomberg and externally, making the company the key intermediary between government and the financial services sector• Strategic counsel over legislative implementation and represented the company in meetings with officials, ministers and trade bodies both within the UK and the EU• Won annual spend of £250,000 for political party conferences, establishing Bloomberg as the corporate presence at all three conferences• Brought senior international politicians and market experts to meet clients and to brief the company, working across the media and information sections of the company• Managed public affairs and marketing consultancies• Hosted the UK Prime Minister and Chancellor at Bloomberg’s European headquarters during the 2005 general election when they launched their business manifesto

Chelgate Limited is a London based international public relations firm.• Worked with a series of clients across the public and private sectors• Significant contact with Parliamentarians through representing clients with a national profile• Successfully delivered a change in perception of a previously criticised national organisation – including running their press office during peak media interest• Representing a national grouping of local authorities in their lobbying of central government winning a revised funding settlement• Ran the activities of the All Party China and Vietnam Groups