Head of Legal, Democratic, Digital & Customer Services, responsible for approx 100 staff and an annual budget of approx £5.4M. My role includes being Monitoring Officer, Clerk to the Council and Chief Legal Officer for the local authority, and also responsible for internal audit, committee services, elected member support, the Provost’s Office, licensing, elections, registrars, ICT and customer services. I am also the Council's Senior Information Risk Officer (SIRO) and chair the Council's cross-service Information Governance Steering Group.

Chief Procurement Officer, responsible for around 50 staff, supporting all external purchasing activity of the Council, which had a value of approximately £720m in 20/21, and overseeing contract management across the Council. Main achievements include (1) in October 2019 team short-listed for 4 awards at the GO Awards for Scotland (the Scottish public sector procurement awards), winning Market Development Award and runner up in Team of the Year, and in November 2020 team short-listed for two further awards and three in January 2022, (2) in 2019 the Council’s PCIP assessment (conducted by Scotland Excel on behalf of the Scottish Government to assess procurement expertise) increased to 87% (2nd highest in Scotland, Scottish average was 70%), (3) the team secured approximately £42m of procurement savings in 20/21, (4) new Sustainable Procurement Strategy for the Council approved in March 2020 and (5) the Council’s spend with SMEs was 50% of total core spend (£694m) in 20/21 with the Council’s spend with local business increasing to 41% of total core spend.

Chief Governance Officer, included being Monitoring Officer, Clerk to the Council and Chief Legal Officer for the local authority, and also responsible for internal audit, committee services, elected member support, the Provost’s Office, licensing and elections. Was a Depute Returning Officer at various electoral events, including general election, local government election, EU referendum and Scottish Parliament election. Main achievements include (1) being responsible for overseeing the local authority’s preparations for its 2019 Best Value Audit by Audit Scotland, (2) senior responsible officer for disaggregation of education and social work service shared with a neighbouring local authority, (3) leading a review of the authority’s ALEO governance, (4) leading a review of the authority’s decision-making structure, governance arrangements and policy/procedure framework and (5) conducting structural review of service area to improve performance and deliver efficiencies of approximately £110,000 (7.3% of budget).

Principal Solicitor, responsible for legal support on all matters related to property and planning law for the authority. Involved in a number of complicated and high profile matters including (1) elements of the Edinburgh Tram project, (2) the Council’s £85m Atria Office development, (3) the £630m St James Quarter CPO and redevelopment and (4) the redevelopment of Portobello High School (which included taking a private bill through the Scottish Parliament). Managed whole legal team in 2012, of around 40 staff, and integral part of team winning national award for best In- House Legal Team at 2014 Scott and Co Legal Awards.Carried out investigations for Council’s Monitoring Officer, including on issues related to planning, staffing concerns and the Councillors Code of Conduct.

Senior Associate in Commercial Property Division