Senior Supervisor in Retail Life Department.

Achievements included:• Promoting the screen production sector in Scotland, with the BBC now exceeding a population share of network production, the nations’ quota for Channel 4 increased during the recent licence renewal, and Scotland’s biggest ever screen inward investment, the Sony Pictures series Outlander, having just finished shooting its first series, with a second commissioned.• Effectively intervening in renewal of the Channel 3 licences by compiling technical and financial evidence to persuade Ofcom, as part of licence renewal, to oblige ITV in its Borders franchise to transmit separately on either side of the Anglo-Scottish border.• Briefing the First Minister for his appearance before the Leveson Inquiry.• Thereafter, following publication of the Leveson Report, supporting the First Minister in engagement with the other parties in the Scottish Parliament, so that from an acrimonious debate in December 2012 in the Scottish Parliament, by April 2013, all the parties in the Parliament unanimously supported a motion that enabled the Scottish Government to negotiate with the UK Government to conclude a Royal Charter that met Scottish needs and circumstances. Thereafter I liaised with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to finalise the text of the Royal Charter on self regulation of the press.• Leading on developing proposals for the future of broadcasting in the context of independence that won acceptance by Ministers and stood up to scrutiny once published. Liaising with stakeholders to explain Scottish Government proposals.• Developing Scottish Government policy following the referendum result and contributing to the Smith Commission process on further devolution of powers to Scotland, leading to Heads of Agreement in November 2014 that indicated a formal consultative role for the Scottish Government and Scottish Parliament on BBC Charter review and Ofcom’s strategic priorities.

Researching and drafting speech texts and similar material. Liaison with colleagues in his Private Office, Communications Directorate, Special Advisers, visits and events managers and policy officials so that speeches met the First Minister’s expectations, conformed to policy, and generated good publicity.

Developing policy for the Getting it right for every child change management programme, to improve services for children, in particular by achieving better liaison between health, social care and justice services. Liaison with internal and external stakeholders.

My key task here was as Bill Team Leader for the Adoption & Children (Scotland) Bill, which successfully completed its Parliamentary passage in December 2006. I also liaised with the Ministry of Justice, the Roman Catholic Church and others on the Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007 over access to adoption services by same sex couples, including from agencies with a faith background. This ensured that the Church allowed its adoption agencies to continue operating while respecting the legislation.

A 9 month course, sponsored by the French Government at the Ecole Nationale d’Administration in Strasbourg, France, conducted entirely in French, mainly for new French senior civil servants. It included a 2 month placement at the French Ministry of Agriculture.

I worked on the Fresh Talent project to encourage migration into Scotland.

I was Policy Adviser on agriculture, health and culture. This involved monitoring developments in the European Union on these subjects, lobbying Commission officials, MEPs and others, and on occasion representing the UK on Council of Ministers Working Groups.

Duties included:• representing the Scottish Office on the Cross-Departmental Review of Provision for Young Children and the Interdepartmental Group on the National Childcare Strategy. • drafting the Green Paper Meeting the Childcare Challenge: A Childcare Strategy for Scotland (1998);• organising a major Ministerial conference on childcare for over 200 participants;• developing guidance to local authorities and others on childcare planning, speaking at a series of regional seminars on childcare; • drafting a consultation paper on regulation and inspection of childcare;• leading a Branch dealing with children’s issues that cross Departmental boundaries, and in particular:• children’s rights issues, including providing policy advice on the case for a Commissioner for Children in Scotland and then working with the Scottish Parliament to establish the new position and support staff;• reviewing the planning framework for public services for children; and • creating a list of adults deemed unsuitable to work with children.

Various posts as a graduate entrant and then on promotion to Head of Branch including in housing policy, grant administration and higher education funding and policy.