ASPA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Senior Communications and Public Affairs Manager, BMA Scotland
Erin is an experienced public affairs, communications and policy professional driving meaningful change in health and employment policy. At BMA Scotland, she has led key initiatives and campaigns, including industrial action strategy, NHS workforce advocacy and introduction of free period products for NHS staff. With a background in political advising at the Scottish Parliament, Erin's skills lie in policy development, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement. She is pivotal in shaping BMA Scotland's campaigns, including developing their 2026 manifesto.
Job Titles:
- Head of External Affairs, Queen 's Nursing Institute Scotland
- Member of Committee
Helen has over 20 years' experience of working in communications and public affairs. She has had a number of roles within the health sector, starting at BMA Scotland, where she worked on several areas including minimum unit pricing, the Scottish GP contract, and the campaign to introduce an opt-out system of organ donation in Scotland. She has also worked for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. She is currently the Head of External Affairs at the Queen's Nursing Institute Scotland, a charity that supports community nurses and midwives, and has a focus on health inequalities.e
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Treasurer & Director, Ettrickburn
John joined the BBC as a trainee journalist in 1985 and worked in broadcast news for 16 years before moving to become editor of Holyrood magazine and later the magazine for the European Parliament. Since moving into consultancy, first with a larger agency and running with his own companies, he has increasingly specialised in public affairs and media relations for the health, social care and life sciences sectors. John runs the healthandcare.scot news website and has previously served a term as chair of ASPA.
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Senior Public Affairs Manager, the Open University in Scotland
Keith joined The Open University in Scotland in December 2020 having previously worked at the MS Society. He has over twenty five years' experience working in education, health, housing and older peoples' sectors. Keith has also served as a member of the former Scottish Funding Council and as a local government councillor. A Chartered Member of the CIPR Keith is intrigued by how we measure and evaluate our public affairs practise. Away from work Keith is Chair of his son's secondary school parent council.
Job Titles:
- Convener
- Member of Committee
Laura is managing partner of the Edinburgh-based strategic communications agency, Charlotte Street Partners. She provides advice to some of the company's longest standing clients, which span a range of sectors, from financial services to energy, and media to retail. Laura has helped develop and lead public affairs projects and campaigns across the UK, varying from FTSE 100 to small third-sector organisations. Prior to joining Charlotte Street Partners, Laura worked in the financial services sector, undertaking a range of different public affairs roles with Scottish Widows, Lloyds Banking Group, and TSB.
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Senior Manager Public Affairs, Weber Shandwick
Michael joined Weber Shandwick, a global strategic communications and consultancy business, in May 2022 and currently works as a senior manager in their Public Affairs team. His work to date has covered a number of key areas including retail, manufacturing, and health policy. Previously he worked as a campaigns and communications officer (2016-22) for Daniel Johnson MSP. He is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh with an MSc on the Second World War in Europe.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Head of UK Public Affairs With the People 's Postcode Lottery
- Member of Committee
Nick joined the People's Postcode Lottery in December 2020. He is non-executive Director of industry body the Lotteries Council, for which he is also Chair of Public Affairs. Prior to joining the People's Postcode Lottery, Nick worked for the Scottish Conservative & Unionist Party for over a decade, in which time he served as a Political Advisor to Baroness Ruth Davidson of Lundin Links during her leadership tenure. Alongside this, Nick served in Local Government in Edinburgh for ten years and was the lead on Transport and Environment policy. He is also a former member of the Edinburgh Licensing Board.
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Senior Account Manager, the Big Partnership
Paul joined The Big Partnership in January 2024, having previously worked in the public affairs team at Pagoda Public Relations. He is an experienced political operator and has brought his policy knowledge, political awareness and trusted counsel to manage campaigns across the UK for large multinationals, members' associations and third sector groups. He is well versed in supporting planning applications in renewable energy development and has directed political and stakeholder engagement across a variety of sectors including renewable energy, healthcare, education, and retail. Prior to working in consultancy, Paul was the Deputy Head of Monitoring at Newsdirect, where he developed a formidable knowledge of the key players at both local and central government.
Job Titles:
- Conference Convener & Founder Director of Message Matters
- Convener
- Member of Committee
Peter is founder-director of the strategic communications agency, Message Matters, providing support to a diverse range of clients, mostly in Scotland but also across the UK & Ireland. A former MP, he knows the lobbying industry inside out, and has supported ASPA through its recent work to uphold the highest ethical standards. He has done that through the adoption of a new code of conduct for all members as well as working with the Scottish Parliament's Lobbying Registrar to inform and implement recent industry regulations.
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement Director at Aspect
Peter has two decades of experience working in public affairs, political intelligence and media relations, advising chief executives and senior leadership teams to bring innovative solutions to complex strategic situations. Formerly Director of Public Affairs at independent communications company Indigo, Peter has shaped a range of high-profile public affairs, community engagement and media relations campaigns in multiple sectors from global technology and international life sciences to commercial real estate, higher education, conservation and the natural economy. He has previously worked as public affairs and policy lead for the Federation of Master Builders in Scotland and prior to that at Newsdirect. He is a trustee of children's hospice charity CHAS, a graduate of the University of St Andrews and holds an MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics.
Job Titles:
- Member of Committee
- Scottish Affairs & Devolved Policy Lead, Pinsent Masons
Scott has almost a decade of experience in public affairs and strategic communications. Heading up the Scottish Affairs and Devolved Nations offering at Pinsent Masons LLP, Scott advises clients on their engagement with political institutions in Scotland and across the devolved nations, helping them to build influence and ensure their interests are represented in policy development. With a keen interest in parliamentary process, Scott has developed significant expertise in preparing clients for appearances before Parliamentary Committees. Before joining Pinsent Masons, Scott worked for an MSP having graduated with an MA in Politics from the University of Edinburgh. He has been a Member of the ASPA Committee since December 2022.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Member of Committee
- Secretary & Head of Public Affairs, Universities Scotland
Susannah has more than twenty years' experience in advocacy and communications in Scotland, specialising in higher education. Her career has focused on advising membership organisations in the public and third sectors. Currently the Head of Public Affairs and Communications at Universities Scotland, Susannah works on behalf of university Principals, leading the higher education sector's strategic influence and is closely involved in policy development. The breath of contribution made by universities offers the opportunity to engage on a wide range of policy issues from access, research and development and internationalisation.