Special advisers: September 2016

List of special advisers who provide advice across all portfolio areas in the Scottish Government.


Name Role
Liz Lloyd Chief of Staff to the First Minister including the co-ordination of the Special Adviser team. Responsible for the First Minister's Strategic Programme in Government including European engagement and Inter-governmental relations.
Stuart Nicolson Head of Communications. Senior Political Spokesperson for the First Minister.
Colin McAllister Head of Policy. Senior Special Adviser to the Deputy First Minister. Special Adviser for Education & Skills. Special Adviser for Finance (jointly with Liz Lloyd). First Minister's Questions, Programme for Government.
Ewan Crawford Senior Special Adviser supporting Ministers on Government Economic Strategy, Europe and Constitutional issues.
Ross Ingebrigtsen Communications Special Adviser. Deputy Spokesperson for the First Minister. Strategic communications planning.
John MacInnes Political Research. Support for First Minister's Questions and parliamentary debates. Support to Communications and Policy Special Advisers.
Davie Hutchison Special Adviser for Health & Sport and for Broadcasting.
John McFarlane Special Adviser for Justice, Transport and the Economy. Parliamentary Business.
Jeanette Campbell Special Adviser for Communities, Social Security, Equalities, Jobs and Fair Work.
Kate Higgins Special Adviser for the Rural Economy & Connectivity. Support to the Head of Policy.
Katy Bowman Support for the First Minister and the First Minister's Private Office. Outreach and stakeholder engagement. Special Adviser for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs and policy support to the Chief of Staff.
David Miller Special Adviser for Energy, Environment, Climate Change & Land Reform.
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