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Publication - Transparency data

Special advisers

Last updated
3 December 2024 - see all updates
Topic
Public sector

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

The First Minister has appointed special advisers who provide advice across all portfolio areas in the Scottish Government.

Chief of Staff to the First Minister: Colin McAllister

  • First Minister's strategic programme in Government including inter-governmental relations
  • co-ordination of the special adviser team

Senior special advisers

Senior special advisers: name Role and responsibilities

Jeanette Campbell

 

Senior Special Adviser

  • justice and home affairs portfolio
  • Parliamentary business and liaison
Ewan Crawford

Senior Constitution Special Adviser

  • constitution and external affairs portfolio (excluding culture)
Kate Higgins

Senior Special Adviser

  • transport portfolio
  • co-ordination and liaison for local government and trade unions
Davie Hutchison

Senior Special Adviser

  • finance portfolio
  • energy portfolio
  • culture portfolio, including broadcasting
  • First Minister's Questions
  • coronavirus inquiries
Ross Ingebrigtsen

Political Spokesperson for the First Minister

  • strategic communications planning
  • First Minister's Questions
Emily MacKintosh

Senior Special Adviser

  • Senior Special Adviser to the Deputy First Minister
  • economy portfolio
  • oversight of business and economy engagement, and stakeholder management
  • (maternity cover) net zero portfolio (excluding energy, Climate Change Bill)

Stephen Noon

Senior Special Adviser

  • strategic advice on political positioning and messaging

Special advisers

Special advisers: Name Role and responsibilities
Marco Biagi

Special Adviser

  • political positioning and messaging
Leanne Dobson

Special Adviser

  • net zero portfolio (excluding energy)
Jennie Gollan

Special Adviser

  • health and social care portfolio
Sean McGivern

Special Adviser

  • media communications including communications and events support for the First Minister
  • support for the First Minister and the First Minister’s Private Office
  • outreach and stakeholder engagement
Erin McKee

Special Adviser

  • education and skills portfolio
  • veterans
Jack Middleton

Special Adviser

  • media communications including communications and events support for the First Minister
  • support for the First Minister and the First Minister’s Private Office
  • outreach and stakeholder engagement
Ian Muirhead Special Adviser
  • rural affairs, land reform and islands portfolio
Emilie-Louise Purdie

Special Adviser

  • social justice portfolio, including Ukraine resettlement
Olaf Stando

Special Adviser

  • communications, including digital communications


Access previous versions of this content at the www.gov.scot archive. 

First published
17 February 2020
Last updated
3 December 2024 - show all updates

  1. Added Ian Muirhead as a special adviser.

  2. Added Marco Biagi as a special adviser.

  3. Updated to include Stephen Noon, Erin McKee and Olaf Stando. Responsibilities of Emily MacKintosh and Sean McGivern updated.

  4. Updated list to reflect portfolio breakdown by role.

  5. Updated to reflect changes following new cabinet announced on 8 May 2024

  6. Updated to remove Gavin Corbett

  7. Updated to amend roles for Callum McCaig, Jennie Gollan, Davie Hutchison and Emily Mackintosh.

  8. Updated to add secondary title to Callum McCaig's entry and amend Leanne Dobson.

  9. Updated to add Kevin Pringle and Emilie-Louise Purdie and amend Jeanette Campbell.

  10. Updated to add Sean McGivern

  11. Updated to reflect special adviser staff list following appointment of Humza Yousaf as First Minister.

  12. Updated for August 2022.

  13. Updated for April 2022.

  14. Updated for March 2022 and changed url from www.gov.scot/publications/special-advisers-february-2020/

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