Role Models Panel - Governing Scotland

Please Note the CHANGE of address for this event.

Sponsor: The City of Edinburgh Council

Four women involved in very different aspects of the process of governing Scotland will share their experiences and stories. This will be followed by an open discussion forum.

The Panel

Karen Kelly is Head of Financial Services at The City of Edinburgh Council and also our host for the evening. She is responsible for the overall financial strategy of the Council and providing accountancy, audit and treasury services to the various departments of the Council and its partnership organisations. Edinburgh has gross annual expenditure of over £1.3bn and covers a wide diversity of services from arts and cultural events to roads and transport. The City also delivers a significant capital investment programme including new schools, the Edinburgh Tram, and the refurbishment of the Usher Hall. Karen is also the Chair of the Scottish Branch of CIPFA.

Ruth Parsons is Director of Public Service Reform at the Scottish Government. Ruth joined the Scottish Executive in 2005 following a 21 year career in HM Customs and Excise. Ruth led the Changing to Deliver Division and was responsible for developing the Executive’s organisational strategy. In January 2006, Ruth took up a new post in the Scottish Executive’s Public Service Reform Group, which has now merged with Efficient Government Group to become the Public Service Reform & Efficiency Group. Ruth has worked closely with Cabinet Office, firstly in supporting the Civil Service Reform agenda in Scotland, and latterly contributing to the programme for Improving Leadership Capacity in the Senior Civil Service.

Laura Greatrex was a Special Advisor to former First Minister, Jack McConnell until the elections in May 2007. During her time as a Special Advisor, Laura worked on the Finance and Public Service Reform portfolio developing policy, leading consultations and communicating strategy for transforming public services in Scotland as well as working on budget and financial negotiations with local government, Scottish Executive Departments and the UK Treasury. Laura was also the lead advisor for First Minister's Questions generating briefings on topical issues and advising the First Minister. During the election campaign Laura was responsible for the Leader's Tour in Scotland generating visit and media opportunities to promote the message of the day and encourage voter turn out. Laura is currently a management consultant with Mott MacDonald.

Liz Lloyd is Head of Press and Research for the SNP in the Scottish Parliament. Prior to this appointment, Liz worked as Political Adviser to Jim Mather MSP, now Minister for Enterprise, and to Alyn Smith MEP handling European affairs in Scotland. She has worked for the SNP since late 2004. Previous roles have included media and parliamentary monitoring and analysis and a short spell with the Scottish Executive. Originally from Newcastle, Liz has a degree in American Studies from Edinburgh University, spent time studying in the United States and also has an MSC in European Public Policy from Edinburgh.

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