About Alison
Alison established the consultancy in 2024, bringing together her experience across Scotland's political system and the public sector. She has further developed it into Comms for Kids to incorporate her tutoring and safeguarding work. In response to project needs, she can work as a sole consultant or pull in experienced colleagues and their skillsets.
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Alison's career roles of parliamentary official, government secondee, senior city councillor and political activist, charity trustee, chair of community council, teacher and child safeguarding campaigner give her a unique perspective in the public affairs world.
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She has been immersed in communications across high level public offices and as a teacher, is skilled in multi-sensory communication to support all learning needs.
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Alison believes the best decisions are made when all voices, not just some, are empowered to lead in making a children's rights difference and from the earliest age.​​
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As Edinburgh’s Vice Convener of Education, Children and Families, Alison was a strategic policy lead, with schools, early years, children’s services and youthwork within her remit.
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Her work included chairing multi-agency groups and progressing policy and support for care experienced, disabled and black and ethnic minority children and young people, as well as children and families with experience of poverty. Alison also strengthened action on child protection and children's rights.
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In her wider elected role, Alison represented the fabulous ward and people of Southside Newington and was a collective decision maker across all government policy areas and related budgets.
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As a teacher, Alison has years of direct experience in the Scottish educational system, teaching in Edinburgh's primary schools and latterly, as a supply teacher in Inverclyde. As such, Alison understands the impact of policy decisions on young lives and the change that is much needed for many children and their families.
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Alison is also a bold campaigner on child safeguarding issues, including a Scottish Parliament petition with specific calls to strengthen the forward scrutiny of child safeguarding in Scotland.
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In her earlier career, Alison spent a decade in the Scottish Parliament as a parliamentary official, with posts including private secretary and speechwriter to the Presiding Officers, roles in international relations, project co-ordinator for the Holyrood building's opening ceremony, and a secondment as the First Minister's senior visits and events manager.
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Alison was also a Scottish Parliament candidate for Edinburgh Central in the 2016 Holyrood elections and has been chair of political branches. She has also been chair of a community council given her strong belief in grassroots people power.
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Throughout her career, Alison worked closely with the third sector in different ways, including as a Trustee of the John Watson's Trust and as a Governor with the Dean and Cauvin Trust.
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Now based in Gourock, having moved there in 2023, you can often find her by the River Clyde taking shots of the breathtaking scenery or writing daft poems about life and the odd sea monster or two!