Scottish Government

Name

Role

Geoff Aberdein

• Chief of Staff
• Responsible for the First Minister's strategic programme in Government
• First Minister’s senior intermediary with key internal & external stakeholders
• Coordination of the Special Adviser team
• Policy support on Commonwealth Games & Sport portfolio

Stuart Nicolson

• Head of Communications
• Senior Political Spokesperson

Noel Dolan

• Senior Special Adviser to the Deputy First Minister
• Policy advice on Infrastructure & Investment portfolio
• Policy advice on Welfare

Liz Lloyd

• Deputy Head of Communications & Political Spokesperson
• Lead on online and new media

Alexander Anderson

• Support to the First Minister’s Private Office
• Contributing to FM’s keynote speeches and new media
• Support on Transport Issues

Malcolm Fleming

• Policy advice on Energy, Rural Affairs and the Environment portfolios
• Policy advice on International Development portfolio

John MacInnes

• Lead on political research
• Support for First Minister’s Questions
• Support to the Communications Special Advisers

Alex Bell

• Head of Policy Development
• Policy advice on Culture (including Broadcasting) & External Affairs portfolio
• Policy advice on Defence.

Ewan Crawford (p/t)

• Senior Special Adviser supporting Ministers on Government Strategy and Constitutional Issues

Colin McAllister

• Deputy Head of Policy Development
• Education & Lifelong Learning portfolio overview
• Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth portfolio overview

David Hutchison

• Policy advice on the Health & Wellbeing portfolio
• Lead on FOI legislation

John McFarlane

• Policy advice on Justice portfolio
• Policy advice on Parliamentary Business portfolio, including engaging with Parliamentary Liaison Officers

Delancy Johansson

• Policy advice on Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth portfolio (other than Energy)
• Policy advice on the Council of Economic Advisers