Personal Statement:

Our party is at its best when your voice is heard. I’m running to be your Conference Convenor, to ensure our conference remains a platform for our members.
I have been a member of this party for 16 years, and in that time I have been a campaigner, a staffer and a candidate. I know the value of carrying the flag for Liberalism, and how challenging that can be.  
It is the people of this party who really make it, and our conferences are a vital part of giving you a voice. As your Conference Convenor, I want to modernise our conference offering and ensure that it is a platform for member voices.
In the last two years on the Scottish Executive, I have worked to ensure that volunteers and staff are supported. I would be honoured to continue that work for you, as an office bearer ensuring we are using the party’s resources fairly and effectively.
3 reasons to back me:
Experience - A party member of 16 years; staff, campaigner and candidate
Vision - a plan to modernize and expand our conferences to protect member voice and generate revenue.
A member focused champion - supporting you and party staff. 

What skills/experience will you bring to the role? 

Professional experience - As an experienced and accredited campaigns professional, I have a record of delivery spanning a decade, in sectors vital to Scotland; energy, health and construction. I have managed teams to deliver engaging political campaigns, ensuring worker voices are heard. As your Conference Convenor I will champion your voices.
Sound advice and a level head - As a trusted advisor for our parliamentarians and to Chief Executives of leading UK trade associations, I have advised on strategy and protocol in preparation for Select Committee and press appearances. As our party increases in prominence it is important our office bearers can keep a level head and ensure we are seen at our best.
Effective events management - From Party Conferences to receptions in parliament, I have delivered high quality events for impact and influence for almost a decade. Scottish Liberal Democrat conferences are an opportunity for us to showcase ourselves at our best, and I will use my experience to do that.
Board and non-executive experience - I have served on the Executive of the Scottish party for the last two years, contributing to the governance of our party and supporting the work of the Conference and Finance & Membership sub-committees. I have served on the business committee and court of the University of Aberdeen, and in various research ethics committees, and hope to bring that external experience to the table as an office bearer.
 

What do you hope to achieve if elected?

1. Exciting and engaging conferences that give our members a voice. - Our party is at its best when members make their voices heard. I want to retain mini-motions and other measures that have expanded member input into party policy development, and allowed individual members to bring forward their ideas. As Conference Convenor I will give preference to member submitted motions, ensuring members remain at the heart of our policy development. 
2. Expanded fringe and exhibition offering, increasing member choice and increasing party revenue generation. - As we near the Scottish Parliamentary elections, and with our party on the rise, there is increasing interest in our conference from business and civic society. As Conference Convenor I want to expand our engagement with these organisations through conference, delivering more exciting fringe events and exhibitions for members, and generating revenue for the benefit of the whole party.
3. Protect and enhance measures to increase access to party conference, including “pay what you can”. - I am proud of the work that the Conference Committee has already done to expand access to conference and to ensure a diversity of voices can heard. Working with party staff and the committee I want to review and enhance these schemes, including “pay what you can”.