Special advisers

Special Adviser Team 

Colin McAllister - Chief of Staff to the First Minister

• First Minister's Strategic Programme in Government including inter-governmental relations
• co-ordination of the Special Adviser team

Stuart Nicolson - Head of Communications

• Senior Political Spokesperson for the First Minister
• co-ordination of the Special Adviser Communication Team

Jeanette Campbell - Special Adviser

• social justice and housing

Gavin Corbett - Special Adviser

• zero carbon buildings, active travel and tenants’ rights

Ewan Crawford - Senior Special Adviser

• constitution and external affairs portfolio (except culture)

Leanne Dobson - Special Adviser

• finance portfolio (excluding local government finance)
• green economy
• Programme for Government

Jennie Gollan - Special Adviser

• justice portfolio (inc veterans)
• culture portfolio (except broadcasting)

Kate Higgins - Special Adviser

• local government (including local government finance)
• transport portfolio

Davie Hutchison - Special Adviser:

• health and social care portfolio
• broadcasting policy
• First Minister's Questions

Harry Huyton - Special Adviser

• green skills, circular economy and biodiversity

Ross Ingebrigtsen - Deputy Political Spokesperson for the First Minister

• strategic communications planning
• First Minister's Questions

David Livey - Special Adviser

• education and skills portfolio

Liz Lloyd - Strategic Policy and Political Adviser to the FM 

• strategic advice to the First Minister on transformational policies and projects

John MacInnes - Special Adviser

• political research
• support for First Minister's Questions and Parliamentary debates
• support to communications and policy Special Advisers

Emily Mackintosh - 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

Catriona Matheson

• economy portfolio (excluding green economy)

Callum McCaig - Special Adviser

• Covid recovery portfolio

John McFarlane - Special Adviser

• rural affairs and Islands
• net zero portfolio (except transport)
• parliamentary business and parliamentary liaison
• First Minister's Questions