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Publication - Transparency data

Special advisers

Last updated
13 July 2026 - see all updates
Topic
Public sector

List of special advisers who provide advice across all portfolio areas in the Scottish Government.

The First Minister has appointed the following special advisers:

Name Role and responsibilities

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

Emily Mackintosh

Deputy Chief of Staff

  • economy, transport and tourism
  • oversight of business and economy engagement, and stakeholder management

Ross Ingebrigtsen

 

 

Head of Communications and Senior Political Spokesperson

  • political spokesperson to the First Minister
  • oversight of digital strategy

David Hutchison

Head of Policy

  • finance and local government
  • public service reform
  • First Minister’s Questions  

Sean McGivern

Deputy Head of Communications and Political Spokesperson

  • First Minister’s lead adviser on strategic communications planning

Jeanette Campbell 

Senior Special Adviser

  • parliamentary business
  • justice

Stephen Noon 

Senior Special Adviser

  • strategy
  • constitution

Erin McKee

 

Senior Special Adviser

  • health and care
  • education, culture and gaelic (interim)

Marco Biagi

 

Special Adviser

  • strategy

Emilie-Louise Purdie

Special Adviser

  • social justice and housing

Leanne Dobson

 

 

Special Adviser

  • climate action and rural affairs

Helen Scott

Special Adviser

  • communications
  • First Minister's diary coordination
  • support for the First Minister

Olaf Stando

 

Special Adviser

  • communications, including digital communications

This page will be updated if further changes are made to the team.

Further details will be added to this page when confirmed.

Contact

Email: contactus@gov.scot

First published
17 February 2020
Last updated
13 July 2026 - show all updates

  1. List of appointed special advisers updated.

  2. List of appointed special advisers updated.

  3. List of appointed special advisers updated.

  4. Removed list of advisers due to election protocols.

  5. Updated to remove Jack Middleton

  6. Various updates made to list.

  7. Update Leanne Dobson's details.

  8. Ross Ingebrigtsen job title updated.

  9. Various updates made to list.

  10. Added Ian Muirhead as a special adviser.

  11. Added Marco Biagi as a special adviser.

  12. Updated to include Stephen Noon, Erin McKee and Olaf Stando. Responsibilities of Emily MacKintosh and Sean McGivern updated.

  13. Updated list to reflect portfolio breakdown by role.

  14. Updated to reflect changes following new cabinet announced on 8 May 2024

  15. Updated to remove Gavin Corbett

  16. Updated to amend roles for Callum McCaig, Jennie Gollan, Davie Hutchison and Emily Mackintosh.

  17. Updated to add secondary title to Callum McCaig's entry and amend Leanne Dobson.

  18. Updated to add Kevin Pringle and Emilie-Louise Purdie and amend Jeanette Campbell.

  19. Updated to add Sean McGivern

  20. Updated to reflect special adviser staff list following appointment of Humza Yousaf as First Minister.

  21. Updated for August 2022.

  22. Updated for April 2022.

  23. Updated for March 2022 and changed url from www.gov.scot/publications/special-advisers-february-2020/

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