Jonathan Sher, Director of Policy, Research and Programmes
jsher@childreninscotland.org.uk or 0131 222 2418

Joining the Team in 2005, Jonathan has a doctorate from Harvard University in administration, planning and social policy. He has had a long and varied career as an OECD project director, academic, social entrepreneur and most recently, as the chief executive of the North Carolina Child Advocacy Institute. Jonathan has overall responsibility for CiS' policy work and has been particularly involved with issues of child health and safety, additional support for learning, equalities and parenting/kinship care.

Marion Macleod, Senior Policy and Parliamentary Officer

mmacleod@childreninscotland.org.uk or 0131 222 2435

Marion started her career as a social worker with Lothian Regional Council (where she rose to Principal Officer for Planning, Coordination and Commissioning). She then managed the Changing Children's Services Fund within Edinburgh Council's Education Department. Most recently, Marion was the Principal Officer for Integrated Children's Services in Edinburgh. Over the years, she has participated in a variety of national networks on children's services, worked with numerous voluntary sector organisations, made presentations at conferences/meetings and advised and assisted politicians. In addition to her social work credentials, Marion has an MA in Modern History from Glasgow University.

Sarah Burton, Policy Development Manager
sburton@childreninscotland.org.uk or 0131 222 2445

Sarah has been with Children in Scotland since 2004 as a communications manager and Editor of Children in Scotland Magazine both full-time and part-time and returned from maternity leave in autumn 2009 to join the policy team in a part-time capacity. The importance of the early years has been a recurring theme of her work at Children in Scotland, encompassing issues such as additional support needs, and outdoor space, architecture and design for young children. Sarah also has experience of policy and practice in maternity and ante-natal services through volunteer work with the NCT (National Childbirth Trust). She has worked on numerous publications including Children in Europe magazine and has organised several major CiS conferences. She has recently completed an Open University course on child development as part of the MA in Childhood and has a Diploma in Economics from the Open University. Before joining Children in Scotland Sarah worked for Corporate Social Responsibility Europe in Brussels, and the National Literacy Trust and Business in the Community in London. Sarah has an English degree from Cambridge University, and an MA in American Literature and Culture from Leeds University.

Katrina Allen, Policy Officer

kallen@childreninscotland.org.uk or 0131 222 2440

Dr Katrina Allen is the half-time Policy Officer leading our Gender Equality Duty/Fathers project. She has a law degree from the University of Dundee, an MA in Development Policy, Administration and Management from the University of Manchester and a Ph.D sponsored by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. For the last 6 years, she has worked in social research at the Universities of Dundee and Leicester, and more recently, as a consultant for Social Research Associates. Her experience spans a range of areas, including: disabilities equality, housing and regeneration, access to education and employment opportunities and inclusive public engagement.

Sara Collier, Policy Information and Administrative Assistant
scollier@childreninscotland.org.uk or 0131 222 2412

Sara joined the team in 2008, after three years working as a Visitor Services Officer at The Scottish Parliament. She also has a degree in Sociology from the University of Edinburgh. She is the initial contact person for CiS Members, provides administrative support to the policy department and serves as the contact person for the Scottish Parliament's Cross Party Group on Children and Young People (for which CiS and YouthLink Scotland are the secretariat).

Contact details
for this section:

Jonathan Sher
Director of Policy, Research and Programmes

Telephone:
0131 222 2418

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