Meet the Membership team
Find out more about the Children in Scotland Membership team, their areas of expertise, and how to get in touch.
Simon Massey
Head of Engagement and Learning
Simon is the strategic lead of the Membership Team and has overrall responsibility for the membership service. He oversees reporting, leads on relationship building with members and chairs meetings of the Membership Team. Simon brings Children in Scotland’s mission to the membership offer, and is responsible for ensuring that our members receive a fantastic service.
Parisa Shirazi
Senior Policy, Projects and Participation Officer
Parisa joined Children in Scotland in January 2021 as Policy, Projects and Participation Officer.
Before joining the organisation, she worked at a busy child law centre on projects that help young people experiencing homelessness and those who have left the care system and also worked in their Policy Team. She previously worked in political offices in Holyrood and Westminster carrying out research and casework. These roles allowed her to appreciate the importance of well-informed and beneficial policy in achieving positive change.
Parisa studied Law at Durham University and completed an LLM in General Law at the University of Edinburgh in 2017. Through her pro bono experience as a Volunteer Advocate for parents whose children are involved in the care system, she developed an interest in family law and children’s rights.
In her spare time, she is learning Farsi to communicate with her Iranian family, she enjoys reading and spends a disproportionate amount of time petting dogs.
Sophie Ward
Senior Communications Officer – Membership Lead
Sophie joined Children in Scotland in July 2023. Previously, she spent three years working for the Scottish Chamber Orchestra where she had the opportunity to work across its marketing activities and develop the Orchestra’s first ever digital concert season.
Sophie has ten years’ experience managing projects for a number of culture organisations and charities including VisitScotland, RSPB Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland.
Outside of work, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, fair-weather running and playing music.
Cat Kozlowski
Learning & Membership manager
Cat joined Children in Scotland in January 2019 and is our Senior Learning & Events Officer. She has spent 16 years working in the education sector focusing on professional learning, outreach education and environmental education. She has a keen interest in equality and sustainability.
Previously, she has worked on community education programmes that supported asylum seekers, refugees, the Traveller community and disadvantaged young people.