Tam's team

As the children and young people's Commissioner for Scotland, Tam has a big job which is why he also has 13 people working in the office.

The team is split into four areas - all of whom play a vital role in helping Tam. The areas are:

Click on the relevant area above to meet the members of the team, or scroll through their details below.

Participation & education team

This team work to make sure that all Scotland's children and young people have a chance to communicate with the Commissioner and to talk about the issues that matter. They do this directly and also through other organisations and clubs that work for and with you.

Katie Brown, Head of Participation and Education...

Katie's job is to make sure that all children in Scotland know about their rights, know about the Commissioner and how Tam can make Scotland a better place for children and young people. When she's not doing this, she is usually to be found in her garden listening to the radio come rain or shine.

Cathy Begley, Participation and Education Officer...

Cathy works to create good links and relationships with schools, and places where children and young people learn. She does this so that children and young people’s views and experiences can be passed on to the office to help us make decisions. She has an amazing collection of rare books and loves big rugs. She used to be a teacher so insists on everyone calling her Mrs Begley (she doesn't really).

Sarah-Louise Davies, Participation and Engagement Officer...

Sarah-Louise does a similar job to Cathy, but she concentrates on the relationships with organisations that work with children and young people; likes charities and projects. She has bags of experience of working with children and young people in fun and productive ways. She's a creative type and is never happier than when she is cooking up ideas for activities. Never seen without her hair straighteners, she has an abject fear of being caught in the rain....

To contact anyone in the team email firstname.surname@sccyp.org.uk or call 0131 558 3733

Policy team

The team work to make sure that existing and new policies and laws that directly affect your lives take into consideration your rights, and are the best they can possibly be.

Maire McCormack, Head of Policy

Maire heads up the Policy Team, and is in charge of ensuring that law and policy relating to the rights of children and young people is in tip top condition. She also has a stunning jacket for every occasion and is a novice beekeeper.

Nico Juetten, Parliamentary Officer

Nico is a self confessed policy geek. His job involves getting stuck into the small print of new laws and policies that the government and parliament create and makes sure children’s rights are taken into account. He is also the first point of contact for MSPs who want to know what the Commissioner thinks about issues concerning children and young people. He loves his iPhone.

Stefan Stoyanov, Policy Officer

Stefan works closely with his policy colleagues to make sure children rights are at the heart of any Scottish laws affecting children and young people. He leads on the offices’s work around asylum and child trafficking and disability. Stefan hails from Bulgaria originally and loves the theatre, daahling.

Gillian Munro, Information Officer

Gillian (a.k.a ‘the G’) keeps everyone in the office informed about new publications and policies about children and young people’s issues. She is also in charge of all information requests that come to the office too. When she’s not doing that she is more than likely climbing a mountain so her surname is perfect.

Pauline McIntyre, Enquiries Officer

Pauline is one of the people on the other end of the phone if you call the office’s enquiry line. She helps callers find the best people to talk to and where possible gives support and help with regards to the Commissioner’s opinion on specific issues. The Sound of Music is by far one of her favourite things.

Sheila Hamilton, Research Manager

Sheila is in charge of all the research contracts that the office commissions. This means she works with other organisations to produce the research reports that the Commissioner’s office then uses to influence policy and law. She is an experienced practical joker and is often found chortling at her desk over her latest successful exploit.

To contact anyone in the team email firstname.surname@sccyp.org.uk or call 0131 558 3733

Corporate services

This team makes sure that everything runs smoothly within the office, from keeping on top of relevant internal policies, to making sure the Commissioner knows where he is to be and when.

Stephen Grounds, Office Manager

Steve has the tough task of making sure the office runs smoothly. He is the money man, pays all the bills, balances the books and reports on the accounts. He loves to golf and is a total hustler on the pool table.

Heather Belmonte, Administrator

Heather is the first person you're likely to meet if you visit the office. Her work is very varied as she covers reception, provides admin support to the whole team and helps Steve make sure the office keeps running smoothly.

To contact anyone in the team email firstname.surname@sccyp.org.uk or call 0131 558 3733

Communications team

Ezmie McCutcheon, Communications Manager

Ezmie’s job is to job get the Commissioner's messages out there in media, print and online, and making it is as easy as possible for you to get back in touch with Tam. She works with agencies and suppliers which support the office to make sure that this happens. When not talking or writing she is usually laughing (mostly at herself).

Chris Small, Communications Manager

Chris works with Ezmie and Shelley on all communications going out of the Commissioner's office in media, print and online. His favourite job is sourcing information and articles for our monthly e-newsletter, On the RIGHTS track! He is not to be confused with retired snooker player from Leith, Chris Small.

Shelley Smith, Digital Media Officer

Shelley focuses solely on our digital and online communication channels. If you have any questions about this website, our Twitter or YouTube accounts, she's the person to speak to.