Planning and communications

Morag Arnot - Director of Planning and Communications A graduate of Edinburgh University with an MA in psychology, Morag initially trained as a Careers Officer working in schools and colleges around West Edinburgh before being appointed as a lecturer in Careers Guidance at the University of Paisley.  After five years and gaining a MSc in HR from Strathclyde University, she worked in the Scottish Enterprise network before returning to Paisley University.  There she worked initially as a project manager, developing and researching access to higher education for disadvantaged groups and then as Director of Continuing Education at the university’s Ayr campus.  After a period of restructuring at Paisley she was promoted to the role of Director of Corporate Communication.  After gaining a post graduate qualification in Marketing, Morag was appointed in 1999 as Director of Marketing at Napier University.  She joined the Scottish Arts Council in January 2005.

Ken Wilson - Head of Marketing and Information   Ken is responsible for managing the Scottish Arts Council’s publications and design, Help Desk, events and website. Ken is a former freelance feature writer, working for newspapers and magazines on a range of subjects including: consumer affairs, the cinema and arts, photography, marketing and design, the environment and health. He is also a former Associate Editor of Portfolio: The Magazine of Independent Photography in Scotland. He has contributed to a number of books including The Dictionary of Contemporary Slang (Pan), Newspeak (Routledge) and The Dictionary of Jargon (Routledge). He also worked as Publicity/Press Officer at sportscotland and studied Communications in Aberdeen.

Caroline Docherty - Head of Planning and Research Caroline is responsible for co-ordinating corporate planning, research and regional strategic partnerships. Her interest and involvement with the arts began as a participant in youth theatre and developed through theatre productions at Warwick University while studying English and American Literature. Caroline worked briefly in publishing with the Folio Society before joining Contemporary Dance Trust in London where she managed the Place Theatre. Caroline moved to Scotland to join Dundee Rep as the first administrator of their new community programme and contemporary dance company.   In 1993 Caroline was appointed as arts officer for Stirling District Council which developed her interest in arts and cultural policy. Caroline joined the Scottish Arts Council as Senior Arts Development Officer in 1995 and her first major task was to implement the Council’s local authority strategy and development plan through local government re-organisation.    Since then her role expanded to include regional development, arts and tourism, the volunteer-led arts and cultural diversity.

Michelle Jordan - Head of Communications Michelle is responsible for media and parliamentary communications. She began her working life in Glasgow record shops before moving to London to work in the record industry.  Michelle returned to Scotland and qualified as an insurance broker before completing her journalistic training at Napier University.  As well as stints freelancing, working for freesheets and news agencies, she also worked for the Fife Free Press and the Oban Times before joining Shelter Scotland’s campaigns team as Press and Public Affairs officer.