Carers Parliament

Chair: Professor Kezia Dugdale
Associate Director of the Centre for Public Policy,
University of Glasgow

Professor Kezia Dugdale is the Associate Director of the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Glasgow. Having served as an MSP, Leader of Scottish Labour and more recently as Director of the John Smith Centre, Kezia brings with her a wealth of experience in campaigning, law-making and public policy. She leads the Centre’s external engagement activity, providing an important bridge between the University, policy makers and the communities they serve.

Beyond the day job, she writes for the Courier and talks for Times Radio. She is a trustee of Shelter where she chairs Shelter Scotland and a member of the Oversight Board of The Promise. 

Councillor Paul Kelly
Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, COSLA

Councillor Paul Kelly is the COSLA Spokesperson for Health and Social Care. 

Councillor Kelly graduated from Glasgow University with a MA Honours in History. He has been a Councillor for the Motherwell West ward of North Lanarkshire Council since 2007. 

From 2016-2022 he was Depute Leader of North Lanarkshire Council, a Non-executive director of NHS Lanarkshire, and Chair then Vice-Chair of North Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership Joint Integration Board. He has also previously been the Depute Leader of the North Lanarkshire Council Opposition Labour Group. 

He was appointed to the role of COSLA's Health and Social Care Spokesperson after his re-election as Councillor in 2022. 

Kate Hogarth
Chief Executive, Shared Care Scotland

Kate Hogarth has been part of Shared Care Scotland for over seven years and is deeply committed to its vision of ensuring all unpaid carers can access the support and breaks they need. She has played a key role in shaping the organisation’s policy and communications, most recently as Head of Policy and Communications before taking on the role of CEO in January 2025. With over 20 years’ experience across the public, private, and third sectors, Kate brings compassion, curiosity, and a collaborative approach to leadership. She is passionate about strengthening support for carers and believes in the power of connection, evidence, and values-led practice to deliver meaningful change. 

Sara Redmond
Chief Officer of Development, The Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland (the ALLIANCE)

Sara is Chief Officer of Development at the ALLIANCE, responsible for leading and continuing to shape the vision of the organisation in partnership with the Chief Officer of Operations.

Sara is responsible for developing the strategic direction of the organisation, overseeing the ALLIANCE’s portfolio of programmes. Central to this is ensuring a strong voice for disabled people, people living with long term conditions and unpaid carers and opportunity to influence change based on their lived experiences.

Tom Arthur, MSP
Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing

Born in Paisley in 1985, he was first elected to the Scottish Parliament for the seat of Renfrewshire South at the 2016 election, holding the seat in 2021. He joined the Scottish Government as Minister for Public Finance, Planning and Community Wealth in May 2021. 

Mr Arthur was raised in Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, where he was educated at Cross Arthurlie Primary and Barrhead High School. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music then later Master of Music from the University of Glasgow. Before entering politics, he worked as a company director, freelance piano teacher and keyboardist. He was appointed as for Minister for Community Wealth and Public Finance in March 2023, and  Minister for Employment and Investment in May 2024. 

Emma Jackson
Head of Social Justice, Citizens Advice Scotland

Emma is a passionate social justice campaigner, with both her personal and professional life dedicated to tackling inequality and building a society where we can all flourish. Emma is Head of Social Justice at Citizens Advice Scotland, having previously worked for the debt help charity Christians Against Poverty as Scotland Director and also in higher education as Head of Disability Services at a multi campus University. She speaks widely on the subjects of inequality, poverty and justice.  Emma is a regular broadcaster and contributor for BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Thought for the Day’. She is a board member of the Poverty Alliance and lives in the rurally Borders.

Paul Johnston
Chief Executive, Public Health Scotland

Paul was appointed as Chief Executive of Public Health Scotland in March 2023. He is focussed on the delivery of Public Health Scotland’s purpose - improving life expectancy and tackling health inequalities. Public Health Scotland works across the domains of public health, with a remit that includes health protection, health improvement and healthcare.  

Prior to this role, Paul spent eight years as a Director General and member of the Executive Team in the Scottish Government. His responsibilities covered many areas of social policy that impact on health including education, justice, social security, child poverty and public service reform. 

Hayley Burton
Senior Employment Manager, Carers Scotland

Hayley joined the Carers Scotland team in March 2025 and leads on our employer’s engagement projects whilst also managing the Carer Positive scheme supporting employers to raise awareness, recognise and put supports in place for working carers.

She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise having previously worked directly with carers, employers, and partners in her roles with local carers centres, third sector interface and national public body.

The following organisations will have an information stand at the in-person event:

SSEN
Marie Curie Scotland
Shared Care Scotland and Respitality
Age Scotland
Mental Welfare Commission
Alzheimer Scotland (NDCAN)
Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland
National Carer Organisations
Social Security Scotland