Angela Casey

Angela Casey is a Director at CM Porter Novelli a division of [[Porter Novelli International], which is part of the Omnicom empire. Casey who is a former Conservative Party candidate, was formerly part of Countrywide Political, which then became part of GPC.

The CM Porter Novelli bio states:

A former assistant to two government ministers, Angela Casey has worked in PR and public affairs in Westminster, Brussels and Scotland and has a background in PR and politics at national, UK and international levels. Angela is an expert in crisis and issues communications and has unparalleled experience in improving communication between business and politicians - she currently runs a number of high profile public affairs campaigns. Angela also has a track record of professional service PR having worked with a range of firms to raise their profile through thought leadership and commentary, including: Baker Tilly; Fyfe Ireland WS; WS Society and Hewlett Packard. She has led many successful client programmes and has particular expertise in campaigning and public sector issues, having worked for OSCR, City of Edinburgh Council, VisitScotland and FETA. She is Chairman of the Scottish PRCA – the representative body for the PR industry; a past Convenor of the Association for Scottish Public Affairs; and a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD) Scotland Committee.

Arguing against transparency

'If Parliament creates a register of lobbyists then there is the danger that it'll imply parliamentary sanction to anything we do,' says Casey. 'Any Scottish citizen should have the right to approach their MSP.'

A day in the life

I'M up at 6.45, when I usually get my two-year-old son, Patrick, out of bed because he is shouting. We have breakfast together before our nanny, Jenny, comes to look after Elinor, who is five, and Patrick. I always put the radio on during breakfast, Radio 4 or Good Morning Scotland, but I never really hear it. It tends to go in one ear and out the other. Jenny, who really is the world's best nanny, comes at 10 to eight, around which point my husband, Michael Brown, and I leave for work. We live in Blackford, so it's about half-an-hour walk into the centre of Edinburgh.

I get into the office at about 8.30, which gives me a chance to do the emails and post before everyone else comes in half-an-hour later. Every day is different... either myself or Michael has to get home for 6.30, when Jenny will be leaving. Sometimes we have to give her a call to stay on a bit longer, but one of us is usually back by then.

Being convenor of the Association of Scottish Public Affairs (ASPA), which is a representative body for all those engaged in public affairs campaigning and advocacy in Scotland, I sometimes have an an ASPA meeting after work. More than 50 companies and organisations have now signed up to the voluntary Code of Conduct and include people from legal firms, consultancies, public sector roles, charities, individuals and in-house private sector roles.

I have had quite a lot of political experience as, in the eighties, I was assistant to Michael Portillo and Lynda Chalker and have worked in public and Government relations in Westminster and Brussels. We have about one hour of playing with the children, because they go to bed at 7.30, and then it's just a quick supper for me and Michael and then it's usually 10 o'clock bedtime for me. Now the kids both sleep through the night, I'm making the most of being able to have a full nights sleep by going to bed early.