Alastair Thomson is Principal Policy and Advocacy Officer at NIACE, which he joined in 1987 from the Department of Education & Science, where he was a Government Information Officer. Prior to this he taught in further, higher and community education in Cambridge where he also helped establish the city’s education guidance service for adults. During this time he also worked in print and broadcast journalism, specialising in education and employment material and co-authoring a range of books and pamphlets published commercially and by public bodies.

As a NIACE Senior Programme Director, Alastair managed and contributed to a range of initiatives focused on work and learning. In his current role, he is responsible to the Chief Executive of NIACE for advocacy work (including government and parliamentary relations) and for strategic policy analysis and coherence. He has also given evidence to select committees in both Houses of Parliament.