Policy and campaigns

Promoting the interests of authors through public campaigns, political and industry lobbying, and working with partners

Keith Ashby

Legal Counsel

Keith joined SoA in 2024 as our Legal Counsel.

Sam Gonçalves

Senior Policy Manager (Scotland)

Sam Gonçalves joined the SoA in April 2024, and is a writer from Brazil, currently living in Glasgow. Previously, he has worked with organisations like Creative Dundee, The Ferret, Hot Chocolate Trust, Greater Govanhill and others – both in the Third Sector and in the Creative Industries.

Advocacy for authors is a major part of this role. Sam brings a background in community development and organising, and a host of ideas on how the SoA can network with government and industry agencies to represent issues that matter to authors in Scotland.

Teddy McDonald

Communications and Campaigns Manager

Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group coordinator

Teddy is our Communications and Campaigns Manager, working on SoA communications and outreach and alongside the Policy department on the SoA’s campaigns work.

He is also co-coordinator of the Children’s Writers and Illustrators Group, working with Sarah Burton and members of the CWIG committee on issues close to children’s writers.

Ambre Morvan

Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager

Contracts Advisor

Translators Association Coordinator

Ambre joined the SoA in October 2021. She advises members on publishing contracts and issues. She also works on the SoA’s public policy.

Ambre is joint group coordinator for the Translators Association.

Catherine Pocock

Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager

Catherine joined the SoA in September 2021. She works on the SoA’s policy, and campaigns and lobbies Government on behalf of members.