Mike and Karie, Scottish Region Delegates

Mike Kirby and Karie Murphy are Scotland's delegates to Conference, elected by the Scottish Council of branches earlier this year. They are an essential source of information and fulfil a key organisational role.

They can help you liaise with other branches and regions throughout the week. They are very approachable and will keep you right if you need any advice. They will know how debates are being organised, who to speak to and, more importantly, how to get to speak. They will advise on Scottish policy and will speak for the Region in debates.

Matt Smith, Scottish Secretary

Matt Smith is Scotland's top full time official, leading the union in Scotland in partnership with Mike Kirby, the elected lay convenor. Matt has a long and distinguished history in the trade union movement in Scotland. He is treasurer of the Scottish Trade Union Congress and is a past president of the STUC.

Pauline Grant, National President

Pauline Grant, assistant registrar at the University of Sussex, is the current president of UNISON, the highest lay member position. She will chair Conference throughout the week. Pauline was a member of NALGO for 25 years and was elected to the union's national executive council in 1988. A long-standing member of the Labour Party, Pauline sits on employment tribunals in Brighton.

Dave Prentis, General Secretary

Dave Prentis was elected general secretary of UNISON in 2000, took up the post on 1 January, 2001 and was re-elected this year. Dave was born and brought up in Leeds and went to the University of London where he took a BA in history. This was followed by an MA in industrial relations at the University of Warwick. He is a member of the TUC General Council, the TUC Executive and the Trade Union Labour Party Liaison Committee.

Robin Hunter, Standing Orders Committee

Rep Robin Hunter is Scotland's rep on the Standing Orders Committee which sets out the business for the week. He is the source of information on what's going on and whether your motion has any chance!

John Stevenson

Jane Aitchison

Bernard Kamya

The Scottish Communications and Campaigning Committee, along with the Regional delegates, will issue daily briefings.

It is not a ‘News' service after the event (after all you were there), it is for briefing delegates before the event.

However, we will issue some special reports as a basis for branch magazine reports back home.

We will also be updating the website with most of what goes out in print so you can get easy access.

The service is also there to be used by branches to promote motions within Scottish policy.

In special circumstances we can also help with typing and communications with branches, press etc back home.

Your contact is SiU editor John Stevenson who leads the team with Jane Aitchison as depute and new victim volunteer Bernard Kamya.

Various other members of the committee will be helping out throughout the week as will several delegates, although they don't know it yet.

You will find the team in the Newsheet area in the Tregonwell Hall but please do not visit in numbers, it is very busy.

On the Conference floor, you will find John Stevenson in seat L1 with his delegation.