Louise Falconer
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My parents migrated from Edinburgh to Australia to teach before I was born. Throughout my childhood we visited Scotland, so being Scottish was part of my identity growing up.
I graduated with a Law and Asian Studies degree in Australia, then spent some time in Japan teaching English. I worked as a lawyer for a short time, before moving into the Australian civil service, working for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. My job was focused on issues around women in work and industrial relations.
I later decided to take up a two year post with Oxfam, working on issues around gender and poverty. I wasn't really expecting to stay any longer in Scotland, but then I met my husband. After Oxfam, I worked at the Scottish Parliament, before moving to my current post with the Glasgow City Council. I work for the Leader of the Council, providing policy support, with a focus on health, social work, and communities.
The council has committed to developing an anti-poverty strategy for the city. My job has been to figure out the priorities, make sure the right people are talking to each other and that we involve people with direct experience of poverty to inform us on how to take the work forward.
I think Glasgow’s museums and parks are something to be really proud of, and the fact that they are free is really important. It makes a clear statement that public facilities are for everybody, which is admirable, because most cities don’t do that.
Louise Falconer
My parents migrated from Edinburgh to Australia to teach before I was born. Throughout my childhood we visited Scotland, so being Scottish was part of my identity growing up.
I graduated with a Law and Asian Studies degree in Australia, then spent some time in Japan teaching English. I worked as a lawyer for a short time, before moving into the Australian civil service, working for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. My job was focused on issues around women in work and industrial relations.
I later decided to take up a two year post with Oxfam, working on issues around gender and poverty. I wasn't really expecting to stay any longer in Scotland, but then I met my husband. After Oxfam, I worked at the Scottish Parliament, before moving to my current post with the Glasgow City Council. I work for the Leader of the Council, providing policy support, with a focus on health, social work, and communities.
The council has committed to developing an anti-poverty strategy for the city. My job has been to figure out the priorities, make sure the right people are talking to each other and that we involve people with direct experience of poverty to inform us on how to take the work forward.
I think Glasgow’s museums and parks are something to be really proud of, and the fact that they are free is really important. It makes a clear statement that public facilities are for everybody, which is admirable, because most cities don’t do that.