Sarah-Jane, Director of Policy & Parliamentary Affairs, joined the organisation in 2004 as Housing Strategy Officer, after 10 years in both local authority and housing association environments. During these 10 years she carried out a number of housing related roles, latterly specialising in housing research and strategic policy development. Her role as Housing Strategy Officer involved raising awareness of the role of the rural private rented sector,increasing and maintaining standards within the sector, and identifying opportunities for further development of the private sector role in meeting the housing needs of rural Scotland. Sarah-Jane played a lead role in the development of the Rural Homes for Rent Grant Scheme. She became Head of Policy in 2009 and was made Director of Policy & Parliamentary Affairs in January 2013. Her current role involves overseeing the policy team and leading on lobbying and representational work. A large part of her role involves direct advice to members on a wide range of issues and she also sits on a large number of national and local stakeholder groups, covering various subjects of relevance to our members. She retains specific policy responsibility for housing, planning, communities and rural services. Sarah-Jane is a Board member of the Rural Housing Service, lives on her family’s farm in the Scottish Borders and is a Parent Council member at her local village school