Emma Lawson

Co CEO
DemocracyCo

Emma Lawson is a policy and community engagement expert. She has worked at the highest echelons of the Public Service in SA and abroad. She offers an unparalleled understanding of the workings and challenges of government as well as extensive networks. Between 2010-2014 Emma headed up the Government’s centre for community engagement– the Participation and Partnerships team.

Under Emma’s leadership the team was recognised by the United Nations, receiving a second placing in the category "Fostering participation in policy making through innovative mechanisms". Her team also received an award from IAP2 International for best practice community engagement and a commendation from the Future Gov 2.0 awards for leading use of social media by government in Asia Pacific and was recognised nationally for the best open data initiative ‘Unleashed’.

She led the development of a policy called “Better Together” which acts as a guide for public servants in the State government on how to effectively and successfully engage the community. Emma was a political adviser to the State Government in SA between 2005 and 2007. She also worked for the Upper House of Parliament in NSW running parliamentary inquiries, in the United Kingdom for the National Health Service and headed up a policy team within Cabinet Office negotiating agreements with the Federal Government in the areas of education, training, housing and Aboriginal affairs.