Meg is an independent governance consultant working internationally on parliamentary processes, political party development, gender mainstreaming and women’s leadership.
She also works with other organisations including the Inter-Parliamentary Union, UN Development Programme, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE), UN Women and the Iraq Foundation.
Between 2001-15 she was a Member of Parliament in the UK Parliament and served on the Education and Skills Select Committee, and the Procedure Committee. She was a Minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2007-08, and Minister for Women and Equality 2005-07. She then chaired the Westminster Foundation for Democracy 2008-10 and became Vice Chair 2010-12.
She is currently Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors of Sheffield Hallam University, Independent Chair of the Church of England National Safeguarding Panel, a non-executive director of the Phone-paid Services Authority and Chair of the British Council’s Society Advisory Group. Before being elected to parliament Meg worked for twenty years in the social work profession, her last role was Assistant Director of Children’s Services.
A Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, Meg holds a MA, BA (Hons), and a Diploma in Management Studies. She speaks fluent French, German, conversational Italian and Spanish and is learning basic Arabic.