Alan McNiven, MSc, FRSA, MIoD

I am Chief Executive of Renfrewshire’s TSI ‘Engage Renfrewshire’ which supports local community action, volunteering, and social enterprise. The agency also promotes the local Third Sector’s role in Community Planning. I have a wide range of experience within education, regeneration policy and community engagement delivery with emphasis around the arts, youth work and the Third Sector. I’ve developed significant community initiatives including the establishment of community radio projects, ‘Out of Schools Learning’ initiatives, and award winning diversionary programmes. I also have experience in community asset transfers and local employment initiatives.

I managed a Youth Arts Service in Strathclyde Region before undertaking study in Photography & Film. During that time I was employed in a number of freelance roles with music and design companies and carried out photography briefs across the UK. On graduating I took up a range of education and arts roles with Renfrewshire Council which included acting as Principal Arts Officer before moving on to Paisley Partnership Regeneration Company where I was Company Manager.

During 2010 I managed the merger of the three local Third Sector support agencies in Renfrewshire to establish ‘Engage Renfrewshire’, taking up the role of Chief Executive in December 2010. In this new role I’ve been committed to the development of excellent community engagement practices for the Community Planning Partnership and championed the establishment of improved financial & governance models for Third Sector organisations.

I’m a Fellow of the RSA, Chair of Renfrewshire’s Forum for Empowering Communities, member of the Institute of Directors, member of the SFA’s Developing Community Football Clubs Project Team, and Chair of Childcare First Limited. I hold a Master’s Degree in Social Enterprise and I’m currently a Doctoral researcher (Justice, Welfare and Policy) for Glasgow Caledonian University.

As a member of the ‘Paisley 2021 City of Culture’, I lead the Engagement & Participation workstream, which includes engagement with local school and businesses as well as the Community & Voluntary sector.