Dr Paul Monaghan lives in Ross-Shire with Stephanie and his daughter Sian.

Full statement

He was born in Montrose before moving to Inverness with his family when he was 2 years old.

Paul was educated at Inverness Royal Academy and at the University of Stirling where he gained a first class honours degree in Psychology and Sociology and later a Ph.D. in Social Policy.

For his first degree he researched and reported on the sources of stress and the coping strategies deployed among the police officers and support staff of Northern Constabulary. For his Ph.D., which he undertook having won a prestigious Collaborative Award in Science and Engineering from the Economic and Social Research Council, he considered the role of Scotland’s largest voluntary organisation in the development and implementation of social policy, in Scotland, during the post-war period. Paul is a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management.

For his first degree he researched and reported on the sources of stress and the coping strategies deployed among the police officers and support staff of Northern Constabulary. For his Ph.D., which he undertook having won a prestigious Collaborative Award in Science and Engineering from the Economic and Social Research Council, he considered the role of Scotland’s largest voluntary organisation in the development and implementation of social policy, in Scotland, during the post-war period. Paul is a Graduate Member of the British Psychological Society and a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management.

Paul is also very active in supporting a number of other voluntary organisations and partnerships including a number of animal welfare organisations and local charities. Paul is also a director of both the Inverness MS Therapy Centre and Youth Highland and is active in helping Wick MS Therapy Centre.

Within the Scottish National Party, which he first joined in 1994, Paul holds a number of positions at both branch and constituency levels. He also founded ‘Yes Highland’ that campaigned successfully across Highland for a Yes vote in the referendum held on 18 September 2014.

At Parliament Dr Monaghan is a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee Special Sub-Committee Greyhound Welfare, the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee Special Sub-Committee on Flooding and a member of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee Special Sub-Committee on Animal Welfare.

He is also a member of the Delegated Legislation Committee on the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Temporary Class Drug) Order, the Homelessness Reduction Bill Committee and the Delegated Legislation Committee on the Draft Bereavement Support Payment Regulations 2017