Jess McBeath

I am an Online Safety consultant and experienced non-executive. I help organisations keep themselves, customers and service users safe online and protected against attack.

I am focused on empowering us all to live a good life online. Whether you are looking to support staff, young people, vulnerable adults or parents online; need advice about safeguarding online service delivery; or want to support staff to better manage their online reputations, I can help.

I provide comprehensive audit, support and advice addressing not only the specifics of education and safeguarding online, but also the national and international policy context and key drivers as we undergo a revolution in online communications.

My focus is on digital citizenship: harnessing the business imperative of the digital economy whilst providing opportunity, skills and a safe online experience for consumers. We should all be able to live a good life online.

I am a Member of the Advertising Advisory Committee (Advertising Standards Authority) and a Member of Ofcom’s Advisory Committee Scotland. I am also Vice Chair of Borders College Regional Board. At board level I specialise in cybersecurity risk oversight. I am a member of various groups such as Police Scotland’s Multi-Agency Preventing Online Child Sexual Abuse & Exploitation Group.

I am certified as a Cyber Essentials Assessor (not currently practicing). I am an Online Safety Mark Accredited Assessor and a member of AACOSS (Association of Adult and Child Online Safety Specialists). I was awarded the NSPCC Childhood Champion Award as Schools Volunteer for Scotland 2018. My qualifications are a first class degree in Linguistics & Artificial Intelligence and an MBA (distinction), both from the University of Edinburgh.

Find me on Linked In, or drop me an email.

Non-executive roles:

• Ofcom (Advisory Committee for Scotland)

• Advertising Standards Authority (Advertising Advisory Committee)

• Borders College Regional Board (Vice Chair)

I have delivered services for online safety charities including:

• Digital Awareness (including Vodafone Digital Parent Pro content)

• GetSafeOnline

• Internet Matters

• South West Grid for Learning

• Stop It Now!

• UK Safer Internet Centre

Government, university and public sector client work includes:

• Children & Young People’s Commissioner Scotland

• National Cyber Security Centre (CyberSprinters home activities)

• Ofcom (media literacy)

• Scottish Government

• Swansea University (critical friend evaluation of DRAGON-Shield)

• Welsh Government

Numerous third and private sector client work including:

• UN (Instant Network Schools)

• British Council (digital life hacks)

• Children 1st (Safeguarders Panel)

• FosterCare Connect

• Holyrood Events

• SCVO

• Young Scot