Aileen Walker OBE worked at the House of Commons in the UK Parliament for over 30 years in a range of public engagement, civic education, information, research, communications and change management roles. Between 2008 and 2016 she was Director of Public Engagement, tasked with delivering a significant development strategy to improve the UK Parliament’s relations with the public. Her work in this area included the substantial expansion of Parliament’s education services, culminating in the opening of a dedicated Education Centre at Parliament in 2015; the establishment of a regional parliamentary outreach service, taking Parliament out to where people are; the introduction of a new range of information and engagement resources and awareness-raising activities; and overseeing the development of a visitor services team, offering tours, information and orientation services to all visitors to Parliament.
Aileen received an OBE in the New Year 2017 Honours List for services to improving public engagement with Parliament and voluntary service to the community in London.