Eric Samuel is Senior Policy and Learning Manager with the Big Lottery Fund in Scotland, based in Glasgow. He has worked with the Big Lottery Fund and its predecessor, the New Opportunities Fund, since 2001, where he has led on the policy development of many programmes, initiatives and investment areas in Scotland and across the UK. Amongst the investment areas he currently leads policy on is Growing Community Assets or ‘GCA’, which aims to enable communities throughout Scotland to have more control and influence over their future development through owning and developing local assets.

Before joining the lottery, Eric spent most of his working life in various departments in a number of Scottish local authorities. He has also worked in banking and at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, where he also obtained a MBA.

Eric is a former Scottish age group swimming champion and international, and still swims several times a week to keep fit. He is also interested in and supports the arts, especially classical music.