Lydia Buchanan is currently the Deputy Head of Programmes at CPA and her work focuses on parliamentary strengthening around the Commonwealth on a bilateral basis. She is also the project lead for the CPA Parliamentary Academy and has been at the forefront of its development.

Prior to this appointment, Lydia spent two years at CPA UK most recently as a Programmes Officer and before this, she supported the UK Overseas Territories Project on public financial scrutiny, a special project funded by the UK Government. Before joining CPA UK she worked as the Clerk of Council for the Legislative Council of St Helena, which is where her keen interest for CPA Small Branches and parliamentary strengthening primarily began.

Lydia has a degree in Politics and a Masters in Public Policy and Practice from the University of Greenwich. Lydia also holds a Project Management for Development (PMD Pro) certification.