Elena Whitham

Early life Born on 9 July 1974 in Kilmarnock, her family immigrated to Quebec, Canada when she was six because her father could not find work in Scotland. Whitham's family were miners in Muirkirk and agricultural workers at many local farms from Sorn to Coylton. 1990-1992, Whitham studied at the Champlain College Saint-Lambert in Saint Lambert, Quebec. In 1993 she studied at Concordia University for a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Communications. In the 1995 Quebec independence referendum, she campaigned in-favour of Quebec sovereignty. After graduating, she returned to Scotland and freelanced in local media, then worked in community support roles in Ayrshire including over ten years as a Scottish Women's Aid worker assisting victims of domestic abuse.

Political career

Local government On 1 October 2015 she was elected to East Ayrshire Council in a by-election for the Irvine Valley ward. She became Depute Leader of the council, and was also national housing and homelessness lead for the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

Member of the Scottish Parliament In October 2020 she was confirmed as a candidate for Scottish Parliament. On 8 May 2021 she was elected as Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley. Her majority of 4,337 votes (12.2%) was lower than that achieved in 2016 by her predecessor Jeane Freeman.

Minister for Community Safety In November 2022, it was announced that Whitham would succeed Ash Regan as Minister for Community Safety, subject to parliamentary approval. She resigned the post on 6 February 2024 due to her suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

On 25 November 2024, Whitham announced she would not seek re-election at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

Personal life Whitham is the mother of two children.