Davies joins the trade body from the Conservative Party, having been special adviser to Shadow Home Secretary Chris Grayling. She was previously policy adviser at the Federation of Small Businesses and before that a policy adviser and analyst at the Home Office.
Davies replaces Stephen Hogg who is returning to the Civil Service. Hogg has been on secondment from the Home Office since 2006. During his time at the WSTA Hogg has led the development of Community Alcohol Partnerships (CAPs), aimed at curbing underage purchase and possession of alcohol. He has also represented the WSTA in discussions with the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland on their alcohol policy programmes.
Davies will work across a range of policy issues affecting WSTA members. WSTA chief executive Jeremy Beadles said: "I am delighted to welcome Laura to the team. She brings valuable experience of working with businesses and in the political world and I am confident she will be a real asset to the WSTA.
"I'd like to thank Stephen Hogg for his valiant efforts on our behalf. He has worked tirelessly to promote the role industry can play in alcohol policy and has helped establish Community Alcohol Partnerships as a model for tackling alcohol misuse and associated anti-social behaviour at local level. We wish him well in his future work at the Home Office."
