Forum 2020 – Reconnecting Scotland
We’ve been delighted by the reaction to our first digital Forum, which enabled us to bring speakers from far and wide to share their thinking about the issues which matter across all parts of our economy and society. We really did Reconnect Scotland.
We’re making this gold mine of ideas and insights, which will help you as you make your strategic plans for the year ahead, available to the full SCDI membership.
To reflect the urgent action required, the session on Scotland’s Green and Blue Recovery is now available to view below, with other sessions to follow in the weeks ahead. We’ll alert members when they’ve been uploaded.
I’ve seldom been to any event in which a diversity of speakers has provided such uniformly impressive contributions and had such interesting discussions. I feel a real sense of pride in how our SCDI team, speakers, sponsors and members supported the development of a first-class Forum in such testing, uncertain circumstances. I want to thank them all.
We’ve stuck together to build back better and shown the potential for what I believe can be a new dawn for the Scottish economy in 2021. I hope that you’ll be inspired by what you hear to continue to help Scotland’s economy on that important journey.
Sara Thiam, CEO, SCDI
Opening Session
Members have received their password by email. Contact us on events@scdi.org.uk if you need any help.
Scotland’s Green and Blue Recovery Session
Members have received their password by email. Contact us on events@scdi.org.uk if you need any help.
Downloads
Ved Sen Presentation
Download ResourceFrancesca Osowska Presentation
Download ResourceJourney to Net Zero Session
Members have received their password by email. Contact us on events@scdi.org.uk if you need any help.
Downloads
Simon Parsons Presentation
Download ResourceRichard Threlfall Presentation
Download ResourceDeirdre Michie Presentation
Download ResourceRebuilding the Global Economy Session
Members have received their password by email. Contact us on events@scdi.org.uk if you need any help.
Renewing Growth, Remaking Places Session
Members have received their password by email. Contact us on events@scdi.org.uk if you need any help.
Innovative and Inclusive Wellbeing Economy Session
Members have received their password by email. Contact us on events@scdi.org.uk if you need any help.
Read our sponsor blogs:
Downloads
2020 Speakers
Ewan Andrew
President, Global Supply and Procurement
Diageo
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Ewan Andrew
President, Global Supply and Procurement
Ewan Andrew’s Diageo career spans over 20 years and has included various senior leadership roles in Manufacturing, Procurement and Supply Chain management. Ewan was appointed President, Global Supply & Procurement in September 2019, based at the Global Supply headquarters in Edinburgh.
Professor Sara Carter
Vice-Principal and Head of College of Social Sciences
University of Glasgow
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Professor Sara Carter
Vice-Principal and Head of College of Social Sciences
Professor Sara Carter is Vice-Principal and Head of College of Social Sciences at the University of Glasgow. A Professor of Entrepreneurship, Sara’s academic work examines the effects of business ownership on households and the consequences of structural inequalities in resource access on the SME sector.
Professor Dieter Helm CBE
Professor of Economic Policy
Oxford University
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Professor Dieter Helm CBE
Professor of Economic Policy
Dieter is an Official Fellow in Economics at New College, Oxford and Professor of Economic Policy at the University of Oxford. He is Chair of the Natural Capital Committee. Dieter completed the Helm Review on The Cost of Energy for the British Government in 2017.
Fiona Hyslop MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture
Scottish Government
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Fiona Hyslop MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture
Elected in the first session of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, Fiona has been returned as the Constituency MSP for Linlithgow since 2011.
She was appointed as Cabinet Secretary of Education and Lifelong Learning in 2007 and was responsible for abolishing backend university tuition fees. She has had responsibility for culture and external affairs since 2009 and is currently the Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture.
Roma Maguire
Professor of Digital Health and Care
University of Strathclyde
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Roma Maguire
Professor of Digital Health and Care
Roma's research spans several clinical specialities including cancer, dementia, cardiac and respiratory disease and palliative/end of life care. She has led several multi-site supportive care and digital health studies in the UK and across Europe. She is also co-lead of the Health Technology Cluster and holds an Honorary Nurse Consultant post in Digital Health at NHS Lanarkshire.
Peter Mather
Group Regional President, Europe & Head of Country, UK
BP
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Peter Mather
Group Regional President, Europe & Head of Country, UK
Peter is Chairman of BP Europe, BP UK and BP Exploration Operating Company. He is accountable for the governance, reputation, and integration of all bp’s European activities. He has worked in trading, refining, shipping, upstream gas, B2B marketing, corporate strategy, and power – in London, New York, Paris and Brussels.
Professor Colin Mayer
Peter Moores Professor of Management Studies
Said Business School, University of Oxford
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Professor Colin Mayer
Peter Moores Professor of Management Studies
Colin Mayer is a Fellow of the British Academy and the European Corporate Governance Institute, a Professorial Fellow of Wadham College, Oxford and an Honorary Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford and St Anne’s College, Oxford.
Brian McClean
Communications and Sustainability Director
AGS Airports
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Brian McClean
Communications and Sustainability Director
Brian is Director of Communications and Sustainability for AGS Airports which comprises Aberdeen International, Glasgow and Southampton airports. In addition to overseeing AGS’ communications and public affairs functions, Brian is responsible for delivering the group’s sustainability strategy which sets out how AGS balances the clear economic and social benefits of aviation with its climate change responsibilities.
Ivan McKee MSP
Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise
Scottish Government
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Ivan McKee MSP
Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise
Ivan McKee was appointed Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise in May 2021. His career has involved a number of senior roles in manufacturing and business, managing companies in the UK as well as Poland, Finland, Croatia and Bosnia.
Early in his career, Ivan spent two years with VSO in Bangladesh. He is currently a trustee of the charity CEI, which supports education and health projects in Bangladesh.
Deirdre Michie OBE
Chief Executive Officer
Oil & Gas UK
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Deirdre Michie OBE
Chief Executive Officer
Deirdre was appointed CEO of OGUK in May 2015 and is a Non-Executive Director of Scottish Water, a Board member of Opportunity North East, a member of the Scottish Government’s Energy Advisory Board and a member of the Women’s Business Council.
Alison Milne
Founder and Director
Crafty Maltsters Ltd
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Alison Milne
Founder and Director
Alison Milne has a portfolio career spanning the food, drink and agriculture sector, including experience in consulting, representation and practical business application. Alison is acutely aware of the potential and opportunity that Scottish Food, Drink and Agri-business offer to Scotland’s economy and is passionate about using her skills and experience to help shape the future.
Francesca Osowska
Chief Executive
NatureScot
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Francesca Osowska
Chief Executive
Francesca joined NatureScot as CEO on 1 October 2017. Prior to this, she spent over 20 years working for the civil service, initially as an economist. In 2012, Francesca was appointed as Director for the Commonwealth Games and Sport to oversee the delivery of the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014, for which she subsequently received an OBE.
Simon Parsons
Director of Strategic Customer Service Planning
Scottish Water
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Simon Parsons
Director of Strategic Customer Service Planning
Having joined Scottish Water in April 2012 as Chief Scientist, Simon is now Director of Strategic Customer Service Planning, leading teams in regulation, water and waste water services, strategic review, science and innovation.
Chintan Patel
Chief Technology Officer & Engineering Director - Cisco UK & Ireland
Cisco
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Chintan Patel
Chief Technology Officer & Engineering Director - Cisco UK & Ireland
As CTO, Chintan Patel works with Cisco’s major clients and partners. His work involves regular interactions with the academia, government and industry forums that help drive the technology agenda forward for the UK and Ireland. Through his education and experience, he brings unique perspectives bridging the worlds of business and technology.
Robert Peston
Journalist, Broadcaster and Founder, Speakers for Schools
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Robert Peston
Journalist, Broadcaster and Founder, Speakers for Schools
Robert Peston is ITV’s political editor, presenter of the politics show “Peston”, founder of the education charity Speakers for Schools, and vice president of Hospice UK.
Steve Phimister
Vice President Upstream
Shell UK
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Steve Phimister
Vice President Upstream
Steve leads the Shell UK Upstream business, a major operated business with a diverse workforce of over 1000 people engaged in exploration, production, new investments and decommissioning activities across the offshore North Sea and onshore gas processing.
Ved Sen
Digital Evangelist & Business Innovation Lead
Tata Consultancy Services, UK & Ireland
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Ved Sen
Digital Evangelist & Business Innovation Lead
As Digital Evangelist & Business Innovation Lead for Tata Consultancy Services in UK&I, Ved’s primary focus is to help drive future thinking conversations with clients, in solving tomorrow's problems. He has been working with and advising senior clients across retail, insurance, education, healthcare, and other sectors and also runs an innovation team in London.
Julie Snell
Chair
Scotland 5G Centre
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Julie Snell
Chair
Julie was part of the leadership team that developed BT’s first public Wifi project, BT Openzone. She spent five years on the board of the global telco group Wireless Broadband Alliance, two years as Chair. In 2017, Julie was appointed as director and CEO of Bristol’s smart city infrastructure and computer network company Bristol is Open.
Richard Threlfall
Partner, Global Head of Infrastructure and KPMG IMPACT
KMPG
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Richard Threlfall
Partner, Global Head of Infrastructure and KPMG IMPACT
Richard is KPMG’s Global Head of Infrastructure and Global Head of KPMG IMPACT covering sustainability, climate change and economic and social development. He has over 25 years’ experience in infrastructure policy, governance, strategy and financing, advising both public and private sector clients in the UK and overseas.
Katherine Trebeck
Advocacy and Influencing Lead
Wellbeing Economy Alliance
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Katherine Trebeck
Advocacy and Influencing Lead
Katherine is Advocacy and Influencing Lead for the Wellbeing Economy Alliance and co-founder of WEAll Scotland. She held various roles with Oxfam GB and instigated the Wellbeing Economy Governments partnership.
Hamish Trench
Chief Executive
Scottish Land Commission
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Hamish Trench
Chief Executive
Hamish is Chief Executive of the Scottish Land Commission, a public body stimulating fresh thinking on the ways we own and use land in Scotland. He is a former chartered surveyor with experience of land use policy, management and research in the public and private sectors, and is a Fellow of the RSA.
Shannon Vallor
Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence
University of Edinburgh's Edinburgh Futures Institute
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Shannon Vallor
Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence
Shannon Vallor is the Baillie Gifford Chair in the Ethics of Data and Artificial Intelligence at the Edinburgh Futures Institute (EFI) at the University of Edinburgh, and Director of EFI’s Centre for Technomoral Futures. Professor Vallor's research explores how AI, robotics, and data science reshape human moral character and intelligence.
Facilitator
Sally Magnusson
Broadcaster
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Sally Magnusson
Broadcaster
Sally Magnusson has worked on a range of BBC programmes and currently presents Reporting Scotland. She is also the author of ten books, including most recently two novels. Her bestselling memoir Where Memories Go: Why Dementia Changes Everything, has been credited with improving knowledge and understanding of this widespread brain condition.
Forum Contacts
Gareth Williams
Head of Policy
SCDI
View Bio >
Gareth Williams
Head of Policy
T: 07917 103 997
E: gareth.williams@scdi.org.uk
Carol Anne Grady
Events Manager
SCDI
View Bio >
Carol Anne Grady
Events Manager
E: carolanne.grady@scdi.org.uk
T: 0141 222 9729
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