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.

Professor Sir Angus Deaton

Professor

Sir Angus Deaton is Senior Scholar and Professor Emeritus at Princeton University and Presidential Professor of Economics at USC. He is the author of The Great Escape: health, wealth, and the origins of inequality and, with Anne Case, Deaths of despair and the future of capitalism. His interests span domestic and international issues and include health, happiness, development, poverty, inequality, and how to best collect and interpret evidence for policy.

Sean Duffy

Chief Executive

Sean Duffy is currently Chief Executive of the Wise Group where he has led a successful technical, cultural and financial transformation. He is a positive, dynamic and innovative Third Sector leader who has a track record of building values-based partnerships that focus on expanding impactful collaborations to improve some of the most significant challenges in our society.

Dan Finch

UK Manging Director

Dan Finch has worked within the renewables industry for over 30 years. Holding Engineering and Management roles at all stages from project conception, development, construction and O&M in Hydro and Wind technologies. As well as responsibility for the UK and Ireland he is the lead in European offshore new markets.

Clare Foster

Head of Clean Energy

Clare is Head of Clean Energy at law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn. A dual qualified project finance specialist she has been involved in the energy sector since the early renewable projects of the mid-1990s. Clare advises clients on UK projects spanning the energy sector (including onshore, offshore and energy efficiency) and leads the team on most clean energy transactions. A commissioner for the Edinburgh Climate Commission, Clare is also on the Board of RenewableUK.

Adrian Gillespie

Chief Executive

After four years at the University of Strathclyde, where he was their first Chief Commercial Officer and member of the Executive Team, Adrian returned to Scottish Enterprise (SE) as Chief Executive last year.

Before joining the University of Strathclyde, Adrian spent sixteen years at SE where he was Managing Director of Operations and member of the Executive Leadership Team.
He has also held various commercial and financial management positions within Marks and Spencer plc in the 1990s.

Chris van der Kuyl CBE

Chairman

Chris van der Kuyl is one of Scotland’s leading entrepreneurs working across the technology, media, gaming and entertainment sectors. Chris is most notably co-founder and chairman of multiple award-winning games developer 4J Studios, best known for developing Minecraft for Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo games consoles. He and fellow co-founder Paddy Burns launched Chroma Ventures, the investment arm of 4J Studios, in 2021.

Richard Lochhead MSP

Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work

Richard Lochhead MSP was appointed Minister for Just Transition, Employment and Fair Work in May 2021.

Richard was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and 2003 via the North East regional list. In the second session of Parliament, he stood down from his seat and was elected as constituency MSP for Moray in the by-election in April 2006.

He was previously the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and Environment and Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science.

Ivan McKee MSP

Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise

Ivan McKee was appointed Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise in May 2021.

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.

Ivan has been MSP for Glasgow Provan since May 2016. Ivan Grew up in Glasgow where he studied at the University of Strathclyde. He also studied at the University of Newcastle.

Calum Paterson

Managing Partner

Calum Paterson is Managing Partner of Scottish Equity Partners (SEP), a growth equity firm which invests in technology and technology enabled companies in the UK and Europe. SEP’s current portfolio comprises 21 high growth businesses, which have total revenue of ~£1.2 bn and 5,900 employees.

Calum has BA and MBA degrees from the University of Strathclyde and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He is a former Chair of the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA

Simon Roddy

Senior Vice President and Upstream Director

Simon leads the Shell UK Upstream business, a major operated business with a diverse workforce engaged in exploration, production, new investments, decommissioning and energy transition activities across the offshore North Sea and onshore gas processing. Simon a Board member of the industry body OGUK and a member of the North Sea Transition Forum. Simon has a degree in Physics from the University of Bristol, and a MBA from INSEAD.

Bob Sanguinetti

Chief Executive

Bob Sanguinetti joined Aberdeen Harbour Board as Chief Executive in 2021, bringing an extensive background in the maritime industry. Prior to joining the port, Bob led the UK Chamber of Shipping, where he influenced Government, Parliament and global organisations to champion and protect the UK’s shipping industry. Bob was Chief Executive of the Port of Gibraltar between 2014 – 2018 and has more than 20 years’ experience in the Royal Navy, in sea and land-based roles.

Angela Scott

Chief Executive

Angela joined the local authority in November 2013, as Director of Corporate Governance and has been in her current role since July 2014. Prior to joining the council, Angela was Head of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. In addition, Angela was the expert advisor to both the Finance committee of the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly.

Stephen Sheal

Head of External Relations

Stephen is Head of External Relations at the NZTC. His mission is to enable the development and deployment of technology for an affordable net-zero energy future. He is focused on building relationships with the NZTC strategic partners, government and wider stakeholders. He regularly works with city leaders and policy makers, is a member of SCDI's North East Committee and SCDI’s Policy Committee, is a member of the Scottish Energy Advisory Board and is Executive VP of the Scottish Energy Forum.

Mairi Spowage

Director

Professor Mairi Spowage is Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute. Areas of expertise include economic policy, regional economic statistics, and economic & fiscal forecasting.
Mairi leads on the Institute's work with various partners, including those in business, the public and third sector.
Previously, she was Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Fiscal Commission and Head of National Accounts at the Scottish Government, and has 15 years of experience in different areas of analysis.

Rory Stewart

Writer

Rory Stewart is a writer. He was an independant candidate for the Mayor of London and Member of Parliament for Penrith and The Border – the largest geographical constituency in England – between 2010 and 2019. In 2008 he was appointed as the Ryan Family Professor of the Practice of Human Rights and Director of the Carr Centre of Human Rights at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Robert Thorburn

Partnership Director

Robert Thorburn is Openreach’s Partnership Director for Scotland, leading on the company’s commercial and funded programmes to deliver fast, reliable fibre broadband working with partners large and small.

Robert has a 25-year career in the IT and communications sector with extensive experience in programme and project management.

Robert is a member of the Openreach Scotland Board, utilising his experience to lead and manage business development, and the stakeholder engagement strategy

Ian Walker

Senior Director

Ian is the Senior Director within Johnson & Johnson’s Global Public Health team and guides the company's strategy and strategic partnerships in Global Surgery. Prior to this, Ian was a Senior Director within the J&J Global Community Impact team (J&J Foundation) and was Managing Director of the J&J MISSA Region Medical Device business for 7 years. During this period, the business enjoyed significant growth, culminating in the award of the 2014 Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

InterContinental Edinburgh the George

InterContinental Edinburgh the George

The InterContinental Edinburgh The George has been welcoming hotel guests since 1881. At its heart are five listed Georgian townhouses, built in 1775 as homes for Edinburgh’s most prosperous citizens. Today, The InterContinental Edinburgh The George offers all luxuries of an InterContinental life in the heart of the Scottish capital.

Kimpton Edinburgh Charlotte Square

Kimpton Edinburgh Charlotte Square

Kimpton Edinburgh Charlotte Square

Perched on the edge of a picturesque private garden in the New Town, Kimpton Charlotte Square Hotel blends traditional glamour with the Scotland of today.

Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa

Sheraton Grand Hotel & Spa

A travel program with extraordinary hotel brands and endless experiences.