David Beurle
Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Future iQ
David is a world-renowned expert on urban, community, regional and organisational economic revitalisation. His work extends from the local and regional, through to corporate and governmental levels, with a focus on future thinking and long-term planning. He specialises in creating innovative future planning approaches for use in regional and organisational settings. He developed the ground-breaking Future Game as a widely used planning and workshop tool. He pioneered the application of Scenario Planning to regions and rural industries around the world.
David has led over 200 community visioning sessions across North America, Australia and Europe; he has delivered numerous keynote addresses and workshop presentations across the globe. David has worked in the remotest parts of Australia through to the highest levels of government, with eight years as the ‘right-hand man’ to the Western Australian Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. He has held a position on the Board of the Western Australian Community Foundation and has a BSc in Agriculture from Sydney University. David’s work in community and economic development has earned international, national and state awards, including twice receiving the International Community Development Society’s Innovative Project Award.
Chris Brodie
Head of Skills Planning and Sector Development, Skills Development Scotland
Chris leads a team of more than 40 staff who are responsible for developing a robust, industry informed evidence base to inform the skills system in Scotland. His team support skills planning across all regions and across growth and other key sectors to drive stronger alignment of the skills system with the needs of the economy.
Chris joined SDS in 2012 and has 20 years’ experience in economic and skills development, previously as Managing Director of Slims Consulting and with UK economic and regeneration consultancies
David Cutter
President, Global Supply & Procurement & Chief Sustainability Officer, Diageo
David was appointed President, Global Supply & Procurement in 2014. He is based at the Global Supply headquarters in Edinburgh and responsible for a world-class supply chain delivering Diageo’s brands to 180 markets around the world from over 100 production facilities in more than 30 countries. In December 2018, he was appointed Diageo’s inaugural Chief Sustainability Officer in addition to his role as President of Global Supply & Procurement.
Previously David was Supply Director of Diageo’s International Supply Centre, responsible for spirit and beer production operations in Europe, which included global brands such as Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Baileys, Smirnoff, Gordon’s and Tanqueray. Before this, David was President, Diageo, America Supply, overseeing the company’s end-to-end supply operations for the Americas (North America, Latin America and Caribbean markets). David also led the creation of a new distillery in the US Virgin Islands. Prior to this, David led Diageo’s Asia Pacific Supply business based in Singapore. He has worked in manufacturing, supply and product management for more than 20 years and prior to Diageo held leadership roles at other leading consumer goods companies including Frito-Lay and SC Johnson.
David Ferbrache OBE
Chair, Scottish National Cyber Resilience Leaders’ Board
David Ferbrache OBE is the Managing Director of Beyond Blue. David is the Chair of the Scottish National Cyber Resilience Leaders’ Board, advising Ministers on the Scottish Cyber Resilience strategy.
David is also the Head of Global Cyber Futures for KPMG, leading KPMG’s cyber innovation programmes. He was the winner of the 2018 Cyber security personality of the year award.
David has over 30 years’ experience of cyber security, including as the Head of Cyber and Space for the Ministry of Defence. He was made an Officer of the British Empire for his contribution to national security post 9/11
Jonathan Geldart
Director General, Institute of Directors
Jonathan Geldart was appointed Director General of the Institute of Directors in October 2019. Prior to this Jon spent 30 years working in the professional services sector, most recently at Grant Thornton International Ltd responsible for the organisation’s interest in China and previously as a global board member responsible for the brand.
Jon has a long-standing connection with the IoD, as Chair of IoD Yorkshire and North East region prior to his appointment as Director General. He is the author of three books on China and in addition to being a Fellow of the IoD he is also a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. He studied Geography and Archaeology at St Andrews University specialising in underwater archaeology.
Outside of work, Jon’s interests include hill walking and fell running. He was the navigator in a rally team for 20 years and following two years of training in extreme environments walked to the North Pole in 2016. He has completed other expeditions in Norway, the Canadian Arctic and the Everest region.
Poonam Gupta OBE
Cheif Executive, PG Paper Company Ltd
Poonam Gupta, OBE is a Scottish-Indian Entrepreneur and Philanthropist.
In 2003, Poonam founded PG Paper Company Ltd and has developed the business into a hugely successful and globally recognised brand, exporting to over 55 countries across the globe. The company now have offices in India, Turkey and will be opening further offices in the USA and China in 2019. Poonam is continuously striving to expand into new markets and finding new opportunities, she has also expanded into other successfully growing businesses including real estate, hospitality, dental and recruitment.
Most recently, Poonam’s ambitious nature was recognised when she was named as Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Scotland, 2019. Throughout her career, Poonam has maintained a strong interest in enabling collaboration between Scotland and India, she was appointed as a Director for Scottish Chambers of Commerce to continue to grow and strengthen this relationship, as part of a Scottish Government Strategy to see international exports double by 2029. She was recently featured in the 100 UK Most Influential People in UK India Relations list for her efforts. Her charitable interests include women-centric issues, underprivileged children, animal conservation, and gender equality.
Edel Harris
Chief Executive, Cornerstone
Edel joined Cornerstone, one of Scotland’s largest charities, as Chief Executive in 2008, having previously been Deputy Chief Executive of Aberdeen Foyer. A former Metropolitan Police Officer, Edel’s background is in health promotion, holding a 1st class honours degree in Health and Social Care. She spent eight years working for NHS Grampian and has significant experience in setting up and leading successful social enterprises and in developing new social care services.
Edel, until recently, was a Director of the Aberdeen Football Club Community Trust, Director of Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) and served as the first female President of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce. She is a Director of Robertson Trust and was one of the first Directors of Opportunity North East (ONE), former Chair of The Life Changes Trust and former Chair of the Scottish Government’s Social Investment Fund.
Edel was awarded the 2015 IoD Scotland Aberdeen & Grampian Regional Director accolade and in 2017 became the Scottish EY Entrepreneur of the Year. On International Women’s Day 2018, Edel was awarded an honorary doctorate from Robert Gordon University for her contribution to charity and business in Scotland.
Rachel Jones
Head Dragon/CEO, SnapDragon Monitoring Ltd
An optimistic, resilient entrepreneur Rachel founded SnapDragon as ‘a bit of a pivot’ after the baby product she had created, and was exporting to 40 countries, was counterfeited. Horrified by potential dangers which could ensue, and frustrated by the complexity and cost of traditional, legal solutions, Rachel was ‘mission driven’ to develop and deliver affordable, effective brand protection software for SMEs anywhere in the world.
Delivering brand protection to some of the world’s most respected companies, SnapDragon now also works with investor networks, lawyers and IP professionals to protect the revenues and reputations of clients and end consumers. The team of 30 Dragons, of 10 nationalities, is spread between Edinburgh and Lerwick. Rachel was awarded ‘Innovator of the Year’ by Computing Magazine 2018 and was a finalist for Entrepreneur of the Year 2019.
Kevin Mathers
Country Sales Director, Google UK
Kevin leads teams that help Google’s UK advertising clients make the most of the web.
During his 13+ years at Google, Kevin has also been the MD of YouTube UK, led Google UK’s new products team with responsibility for the introduction and growth of all their advertising products, and led their technology sales and UK search partnership teams.
Prior to Google, he worked at Deloitte, T-Mobile and one2one. He has an engineering undergraduate degree and an MBA from London Business School.
Jamie McGowan
Director, Essence of Harris
Jamie McGowan is the director of Essence of Harris, a candle and home living company based on the Isle of Harris.
Following an ethos of staying as local and natural as possible, Jamie and the team attempt to bring their customers the ultimate peace and calm with their hand poured, natural products.
Jamie is committed to developing the Isle of Harris as a desirable place to live, work and visit; and in particular, to reducing the out-migration of talented young people. His dedicated team of 20, who work from production to marketing and graphic design, demonstrate that you can build a career and a future in the Outer Hebrides.
Recently, the team have moved into international markets, allowing them to showcase their Hebridean products to consumers across the Atlantic. Jamie manages Essence of Harris alongside his two other businesses, Loomshed Hebridean Brewery and Norserv Facilities Management, helping to boost the island economy of Harris through stable, year-round job creation and retention.
James Quinn
President-Elect, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
James Quinn, President-Elect, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)
After a very successful career in the British Army, for 24 years, James attained the rank of Warrant Officer before leaving in 2011.
In the last six years he saw the benefits of Health and Safety as a second career and using his army appointments started to train as a Health and Safety Advisor/Trainer in 2006. Five years later, after leaving the army, having worked on many army health and safety projects, he worked for Babcock International PLC as a HSE Trainer, then Advisor before becoming a Health and Safety Manager for a large Middle East transport group. He is now working as an HSE Lead in Construction Consultancy after leaving Abu Dhabi as the Area OHS Manager, Abu Dhabi, for Multiplex where they were the main contractor.
A Chartered member of IOSH and CIOB, James is also a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute as well as IOSH Council member, IOSH President-Elect, part of IOSH Construction Group.
Jenny Shiers
Senior Director of Employee Success, Salesforce UK
Jenny is Senior Director of Employee Success at Salesforce UK which, in 2019 was named as the #1 Best Place to Work in the UK by Great Place to Work for the first time, and the #1 Best Place to Work in Europe for the second year in a row.
Jenny works with business leaders to develop and execute against the Salesforce UK people strategy, which is designed to support our business strategy, particularly focussing on attracting, developing and retaining the best talent in the market and maintaining Salesforce’s strong and unique culture to support its phenomenal growth. Before her current role, Jenny led Salesforce’s employment law team for EMEA and worked as an employment lawyer in City law firms.
Carlotte Valeur
Chair, Institute of Directors
Charlotte Valeur was appointed Chair of the Institute in September 2018. As Chair, Charlotte is responsible for championing the IoD’s values, promoting its Objects and providing leadership to the Institute, ensuring it delivers maximum impact for its members and stakeholders. Over the last decade, Charlotte has been a director of seven public companies, including three appointments as chair. During that period she has taken part in a complete restructuring of NTR Plc, the sale of REG to BlackRock and, as Chair, overseen a $8bln Merger of Kennedy Wilson Europe Real Estate Plc with its US NYSE listed parent. Charlotte also has a range of unlisted board experience with companies including international engineering firm Laing O’Rourke. She has been a member of the IoD for over a decade.
Charlotte is a corporate governance expert and a keen advocate for diversity in the boardroom, underpinning this advocacy with action by founding Board Apprentice. This not-for-profit organisation provides individuals hands-on experience at the very top of business and has been cited in the Government’s recent reviews on ethnic and gender diversity in UK boardrooms as a resource for bringing about real change. Before entering the field of governance, Charlotte worked in finance, where she has over 30 years’ experience. Her career included stints with Société Générale, BNP-Paribas, and S.G. Warburg.
Charlotte grew up and studied in Copenhagen and is conversant in six languages.
Dr Kim Winser OBE
Founder & CEO, Winser London
Kim was born in Helensburgh, Scotland and is one of Europe’s most internationally renowned businesswomen. Kim was appointed as the youngest ever first female Director of Marks & Spencer, she then held posts as investor and CEO of Pringle of Scotland and CEO of Aquascutum. She was a special adviser to Natalie Massenet at Net-A-Porter. In 2013 Kim launched her own digitally-based fashion business, www.winserlondon.com.
Kim was awarded a Doctorate by Heriot-Watt University, an OBE for her contribution to the British fashion industry and in 2013 she was appointed by the British Prime Minister as Board Trustee of the Natural History Museum. She also serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Hongkong & Shanghai Hotel & Property Group (Peninsula Hotels).