David Mains – Director, Enigma People Solutions

David Mains is a Director of long established and highly recognised recruitment consultancy Enigma People Solutions. Specialising in digital media, software development, and technology support vacancies, David’s expertise has helped grow and develop many successful businesses and start-ups.

David has worked in recruitment since 1994, having previously worked with News International & Mirror Group Newspapers. His career has encompassed high street, general, specialist, and consultancy recruitment businesses. This experience in a broad range of sectors and markets has helped Enigma People to establish a reputation as a quality recruitment partner, rather than an “employment agency”. David is also honoured to have joined the Creative Technologies Industry Advisory Board at the University of the West of Scotland.

Outside of work he’s a poorly skilled but enthusiastic player of 5-a-sides and an avid supporter of “Glasgow’s best football team”, Partick Thistle.

Hugh Lightbody – Chief Officer Business Gateway National Unit, Business Gateway

Hugh graduated with a BSc/BEng in Manufacturing Sciences and Engineering from the University of Strathclyde.  On graduating Hugh joined Smiths Industries and trained in materials management, progressing to Production Control Manager at their Basingstoke factory.  With a desire to contribute to Scotland’s future he then joined the Scottish Development Agency and has worked in various economic and business development roles within the public and private sector since then including Scottish Enterprise, running his own consultancy business, Local Government and now Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.  In that time he has been involved in a diverse range of projects which has included everything from the development of the Forestry Contracting Association to successfully attracting the European premiere of Braveheart to Stirling.

Gordon Stevenson – Head of Digital, Newsquest Scotland & Ireland

Gordon has worked in publishing since 1990, and has spent 21 years working latterly as Head of Digital for Trinity Mirror Scotland before moving to the same position for Newsquest Scotland & Ireland in July of 2015 to present day.

“My role as Head of Digital for Newsquest Scotland & Ireland is quite simply: to create the conditions which allow for accelerated online audience and revenue growth.”

Nicola Kenny – Digital Manager, Edinburgh International Festival

Nicola is the Digital Manager at the Edinburgh International Festival, which brings some of finest performers and ensembles working today, from the worlds of opera, music, theatre and dance for three weeks in August. Her work at the International Festival spans across all things digital from strategy to implementation. An experienced marketing professional, she has worked in a range of different arts organisations in Scotland with a particular focus and passion for all things digital.

Steven Grier – Country Manager, Microsoft in Scotland

Steven Grier represents Microsoft’s business in Scotland. From humble IT beginnings on Margaret Thatcher’s YTS Scheme with Digital Equipment Corporation in 1989 so began a journey through oil (BP), booze (United Distillers), funerals (Co-Op) and software, ultimately finding himself at Microsoft in the year Windows XP launched (Bing it!). Passionate about Scotland, inspired by innovation and with a soft spot for education and skills – he likes technology when it makes people smile. Married with a young son he has set himself the life challenge of finding the perfect balance between competitive cycling, a fondness for craft ales, Burns poetry and Scandinavian power metal music. It may take some time.

Vivienne MacLaren – Head of Marketing, Arnold Clark

Vivienne is an award-winning marketing and communications strategist with a propensity for digital marketing. With 20 years’ industry experience, she has cultivated significant perspective working across both client and agency sides in Scotland and London.

Vivienne has driven some of the UK’s leading brands, including those of the financial services, utilities, retail, charities, tourism, media, education, drinks, sports and arts sectors.

Having held senior positions in leading UK communications and digital agencies, in 2007 Vivienne founded one of Scotland’s first dedicated digital marketing agencies.

Currently, she heads up the Arnold Clark Marketing department, recently recognised with a Drum award for ‘Best In-house Marketing Team’ for its agile work culture.

Mike Neilson – Digital Director, Scottish Government

Mike Neilson is Digital Director for the Scottish Government, working to ensure Scotland benefits fully from the opportunities of the digital revolution. He is responsible for a major programme on broadband infrastructure investment, for developing digital public services, for Scottish Government work on participation and digital economy and also leads on Smart Cities for the Scottish Government. Mike is a lifelong public servant, having worked for the UK Treasury, the UK Permanent Representation in Brussels and for the European Commission before moving to the Scottish Government. He has worked on a wide range of public policy issues from financial regulation to environmental policy. He has particular experience of public sector structural reform, particularly in the water, housing and marine sectors.

Kelly Milford – Regional Manager, SQA

Kelly is a Regional Manager at SQA where she has worked for 11 years. She started her career at The Scottish Executive, where she worked in the education department. Kelly then moved to The Prince’s Trust Scotland coordinating, then managing the xl programme in schools. Kelly enjoys spreading the word on the vast array of qualifications in SQA’s portfolio and working with schools, colleges, employers and training providers.