Event

Adam Pearce

Director, Minerva Innovation Group

Adam Pearce is the Director of Minerva Innovation Group, an R&D tax relief specialist. He holds an MSc in Advanced Biomedical Science, a PGDip in Finance, and Certification from the R&D Community. He is currently drafting his MSc Finance thesis on the interplay between R&D tax rates and economic growth.

In response to significant R&D client expansion and socioeconomic trends in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, Minerva Innovation Group has expanded its operations to Dublin.

The Scottish Parliament has recognised it for helping “innovative businesses across the UK and Ireland access many millions of pounds in R&D funding”.

Dr João Sousa

Deputy Director, University of Strathclyde, Fraser of Allander Institute

João is a Senior Knowledge Exchange Fellow and Deputy Director at the Fraser of Allander Institute, specialising in fiscal policy, macroeconomics and business engagement. He has over a decade of experience as an applied economist, including as a Senior Fiscal Analyst at the Office for Budget Responsibility, leading work on long-term public finance sustainability, medium-term forecasting, Brexit-related modelling and public spending. He previously worked at HMRC on tax modelling and gap estimation. João holds a PhD in Economics from Birkbeck, focusing on the impact of government spending on growth. He frequently provides expert evidence to Parliament and serves on the ScotStat Board.

Michelle Ferguson

Scotland Director, CBI

Michelle Ferguson is a transformative leader with a career spanning the commercial, third, and manufacturing sectors. She co-founded Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company and later led RBLI’s Britain’s Bravest operations, improving performance across three UK factories while creating employment for veterans and people with disabilities. She previously revitalised St Andrew’s First Aid, establishing it as Scotland’s leading First Aid Training provider. Michelle has also worked extensively with government on employment, social enterprise, and sustainability. A Non-Executive Director of Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, she will become Director of CBI Scotland, championing business innovation and sustainable economic growth.

Zoe Graham

Head of Financial Risk Solutions, Virgin Money

Zoe leads the Financial Risk Solutions team at Virgin Money, supporting business customers who have exposures to financial and international markets with risk management products and solutions.  She took up this role in 2020 and has worked in several roles within the division since 2003 when she joined the Bank as a graduate after studying Law & Economics (LLB) and an International Master of Law (LLM) at the University of Edinburgh.