Event

The Awards Ceremony

Join us as we honour the individuals, organisations, and businesses driving real change across Scotland through impactful work in inclusion, sustainability, ethical leadership, and community transformation.

The Scottish Impact Awards, delivered by The Herald and Newsquest Events Scotland & NI, will take place on Thursday, October 1, 2026 at Marriott Hotel, Glasgow. This inspiring evening will spotlight outstanding contributions in areas such as diversity & inclusion, climate action, community impact, sustainable innovation, and workforce wellbeing.

Guests will enjoy:
A welcome drinks reception, low carbon impact three-course dinner, formal awards presentation, a downloadable keepsake event programme, and live entertainment, all with exceptional networking with leaders across sectors

HOST

Zara Janjua

Zara Janjua is a multi-award-winning broadcaster, journalist, and filmmaker, recognised as one of Britain’s most talented rising women. In 2023, she was a finalist for the United Nations Women Awards and won the Impact Freelancer Award from YunoJuno. She has also been named among the UK’s Top 40 Digital Women and previously shortlisted for ‘Freelancer of the Year’ and ‘Digital Women for Good’.

With BAFTA, NTA, and RTS awards to her name, Zara has presented national news, daytime, comedy, and cookery shows for the BBC, ITV, and STV. She also dedicates half her time to philanthropic film projects, mentoring young women and minority groups. Her expertise extends to producing, directing, writing, acting, and event hosting.

Zara has reported for The New York Times Climate Hub, covering COP26 and COP27, where she interviewed figures like Al Gore and Vanessa Nakate. Appointed to NatWest’s Ethnicity Advisory Council, she advises on diversity strategies. Zara’s multi-faceted career exemplifies her ability to succeed across industries, making a significant impact both on and off screen.

JUDGES

Lesley Sawyers

Director, GenAnalytics

Lesley brings wide experience from across the public, private, and voluntary sectors in business and economic strategy, knowledge and change management and strategic consultancy.

Prior to launching GenAnalytics, Lesley was Vice Principal and Pro Vice Chancellor for Business, Enterprise and Innovation at Glasgow Caledonian University and Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, Scotland’s leading economic development think-tank.  She has also held senior leadership positions at ScottishPower, Royal Mail, CACI, Management Horizons and VisitScotland.

Lesley also holds several non-Executive appointments with a focus on equalities, social justice, and economic growth; she is currently a non-executive director of Crosswinds Developments Ltd and a Trustee of Smart Works Scotland.

As Scotland Commissioner, she also serves on the Equality and Human Rights Commission Board of Commissioners. On 29 September 2023 Lesley was appointed Interim Deputy Chair of the Board by the Minister for Women and Equalities.

Franceska Van Dijk

One Stone Advisors

Fran is CEO of One Stone Advisors Ltd, a global strategy and communications team which helps companies become more successful sustainability leaders. One Stone is Scotland’s first B Corp.

Fran advises on managing opportunity and risk to build long-term value, helping companies future-proof their strategy and prioritise their sustainability goals for effective business planning and transition. Clients include Aggreko, Carlsberg Group, Coutts, Edrington, Electrolux, TUI Travel and SSE.

Fran holds Masters degrees from the University of Cambridge and the European Association for Environmental Management Education. She is co-author of Creating a Culture of Integrity: Business Ethics for the 21st Century.

Sophia Goring

Business Stream

With over 20 years’ experience of working in corporate communications, including media relations, public affairs and stakeholder management, Sophia is currently Head of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) at UK-based water retailer, Business Stream. As part of her role, Sophia leads on the delivery of Business Stream’s sustainability agenda, which includes overseeing the company’s carbon reduction activities and delivering it’s community-based social value programme.

Sophia is passionate about delivering social value impact and currently works with a number of charities and social enterprises, including being represented on the Career Ready Edinburgh, Mid-Lothian and East Lothian Local Authority Board to support the social mobility charity’s strategic aims.

Dave Gorman

Edinburgh University

Dave Gorman is Director for Social Responsibility and Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh having previously been Head of Strategy at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Before that he worked in local government and after graduating undertook a wide variety of community and volunteering work including with children, homeless people and in care homes. His University current role include senior leadership responsibility for the University’s social responsibility and sustainability activities, as well as strategic advice and delivery on climate change issues, energy, supply chains and human rights, responsible investment and social investment, ecological restoration, environmental policy and regulation and community engagement.

Dave is a Fellow of the Environmental Association of Universities and Colleges. He has published in academic journals and global handbooks in the area of social investment and innovation, sustainability leadership and change making. Dave is increasingly interested in how change making for sustainability happens, how to create the conditions for change, how to embed long-term thinking for a fairer economy, for reducing inequality and respect for the planet and nature into organisations and strategic thinking, and how Universities can play an important role supporting these goals.

Rupa Mooker

Ashurst

Rupa specialised in employment law after qualifying as a solicitor, and has advocated for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) within the legal profession since her career began. Her work in mental health and wellbeing, increasing representation of individuals from ethnically diverse backgrounds, and improving socio-economic diversity, within workplaces led to her current role in DEI at a global law firm.

She volunteers on several committees including the Commonwealth Games 2026 (EDI & Engagement), Action for Children (Scotland National Advisory) and the BBC (Scottish Advisory on Religion & Ethics). Rupa is also a BBC Scotland contributor (tv & radio), speaker, lecturer and events host, award-winning radio presenter, and volunteers at her local Gurdwara, advising the congregation on employability and career matters.

Catherine Gee

DWF

Based in Scotland, Catherine is currently Head of ESG Operations at global legal and business services firm, DWF where she is part of the leadership team that shapes, drives and executes its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy.  Prior to that she was Deputy Chief Executive of environmental charity, Keep Scotland Beautiful.  More generally, she has been involved in the environmental and sustainability agenda for over 20 years, the majority of that in Scotland and is a passionate advocate for climate action and nature restoration.  Catherine has extensive experience of responsible business practices, governance and leadership as well as driving and shaping environmental, social and sustainability initiatives to achieve positive impact and behaviour change at scale.

Martin Valenti

South of Scotland Enterprise

Dr Valenti an award-winning sustainability practitioner and serial disruptor, with extensive experience of strategic business engagement and innovation.

For over 30 years he has worked in a variety of senior management roles shaping and delivering inclusive growth initiatives and directing major collaborative projects.

Dr Valenti worked for SEPA for 17 years where he held a number of senior positions.

He played an instrumental role in setting up Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group and co-created the award winning 2050 Young Leaders Climate Group.

Martin joined South of Scotland Enterprise in July 2021.

Josie Saunders

Ceteris Scotland

An award-winning executive and Non-Executive Director who has worked in the public, private and third sectors, from Fortune 500 companies and government departments to UK charities across the UK and overseas.

A social entrepreneur who uses diversity of thought to build visions which drive commercial, corporate and social objectives, Josie believes that profit and social impact aren’t mutually exclusive. Purpose-led businesses not only deliver ambitious growth but benefit communities and improve lives.

As CEO of Ceteris Scotland Ltd, Scotland’s largest commercial landlord with a social purpose, Josie and her team reinvest the profit from letting their £18m commercial estate across Central Scotland into unlocking entrepreneurial talent and helping under-represented communities start and scale businesses.

Stuart Black

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Stuart Black is the Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Government’s economic and community development agency for the region. Stuart was appointed to this position in January 2022 after two years as HIE’s Area Manager for Moray.

Before joining HIE in 2020, Stuart was a member of the senior team at the Highland Council, initially as director of planning and development and later as executive chief officer for transformation and economy.