Nesta in Edinburgh

Date: 12.09.2012 09:30 - 16:00

Location: The Hub, Castlehill, EH1 2NE, Edinburgh

We kicked off our road show series in Edinburgh where we looked at Nesta's work and the potential impact of innovation in Scotland.

Watch the event video

We showcased a wide range of our work in Scotland, with examples of what can be achieved when innovative ideas are encouraged and well supported.  This included how technology can transform public services, how to take advantage of Scotland's strength in the creative industries and how to maximise the potential of communities.

Keynote speakers included Geoff Mulgan, Chief Executive, Nesta, John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth and Rob Woodward, Chief Executive of STV and Nesta Board Member.

We also held a selection of masterclasses. These were on:

• Plan I: How Innovation can grow the economy
• Taking an innovative idea into reality
• Digital Education

Hear what attendees had to say

Speakers

John Swinney MSP - Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Employment and Sustainable Growth

Born in 1964, John Swinney MSP joined the Scottish National Party in 1979 and went on to graduate from Edinburgh University with an MA (Hons) in Politics. He has worked for the Scottish Coal Project, Development Options and Scottish Amicable.

Prior to his election as Westminster MP for North Tayside in 1997, he held a number of posts in the SNP at local and national level. In 1999, he became the MSP for Tayside North, remaining as the constituency's MP until standing down from Westminster at the 2001 General Election.

Having served as the SNP's Deputy Leader since 1998 and became Leader in 2000. After relinquishing his post in 2004, Mr Swinney became Convener of the Scottish Parliament's European and External Relations Committee.

He was re-elected as an MSP at the 2011 Scottish Parliament election and appointed Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth.

John has three children and is married to Elizabeth Quigley. He lives near Blairgowrie in his constituency and his hobbies include cycling and hill walking.

Rob Woodward - CEO, STV Group plc

Rob Woodward was appointed to the STV Group plc Board as Chief Executive in 2007.  Prior to this he was a senior advisor to LongAcre Partners, Europe's leading independent mid-market corporate finance house focusing on the media and internet sectors. Until 2005 Rob served as Commercial Director of Channel 4 Television.

He was an executive member of the Channel 4 Corporation Board and responsible for Channel 4's commercial wellbeing. Included in his responsibilities was the management of the portfolio of commercial businesses in 4 Ventures. These businesses included digital channels such as E4 and Film Four, New Media Services and Rights Exploitation. During his tenure, Rob developed and executed a commercial strategy for Channel 4, which has positioned the Corporation at the forefront of digital media. He transformed the performance of Channel 4's commercial businesses from heavily loss making to significant profitability.

Prior to joining Channel 4, Rob was a Managing Director at UBS Corporate Finance where he worked in both London and New York. Before this, Rob was the Managing Partner of Braxton UK, the strategy consulting practice of Deloitte. He also led Deloitte Consulting's European TMT group. He has specialised in advising TMT companies on strategic and corporate finance issues for the past 20 years.

He is the Pro-Chancellor at City University. He has a BSc Hons from Durham University and an MBA from Edinburgh University.

Programme

10:00 - 10:15  Introduction: Geoff Mulgan, Nesta Chief Executive
10:15 - 10:30  Running an Innovative Scottish Business: Rob Woodward, STV Chief Executive and Nesta Trustee
10:30 - 10:45  Scottish Innovation Priorities: John Swinney MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Finance & Sustainable Growth
10:45 - 11:30  Nesta programmes and projects:

• Destination Local - Alistair Tibbitt, Greener Leith
• Make It Local - Ian Watt, Aberdeen City Council
• Age Unlimited Scotland -  Ena Brown, The Hub Community Cafe
• Starter for 6 - Martin Izo and Philip Ross, Safehinge
• Digital R&D Fund for Arts and Culture, Scotland  - Corinne Orton and Marjolein den Bakker, Glasgow Film Theatre
• Britain's New Radical - Angela Morgan, Includem
• Young Scot  - Gregor Urquhart

11:30 - 11:45  Break
11:45 - 12:15  Cabaret style discussion: Obstacles to innovation and ways forward

• What are the most important fields in which Scotland needs to innovate in the next 10 years?
• Which organisations and individuals do you most admire for their success in innovation?
• What are the best opportunities for connecting different fields and sectors to drive innovation forward?

12:15 - 12:30   Conclusions: Geoff Mulgan, Nesta Chief Executive