Chair of judging panel

Dr Gillian Murray joined Heriot-Watt University in October 2016 to lead on the development and implementation of the University’s Enterprise and Business Engagement Strategy, mobilising the University’s intellectual and capital assets to effect greater impact regionally, nationally and globally. The position leads the University’s strategic vision of being a world-leading institution developing entrepreneurial students and staff who addressing global challenges to drive transformational social and economic benefits.

Gillian has a background in economic regeneration and is passionate about driving global innovation and skills development using new digital technology to break down collaboration barriers and facilitate co-invention. Whilst at the University of Liverpool, Gillian built innovative new models for Business/University collaboration, transforming the city region through strategic partnerships and supply chain development.

Whilst at Heriot Watt, Gillian has led a number of major innovation and skills initiatives including, positioning the University as a leading provider of Graduate Apprentices in Scotland, building a global innovation ecosystem and partnership network (GRID), transforming online education and creating new flexible upskilling opportunities in key emerging sectors. She is a founding member of the Centre for Work Based Learning, working with partners in Scotland to enhance opportunity through work based learning and a member of the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board who’s objective is to align and co-ordinate the activities of Scotland’s enterprise and skills agencies.

The Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service supports the manufacturing community with practical advice and implementation support to help create more productive and resilient businesses. Key offerings relate to Productivity, Supply Chain, Culture & Leadership and Investment through an Industry 4.0 approach. SMAS utilises the many examples of best practice found in Scotland to support sharing across our manufacturing networks.

Ian is a Regional Lead for SMAS connecting manufacturing to the practical support available from SMAS and partner organisations.

Ross is an Economic Agitator who advises on regional economies, assisting governments at all levels in the design, development and delivery of policy frameworks and practical interventions aimed at transitioning to Economic and Environmental Sustainability, e.g. through the implementation of City and Regional Growth Deals, Asset Utilisation Strategies and Public Service Reform programmes.

Ross is currently focused on the regional economies of The Borderlands, The Forth Valley and Glasgow’s City Region, working across the private, public and social sectors and with national organisations along shaping sub-regional interventions in a number of other areas, including with SEPA on The Leven Programme and Scottish Water’s Journey to Net Zero.

Angela Scott has 40 years’ hands on experience in cancer research and commercial cell/gene therapy. Now a Global Scott she was a member of the team that cloned ‘Dolly the Sheep’ at PPL (Edinburgh) in 1992, and has designed, built and commissioned several GMP manufacturing facilities. She manufactured product for the UK’s ‘first-in-man’ stem cell trial (PISCES – ReNeuron), and has held MHRA -MIA and -IMP licenses for several cell therapy products. Experience transcends several commercial disciplines – including product development, manufacture, distribution logistics, quality, regulatory and scale-up to market. As founder, Chief Operating Officer and Board member of TC BioPharm, Angela has wide ranging responsibilities – directing new product development, GMP manufacture of clinical product; quality clinical and regulatory.

Angela has advised the UK Government on stem cell policy and practice and is ,regarded as a KOL cell-based product translation.

Paul Sheerin joined Scottish Engineering in March 2018 having previously held the role of Managing Director for B&W Diamond Power Specialty Ltd.

Originally from Thurso in the north of Scotland, Paul studied Electrical and Electronic Engineering at The University of Glasgow and joined Nuclear Electric in 1990 as part of the Sizewell ‘B’ project team. After a period of working based in the USA, he returned to Scotland and joined Polaroid at its Dumbarton base in 1996 and became Managing Director from 2005 until March 2017. Paul has been a keen volunteer and supporter of Young Enterprise Scotland, acting as Schools Business Adviser and Dunbartonshire Area Team Chair, and enjoys opportunities to promote Enterprise, Engineering and Manufacturing within schools

Ken Symon has been Editor of Scottish Business Insider since March 2016. He launched insider.co.uk as a standalone website in March 2017, forming the team that was runner up in the Digital Team of the Year category at the Scottish Press Awards for 2017. He was shortlisted in the Editor, Specialist Magazines category at the 2018 Scottish magazines Awards and Insider was shortlisted in the Media Brand category'

Ken previously ran his own business Symon Media Ltd and earlier was Deputy Editor of The Sunday Times Scotland, Business Editor of The Scotsman and Business Editor of the Sunday Herald.

Ken teaches Tai Chi Chuan and is a lifelong supporter of Motherwell Football Club.