Who's going to be Judging you?

Catriona is passionate about the role of collaboration, innovation and creativity in progressing climate and social justice.

In her role as a Fund Manager at Inspiring Scotland, Catriona supports community-based charities to develop solutions for vulnerable and disadvantaged people and groups in Scotland, with a particular focus on creative participation and rural community-led local development.

She previously specialised in cultural responses to climate change, and the role of culture and cultural organisations in how places respond to a changing climate.

She led 'Cultural Adaptations': an EU project which explored the cultural impacts and implications of climate change for cities and communities across north-west Europe, and has recently supported the development of SCVO’s ‘Growing Climate Confidence’ tools for Scotland’s third sector.

Catriona is an advocate for enabling young people to be at the heart of the decision making which will determine their future. She has been a volunteer and trustee of 2050 Climate Group - a Scottish youth-led, volunteer-led charity which focuses on empowering young leaders to take climate action towards a just and sustainable society.

Neil is Senior Fellow for the Global Advancement of Community Wealth Building at The Democracy Collaborative - the USA based think and do tank. He was previously the Chief Executive of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies (CLES) - the UK national organisation for local economies. 

He is also presently Strategic Adviser on Community Wealth Building to the Scottish Government.

Neil is an economics of place specialist and, over the last 25 years, has collaborated with a range of local, regional, state and national governments across Europe, Asia, North America, and Australasia.

Mandy has worked for Falkirk Council since 2005.

Initially, she was a Countryside Access Officer and, along the way, a Transport Planning Officer, Planning Officer (Environment) and Parks Team Leader. These roles have given her the chance to work with communities on various access, environment and heritage projects across the Falkirk Council area.

Thanks to the Council’s commitment to developing its staff, she completed her MSc in Urban and Regional Planning at Heriot-Watt University between 2008 and 2010.  

She is currently a Team Leader for The Helix (Home of the Kelpies). This is currently the only 5-star visitor attraction in the Falkirk Council area. Going forward she will be focusing on planning and development projects together with activities, at The Helix, as well as working with the team to celebrate the Kelpies 10^th birthday in 2024.

Paul is Head of Infrastructure Technology and Improving Project Delivery at Scottish Futures Trust.

With a background as a chartered quantity surveyor he has over 20 years experience within the construction industry with an expertise in digital transformation and emerging technologies. 

Paul leads on national initiatives which seeks to improve the use of information and technology through the whole asset life cycle to deliver improved performance. This work includes leading the Building Information Modelling (BIM) programme on behalf of Scottish Government, working with Scottish Government to explore the role of technology within the planning system and he chairs Scotland’s public sector Digital Estate & Infrastructure working group.

Paul is a quantity surveyor by profession and began his career delivering cost management services on variety of public and private sector projects before joining Scottish Futures Trust in 2012.

His expertise and experience are providing commercial, procurement and digital transformation support to improve whole life outcomes within the built environment. 

Sarah is a dedicated, enthusiastic Planning Officer working in Fife Council's Planning Service. She joined from high school on a trainee planning assistant internship, progressing successfully within various roles.

She now plays an integral role in the Major Business & Priority Team. She also leads on the St Andrews West Strategic Development Area, negotiating place-based outcomes for various development proposals in delivering overarching spatial principles for the area.

She is a keen advocate for non-standard entry into the planning profession (alternatives to full time study) and also leads Fife's APC CPD programme, advising colleagues through the RTPI APC process