Who we are
EDAS is the country’s foremost membership driven association for all organisations and individuals with an interest in economic development. We aim to improve economic development activity in Scotland by helping to raise the knowledge, skills and networks of those involved in all aspects of economic development.
We are the go to body for all individuals and organisations with interest in Scotland’s economic development.
Our Board
EDAS is led by senior economic development leaders from across the public and private sector in Scotland. Our Board has 15 directors who are responsible for all aspects of strategic direction and financial management. Brightstar (Scotland) Limited provides the executive support for all aspects of EDAS operations; with responsibility for organising the events programme, membership recruitment, handling the finances and coordinating the activities of the Board.
Neil McInroy, Chair
I am the Global lead for community wealth building at the USA based organisation- The Democracy Collaborative. I have been involved in economic development for many years and was for three years seconded into the Scottish Government as a community wealth building adviser within the economic development directorate. My work in Scotland and globally involves advancing an economy that genuinely works for people, place and planet. As Chair of EDAS, I promote and support our work, liaising and meeting with people and organisations, ensuring economic development is at the cutting edge of building Scotland’s wellbeing economy, including a just transition to a decarbonised and fairer economy where wealth is enjoyed by all. Whilst working globally, I also am involved locally in local community economic development in the west highlands, where I live.
Economic development is key to building the type of economy and society we want and need. In a world of multiple social, environmental and economic crises and wicked issues, I believe we need whole system change. And as a comprehensive discipline drawing from economics, sociology, planning and environmental and political sciences amongst others, economic development is at the progressive and practical forefront of that change, and must increasingly be seen and recognised as such. Economic development is of great importance to everyone. It is and can increasingly help to address poverty, inequality and the climate crisis. As such, all Scots should and must have greater awareness of the role that economic development plays in their lives. Economic development allows us to reshape how the economy works, who it works for and how it can work within the limits of the environment. It is in essence about ensuring all Scots have a genuine and active stake in the economy benefitting from the wealth it creates. Indeed, by given more Scots a stake in the economy as well-paid workers, owners, entrepreneurs or business owner we are maxing out on the creativity and labour of all Scots and in so doing we are making our economy more resilient and productive.
Dinker Bhardwaj
As Director of Strategy & Performance at Scottish Enterprise, I work closely with colleagues across corporate functions and our Missions teams to support strategic decision-making and drive economic development across Scotland. Our team plays a central role in shaping SE’s strategic direction, including the development of SE’s Focus on Economic Transformation, which outlines our ambition across three mission areas where Scotland can lead: ‘Accelerating the Energy Transition’, ‘Scaling Innovation’, and ‘Boosting Capital Investment’. We also lead the creation of SE’s 2025–28 Operating Plan, aligning our medium-term priorities with the Scottish Government’s Economic Strategy and ensuring robust performance reporting against our objectives.
I’m passionate about problem-solving and enjoy collaborating with teams to rethink and improve how we work. I believe in fostering a workplace culture where people feel safe, supported, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work.
My academic background spans Engineering, Business Management, and Public Administration, and my professional experience is equally diverse split between public and private sectors, and across both UK and international settings. These experiences have equipped me with a strong foundation in strategy, performance management, regulation, and policy.
I’ve had the privilege of learning from a wide range of leaders throughout my career, and I aim to bring the best of those insights into my current role.
Esther Black
Esther Black is a sustainability professional at the FTSE-100 energy company SSE plc, with over 20 years’ experience spanning the private, public and third sectors. Her work focuses on the social and economic dimensions of sustainability, including stakeholder engagement, responsible business practice, and supporting a just transition to a low-carbon economy. Esther’s career has included executive and non-executive roles in corporate affairs, policy, human resources, and sustainability. She brings a practical perspective on how large organisations can embed social value and responsible practice into strategy, operations, and long-term investment decisions.
Economic development is about building a better economy, one that reflects the needs and interests of different groups of people, including future generations. It recognises that businesses and organisations of all shapes and sizes have an important part to play, and that power and agency should be balanced with responsibility and respect. As long as poverty remains in Scotland, we haven’t ‘cracked it’ – and we all have work to do.
Ishabel Bremner
As a professional Economist, I currently hold the position as Economic Growth Manager, Argyll and Bute Council. My work remit covers Business Gateway, employability and skills, UK policy and funding, key sector development, such as tourism and food and drink, economic intelligence and appraisal to support investment opportunities, including the Argyll Rural Growth Deal, where I’m the responsible officer for the Rural Skills Accelerator Programme.
I have over 30 years’ of experience and a depth of knowledge in the field of Economic Development having worked in the private sector (circa 9 years), Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise.
At a local level I chair the Argyll and Bute Employability Partnership. I’m a member of the Senior Officers’ Group for the Highlands and Islands Regional Economic Partnership and Convention of the Highlands and Islands. At a national level, I chair the Scottish Local Authorities Economic Development (SLAED) group and a co-opted Director of the Economic Development Association Scotland (EDAS).
Economic Development is about making a positive difference for residents and communities across Scotland. A key focus must be given to a place-based, person/business-centred approach to secure a fair, inclusive, and prosperous future for Scotland more resilient to external factors including the rapid advances in digital technology and increasing impacts of climate change. This requires improving local access to economic opportunity, including community ownership, reducing inequalities, tackling poverty through higher value, well-paid, jobs and supporting employers to take forward the Fair Work First principles.
Through the creation of a wellbeing economy, embedding a co-ordinated and holistic Community Wealth Building approach, this will ensure that no one is left behind, no community is left behind and no businesses are left behind. This requires strong collaboration and partnership working across the public, private and third sectors at a local, regional and national level.
Karen Jackson
As Director of Strategy, Partnership and Engagement for South of Scotland Enterprise (the economic development agency for Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders), my focus is on working to ensure the success of the South of Scotland, helping to unlock the opportunities of one of Scotland’s most amazing regions. I help shape SOSE’s response to different areas of our economy, working hard to build and support a partnership approach to delivery.
Economic development touches on every element of people’s lives – from what they do, to where they live and the opportunities they have – now and in the future. It seeks to create conditions for people to thrive and prosper. What could be a better area than that in which to work?
I am a graduate from Robert Gordon University and attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. I am head of food and drink and life sciences at Highlands and Islands Enterprise and guide HIE’s work in developing these key sectors. This includes leading on a range of significant opportunities and participating in regional, national, and international partnerships.
My primary interest is in rural development, and the interrelationships between our natural environment, people and communities, and economic development and prosperity. I am very fortunate through HIE to work with ambitious entrepreneurial and innovative enterprises and partners who ensure we have a diverse regional economy that creates and sustains good quality opportunities in local communities.
I am a certified Climate Change Champion by the Royal Geographic Society, and I am proud that my works strives to create a positive environmental legacy by supporting enterprises and communities to be local leaders in the transition to net zero.
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Chris Kelly
I am a Director in one of Scotland’s leading economic development and social research consultancies, EKOS, and have worked in the private sector since 2006. While consultancy involves working across a broad portfolio of thematic and technical disciplines, my research interests are in the role of regions, place, and infrastructure in supporting/driving economic development and wellbeing.
For me, economic development is about helping ‘join the dots’ and understanding how all the key components work together – such as policy, funding, resources, and institutions to create a thriving and sustainable economy and society.
Alice Masson
I work as an Economic Development Consultant for Glic with a particular focus on social impact. I often work closely with government bodies, businesses, and community organisations to design and implement strategies that prioritise social outcomes. This involves conducting thorough research to identify opportunities for equitable development and collaborating with stakeholders to create innovative solutions. My expertise extends to areas such as community engagement, social impact assessment, partnership building and strategic planning. I see my primary role as leveraging economic development initiatives to address social challenges, promoting community well-being, and fostering overall societal progress.
Economic development, in my view, involves empowering communities and individuals to actively contribute to regional growth this can be done through providing resources, education, and support to enable people to enhance their own economic well-being. My vision for economic development in Scotland focuses on community-led initiatives, empowering communities to take the lead in identifying their needs and implementing solutions. Integral to this is skill development, sustainability, partnerships, and measurable social impact. By fostering collaboration and prioritising the well-being of individuals and communities, I hope a holistic, community-driven, and sustainable approach could create an equitable and prosperous society from the grassroots level upward.
David McIntosh
I am an advisor to the public sector (Scottish Government, agencies, local authorities) on how to fund and finance major economic development projects. I have worked on hundreds of projects stretching from housing and social infrastructure to new dynamic sectors like space technology. The ongoing focus on the transition to Net Zero and Scotland’s abundant potential to produce renewable energy means that my work has recently brought me more into the renewable energy arena including new sectors like offshore wind, hydrogen and industrial decarbonisation. Supporting, funding and financing projects in these sectors is where I spend most of my time.
I refer often to the work of the renowned economist Mariana Mazzucato and the great work she has undertaken to evidence how the state has often acted as an important supporter of the economy, in particular, by backing new industries and technologies. Government’s role around the world has been fundamental in anchoring thousands of jobs in local economies. With this in mind, Scotland’s economic development community has a vital role to play in ensuring this country attracts, creates and secures new jobs in new industries for the future. Economic development continues to change, impacted by all sorts of factors including government budgets, the economy and global trends. It’s a brilliant community to be part of and our work continues to have lasting impact.
David Oxley
I’ve worked in economic development for around 20 years, most recently leading on the delivery of some of the exciting opportunities which are coming forward in the Highlands and Islands. This includes the fantastic opportunities which sectors such as Space, Offshore Wind, and Hydrogen will provide for sustainable, high quality jobs in some of the most remote parts of Scotland.
I grew up in a former pit village in County Durham, and despite the economic devastation caused by the closure of a vital industry in the North East of England, there seemed to me to be very little happening in terms of responses to these economic challenges. The economy of any region is constantly changing, and it is vital that the public sector supports economic development to help deliver new emerging opportunities and overcome economic challenges. Economic development is never done, there is always something new coming, and supporting economic development professionals to have the skills and networks to support the growth of a strong economy is a vital part of the work EDAS does. Scotland has more opportunities than I have ever seen in my time in economic development, and the challenge is to ensure they are grasped to make sure Scotland has a fairer and sustainable economy.
Lauren Pascu
For me, economic development isn’t a single intervention but is a collaborative process that brings together stakeholders, leverages opportunities, and ensures that economic progress translates into broader societal well-being. It’s about understanding how local, devolved and national policy frameworks, resources, funding streams and institutions interact and about how they might all work together more efficiently in order to create thriving communities and improved living standards.
Pauline Smith
As CEO of the Development Trusts Association Scotland, I work at the intersection of community action and economic development. DTAS supports development trusts across Scotland that are community-owned organisations that strengthen local economies through enterprise, job creation, community ownership of assets and the development of sustainable local services.
My role involves helping these organisations grow their economic impact by supporting them attract investment, build partnerships and create opportunities to strengthen and grow the development trust movement. Development trusts play an important role in creating more resilient local economies by ensuring that wealth generated locally is retained and reinvested in the community.
While their work has a clear economic focus, development trusts also deliver wider social, environmental and cultural benefits with local people are revitalising local buildings and land to supporting community wellbeing and preserving local heritage. Through DTAS I champion the role of community-led organisations as an important and often overlooked part of Scotland’s economic development landscape.
For me, economic development is about creating strong and sustainable local economies that benefit the people and places they are rooted in and how it contributes to the long-term wellbeing of the people who live there.
Through my work with development trusts across Scotland, I see how community-led economic development can deliver lasting impact. When communities own and manage assets, run enterprises or shape local investment, the economic benefits are more likely to stay within the local area, supporting jobs, services and opportunities.
Economic development also has wider impacts beyond the economy itself. Development trusts demonstrate how economic activity can support social wellbeing, environmental sustainability and cultural vitality in communities. By recognising and supporting these kinds of locally rooted approaches, economic development can help build a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable economy for Scotland.
Clare Stoddart
As Mission Support Coordinator at Scottish Enterprise, I work across teams to help deliver our strategic missions, supporting Scotland’s economic development. My role involves analysing progress, managing risks, and providing clear, data-driven insights that inform decision-making and drive mission objectives. I specialise in project coordination, stakeholder engagement, and reporting, ensuring effective communication and continuous improvement throughout our mission activities. By connecting people, information, and ideas, I help shape the delivery of impactful projects that contribute to Scotland’s economic growth.
To me, economic development means creating opportunities for people, businesses, and communities to thrive. It’s about fostering innovation, supporting inclusive growth, and building resilience so Scotland can adapt and prosper. Through my work and involvement with the EDAS Future Leaders Network, I’m committed to helping shape a fairer, wealthier, and greener Scotland by supporting emerging talent and sharing best practice.
Lynne Ward
I work for Scotland’s infrastructure centre of expertise, focused on improving infrastructure investment decision-making, building the strategic understanding of infrastructure’s role to fulfil policy priorities. I am currently focused on understanding our long-term need for a resilient and future-proofed infrastructure sector, building the evidence-base and collaborating with diverse stakeholders. With more than 25 years economic development experience in Scotland, UK and EU, I have worked across employability, business and infrastructure sectors, from strategy development to delivery.
Economic development focuses on making our lives better, proactively supporting people, communities, and businesses to fulfil their economic potential. That means exploiting opportunities but also addressing barriers to achieve the best outcome. For me economic development is essential to a wellbeing economy which supports growth for the benefit of all.
I bring to EDAS many years of experience from working in one of Scotland’s economic development agencies in a number of different strategic and operational roles. Currently my organisation supports projects that bring together academics and non-academics to share knowledge and learn from each other to improve policy and practice.
Economic development is very broad based, particularly when looked at in terms of improving the lives of all within the limits of the natural environment. Collaboration between many organisations across all sectors will be vital to achieving this.
Paul Zealey
I am an experienced executive and non-executive director with 30 years track record across private, public and third sector with international recognition for contribution to outcomes, impact, legacy and community benefits.
I have held leadership roles with Skills Development Scotland, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, pza consulting, Scottish Enterprise and CSV, plus non-executive chair and director roles. I am also an independent consultant, advising government, public bodies, funders, academic organisations and the third sector.
Paul has specific expertise in economic development; jobs and skills; creative and cultural industries; community regeneration; and social enterprise, innovation and investment.
I am currently Skills Planning Lead – part of the leadership team – at the national skills agency, Skills Development Scotland, with a portfolio of national and regional responsibilities, including strategic lead for Glasgow City Region and Ayrshire.
I have always had a particular interest in the “people” dimension of economic development – maximising opportunities for jobs and skills, and for place-based community regeneration and economic development. EDAS plays an essential role in connecting and supporting practitioners across the country, and in sharing and promoting best practice.