Who we are
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.
For the best part of the last two decades, I have been involved in various forms of community led economic development. For me a more holistic and democratic economy is fundamental in building an economy that works for people and planet and the kind of Scotland I can be proud of.
As well as previously leading the key national Social Economy organisation, Community Enterprise in Scotland, I was also previously Director at the well-known Kinning Park Complex. I have sat on the Board of a number of national and international organisations within the field as well as participating in numerous steering committees and stakeholder groups on the topics.
I want to make sure that Scotland’s most productive economic assets are more socially and environmentally productive and I believe that supporting the development of the Social and Democratic Economy is the way to go about this.
For me Economic Development is the conscientious pursuit of economic and social objectives by the state and civil society actors. It is through economic development that we are able to better ensure access to the high-quality food, housing, public services and clean affordable energy that everyone in our communities need. My vision of Scotland is one where everyone takes this for granted and can instead focus their time and energy on fulfilling their individual and our collective potential.
This may seem like a lofty or naïve goal but the aim of the economy should be to provide goods and services as affordably as possible in a way that is socially and environmentally sustainable. Our world requires bold and ambitious leadership and I want to help EDAS play its part in this national and global challenge.
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.
I have worked in economic development in Scotland and across the UK and Ireland for over 25 years, supporting public, private and third sector organisations to understand and measure the economic impact and benefits of the projects and programmes they fund and deliver. I come from an academic background and apply this rigour to the work I leads.
I have been an EDAS member for over 20 years, joining the Board 10 years ago. Previously, I was Vice Chair on the Membership and CPD subgroup for 8 years and have recently joined the Finance and Governance subgroup.
The term economic development means different things depending on your role in the community; for me, economic development is the policies, activities and programmes that seek to improve the economic well-being and quality of life for a community. It matters because it can provide a route to value creation that goes beyond monetary gain. My vison is to support an increased understanding of what economic development is, helping increase awareness and being a champion for economic development in Scotland and beyond.
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.
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.
Paul Zealey is 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.
He has held leadership roles with Skills Development Scotland, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, pza consulting, Scottish Enterprise and CSV, plus non-executive chair and director roles. He is 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.
He is 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.
I have been an advocate for the business community throughout my career, working with members of business organisations to represent their perspectives in policy discussions about Scotland’s economic future. Through my work, I have participated in a number of government working groups and forums, including enterprise and skills reviews, procurement and female entrepreneurship, working closely with a number of economic development partners including enterprise and skills agencies, local government, academia and the third sector.
A diverse, thriving business community is at the heart of achieving smart, sustainable, successful places and people. Economic development can and should play an important role in creating the right conditions for businesses to succeed but it’s not always easy to get policy interventions aimed at business right. Bringing together different perspectives and experience is crucial to designing and delivering better public policy – never more so given the scale of challenges we collectively face. This is something we can do so much better in Scotland and where EDAS plays a key role. I’m really proud of some of the work we’ve been able to do to develop the skills and expertise of our economic development community.
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.
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.
I am currently Acting Head of Strategy at Scottish Enterprise, leading an experienced team who collaborate with colleagues, the Scottish Government and partner organisations to develop and influence economic development strategy and delivery.
My focus is to help nurture an economy that is innovative, ambitious and diverse, creating opportunities that deliver better outcomes for the people of Scotland. I believe that economic development should be purpose-led, creating a prosperous economy that that is outward-facing, ambitious for change, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable
I believe that economic development should be purpose-led, creating a prosperous economy that that is outward-facing, ambitious for change, socially inclusive and environmentally sustainable.
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.
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.