Networking Event with EDAS Future Leaders – Energy Transition

BiGGAR Economics is excited to host its first event in partnership with the EDAS Future Leaders Network. EDAS is the leading body of economic development professionals in Scotland and we are looking forward to working with them to create opportunities for network-building between early-career economists and key sectors across the Scottish economy.

The first event will focus on what the energy transition can mean for the Scottish economy. In her first speech to business leaders, Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy Màiri McAllan highlighted the huge opportunity the energy transition represented to the Scottish economy. We agree.

The future of the global economy is green – and I think it’s my job and our job collectively to make sure that Scotland can derive the greatest possible benefit from that future.
Màiri McAllan – February 2024

This opportunity will be realised through hundreds of individual projects and driven by innovations and collaborations between developers, communities and the public sector. BiGGAR Economics is keen to do what it can to encourage the connections and understanding that will support these collaborations. So the energy transition was the obvious choice for our first collaborative networking event.

This will be an excellent opportunity for early-career economic development professionals to learn about the opportunities that the energy transition represents from key players in the sector. For renewable energy professionals, it will be an opportunity to understand what “maximising socio-economic benefits” means to those working in economic development.

Event Details

When: Thursday 18th April 2024, 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm

Where: BiGGAR Economics Office, Shandwick House, 67 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh, EH2 4SD

What – Agenda

5:30 – 6:00 Networking and refreshments
6:00 – 6:30 Key Speaker – Lesley McNeil
6:30 – 6:55 Q&A Panel
6:55 – 7:00 Concluding remarks and close

Key Speaker

We will be joined by Lesley McNeil of Muirhall Energy who will share how Muirhall has been using its onshore wind projects to act as a catalyst for economic development. Muirhall Energy is a leading independent renewable energy developer based in South Lanarkshire that has won awards for its innovative approach to community impacts.

Q&A Panelists

Lesley will be joined for a Q&A session after her talk by representatives from Scottish Enterprise and SSEN, including:

Fiona Ozdemir – Fiona is a Project Manager on the Major Programme Management Team at Scottish Enterprise and works on its Mission for Energy Transition; and
Cameron Dobbie – Cameron is the Sustainable Economics Manager at SSEN that is investing heavily in grid infrastructure projects across Scotland.