Research and Innovation Working Group

Professor Susan Brown  has worked in Further and Higher Education for 30 years, with a particular interest in developing talent through innovation and knowledge exchange within the sport and physical activity workforce. As Lead for Innovation, Enterprise & Knowledge Exchange within Applied Sciences at Edinburgh Napier University, her focus extends to supporting the strategic work of others in pursuit of solutions to local, national and global challenges.

Reader in Design Anthropology, Aude is Research Lead at the Glasgow School of Art (Mackintosh School of Architecture). Aude explores innovative approaches to an inclusive, sustainable and participative heritage, with a specific interest in its creative interpretation. Aude sits on the board of international organisations such as Designing for children’s rights and contributes to the assessment and implementation of research and governance strategies worldwide.

Dr. Jennifer (Jen) Clarke is an Associate Professor at Gray’s School of Art and a researcher whose work bridges art, anthropology, and environmental politics. With a focus on interdisciplinary and collaborative approaches, her research integrates visual art and social practices to address and intervene in academic knowledge production and environmental issues. Jen has led transnational art projects, held a Visiting Professorial Research Fellowship in Japan, and co-convened the EASA ‘Anthropology and the Arts’ Network. She is chair of the Scottish Sculpture Workshop.

Kirsty works closely with the Vice-Principal of Research and Enterprise (R&E) to develop and implement strategy and policy on R&E across the University of Edinburgh. She initiates and leads projects related to funding strategy, research talent and culture, innovation and industry engagement, international partnerships, and national and global trends in research activity.

Brian Connolly is part of the Innovation Systems team in Scottish Enterprise, looking at the development of innovation ecosystems as part of the Mission for Scaling Innovation. He has worked in the field of economic development over the last 15 years in roles covering place based development, business research and the exploration of new economic approaches such as community wealth building. Outside of Scottish Enterprise, Brian is a board member with the Centre for Thriving Places, a volunteer with the Wellbeing Alliance Scotland, and a fellow with the RSE Young Academy of Scotland. Brian recently completed a Professional Masters exploring the relationship between the public and private sector in developing the wellbeing economy.

Marc Desmulliez is Professor in Health & Care Technology at Heriot-Watt University and the Manager of the Medical Device Manufacturing Centre (www.mdmc.ac.uk) which has interactions with over 170 companies in Scotland in that sector. He is the CEO of Microsense Technology Ltd. He is also the Associate Principal for Impact at Heriot-Watt University.

Gillian is currently the Head of Innovation and Technology at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and is responsible for the delivery of innovation support to businesses across the North of Scotland. Gillian started out in Pharmacology research in the University of Dundee before moving to Inverness where her work In Life Sciences continued, first in medical device development and manufacturing at LifeScan Scotland Ltd, then as Project Director at the Centre for Health Science, a partnership project involving HIE, academia, industry and the NHS and more recently working in rural health research at University of Aberdeen. Gillian is also on the Board of Management at UHI Inverness.

Clive works as Director of Creative Industries at Creative Scotland and leads on work to help people turn creative motivations into ways in which they can earn a living. Clive’s role covers innovation activity, working with a range of academic partners, as well as working on the design and development of our funding programmes, and national initiatives such as Scotland’s Business Support Partnership.

Prior to joining Creative Scotland in June 2015, Clive was the Director of Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) for 10 years. DCA is one of Scotland’s largest contemporary arts and media centre, delivering a critically acclaimed programme of visual art, cinema, research & production and education activity.

Trained as an artist, his own art works have included those exploring the possibilities of new media technologies in the public realm as well as published game projects.

He has been a Senior Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Dundee and a teaching Fellow at St Andrews University and is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.

Andy is Communications Manager for the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), the UK’s leading independent advocate for R&D. He is responsible for managing external communications on behalf of CaSE, through its events, media work, web presence and online output, as well as supporting CaSE’s membership and political engagement. Prior to joining, Andy worked for the Science Media Centre, an independent press office helping to ensure that the public have access to the best scientific evidence and expertise through the news media when science hits the headlines.

Elaine was appointed Research Impact Manager at the University of the West of Scotland in May 2024. Raised in Co. Carlow, Ireland, Elaine was awarded a PhD in Cellular and Molecular Physiology by the University of Nevada, Reno, USA. Her career trajectory has combined academic research in molecular physiology and science communication specialising in working with very young children, followed by a return to research with a Daphne Jackson Fellowship in neuroscience. Elaine has worked as an impact professional since 2018 to develop and evidence cross-disciplinary impact with contributions from science & engineering, arts & humanities and social science research.

Dr David McBeth is Dundee’s Vice-Principal for Enterprise & Economic Transformation, with over 25 years of experience in HE Research and Innovation, including at York, Strathclyde and Edinburgh Napier universities. Over 15 years in post as Director of RKES, he contributed to unprecedented growth in Strathclyde’s Industry research income via design of Industry-led R&KE Centres and led the development of Strathclyde’s commercial investment approach to new company formation and growth across the spectrum of staff, student and alumni enterprises. Throughout his career in HE, David’s professional interests have included: Intellectual Property Rights (“IPR”) Management; Licensing; New Company Formation & Investment; Public Funding for economic Impact (including EU Structural Funds and State Aids/ Subsidy Control); the role of the Public Sector in supporting innovation; and the economic impact of universities on regional economies.

Colin McMurray is the Vice Principal of Business and Innovation at Forth Valley College, appointed in 2023. He transitioned from leadership roles in the private sector, focusing on commercialisation and skills. Colin oversees the expansion of business opportunities, Commercial training, apprenticeships, and innovation. He also serves as a board member for CDN, Vice Chair of DYW Forth Valley, and is a Fellow of IMarEST.

Professor Andrew Nelson is a nurse who researches health technologies to prevent and treat chronic wounds and their complications, with the majority of her research (£3.6m as PI and £12m in total) being funded through the National Institutes of Health Research Health Technology Assessment (NIHR-HTA) which she also served as a member of the Commissioning Board. She is Pro Vice-Chancellor Research at Glasgow Caledonian University where she also conducts research into the assessment of infected diabetic foot ulcers.