Rehema White obtained her BSc (Agric) from the University of Aberdeen, MSc from the University of Manitoba, and PhD from the University of Adelaide. She worked in South Africa for 10 years from 1994, firstly at Rhodes University and then at the University of Transkei, where she lectured and served as Acting Dean of Research. She returned to the UK to study biodiversity conflicts at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology. She was appointed Sustainable Development Programme Coordinator at the University of St Andrews in 2006 and has managed the growth and development of this innovative, interdisciplinary and award-winning undergraduate programme. Her research focuses on the management of conflicts in biodiversity conservation; exploring governance models between policy-makers, local government and other stakeholders; and investigating knowledge exchange, interdisciplinarity and education for sustainability. Recent research has explored these issues in the broader context of sustainable development. She has held or holds grants in all of these areas.


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David Wilson is Director of Energy in the Scottish Government, with responsibility for renewable energy and energy markets. He has recently taken on responsibility for climate change as Programme Director: Climate Change across the Scottish Government. Before that he was Director of the Business Enterprise and Energy Directorate (which was split on
1st April into two Directorates – Business and Energy). Outwith the Scottish Government, he was Deputy Director General of Electricity Supply for the UK-wide electricity regulator/watchdog Ofgem. David is an economist by training.

His previous post was Marine Director in the Scottish Government, which has devolved policy responsibility for fisheries issues and marine management in Scotland, working in the European context. In earlier roles, David was Head of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister's Policy Unit, with responsibility for strategic thinking for the Scottish Executive (at the time), and prior to that he helped develop the Smart, Successful Scotland strategy. He was also Secretary to the 'Cubie Committee' on Tuition Fees and Student Finance.


Presentation: Establishing Scotland as a world leader in sustainable development

Highlighting the support being made to enterprises in the green economy. How can Scotland make use of its natural resources smarter and more efficiently? What does the future of Scottish energy look like?

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Dave Gorman is the Head of Environmental Strategy at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Dave trained as an engineer, and is responsible for futures and cross-cutting issues at SEPA, including climate change, energy, sustainability, national planning and strategic environmental assessment, research and development and horizon scanning.

Dave previously worked for SEPA on better regulation issues, the NETREGS project, emergency planning and national waste strategy issues. Previous to his time at SEPA, Dave worked for Falkirk and Dundee City Councils on sustainability, environmental strategy and waste and recycling issues.


Presentation: Starting the Transition - Climate, Energy and the Challenge of Change - A View from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Meeting Scotland's 2020 climate targets means fundamental change to the way we produce energy, run our homes and go about our business. Change is vital, but change can be difficult. What part is SEPA playing in the transition? What do we need to consider? What are some of the challenges?

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Alex is a native Glaswegian who, after attending Strathclyde University, joined the Met Office in the early 1970s.

He has held a variety of posts working amongst others as a forecaster at RAF Leuchars, Glasgow Weather Centre, Senior Forecaster London Weather Centre, and Senior Forecaster for the ITV National Weather. After a spell as Head of London Weather Centre he moved on to manage the Met Office defence network in the south of England and Europe. Alex moved back to Scotland in 2008 and is currently the Met Office Chief Advisor to government for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

His one claim to fame is that he once performed a song and dance routine with Manuel (Andrew Sachs) from Fawlty Towers for Comic Relief.

Presentation:

Discussing attitudes to and the understanding of climate change, taking a brief look at some of the impacts of climate change and how this fits in with the decisions required under the broader sustainability umbrella.

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David currently manages M&C's UK Electricity division, which procures billions of pounds of energy each year for industrial, commercial and public sector organisations.

He attended Inverness Royal Academy, then graduated from University of Edinburgh with MA Hons in Politics and Economic History. His thesis on government competition policy in telecoms was published by the University's New Waverley Papers series and he was awarded Colours for sporting involvement. Joining M&C in 1995 as an Analyst with responsibility for handling all utilities for a diverse client base, David became manager of the company's Electricity division in 2002.

In addition to UK duties, he has had responsibility for developing electricity services, and mentoring staff, for M&C in several European countries together with involvement in the Far East. David has spoken at several industry seminars, including the Westminster Energy Forum Keynote Seminar on UK Nuclear New Build, in Whitehall, London. He has also met with the Prime Minister's senior policy advisor at Number Ten to make recommendations on energy security and nuclear policy. He is a regular contributor to international energy publications, and has appeared in national and international broadcast and print media, including the Today programme and the Wall Street Journal.

Presentation: Scotland's Future Energy Mix

An exploration of the implications in moving to a sustainable low carbon future that is affordable and delivers energy security. How do we combine the opportunity to be Europe's green energy powerhouse with the need to keep the lights on at home?

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Jim Mackinnon was born in Forres in 1952 and educated at Forres Academy. He graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Geography in 1974, followed by a Diploma in Town Planning with Distinction from the University of Strathclyde in 1977.

He joined the former Scottish Office from Motherwell District Council in 1979 and has held a wide variety of posts and responsibilities in planning. He was a member of the UK delegation to the Committee on Spatial Development and was appointed as an expert advisor on the National Spatial Strategy for Ireland.

Following a year as Head of Planning Division in the Scottish Executive he was appointed Chief Planner and Head of Planning and Building Standards Group in November 2000 where he has led the reform of the planning system, which includes the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006, the National Planning Framework and a range of measures to promote culture change in planning. In January 2008 he became Director for the Built Environment with responsibility for architecture and place making, building standards and planning. He serves as a critical friend to the Planning Service in Northern Ireland.

He has led the most significant reforms of the planning system in Scotland in over 50 years, which has included new laws, a second National Planning Framework, e-enablement (he was the Senior Responsible Officer for the £12m e-planning programme), culture change in planning and an initiative of international interest, the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative.

He has spoken widely across Scotland and the UK as well as lecturing in China and the USA.

He is a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute and in November 2008 was made an Honorary Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.


Presentation: Sustainable Places and Sustainable Buildings

Presentation will cover the work of the Directorate for the Built Environment in relation to sustainable building and sustainable places, with particular reference to the Scottish Sustainable Communities Initiative.

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John was appointed the Carbon Trust's first Manager for Scotland in 2002, and over the last seven years John has successfully developed the Carbon Trust's activities in Scotland that are enthusiastically taken up by Scottish businesses, public sector organisations and academia, helping them to reduce Scotland's carbon footprint and helping to commercialise the new Scottish low carbon technologies of tomorrow.

Presentation: Building the Future, Today

The carbon emissions associated with non-domestic buildings account for about 18% the UK's carbon footprint. If we are to achieve our target of an 80% emissions reduction by 2050 then our non-domestic building stock needs to be transformed. Is this possible? What technologies need to be deployed and in what order?

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Rebecca has been with Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) for six years, initially in the Highlands & Islands before joining the policy team. Working closely with colleagues in the Scottish Government, she was on the FREDS Renewable Heat Group and is currently on the Renewable Heat Implementation Group. Over the last six years, she has been directly involved in the rapid development of the biomass sector in Scotland, responsible for the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme and the current Scottish Biomass Heat Scheme. On woodfuel supply, her role is to deliver the recommendations of the Wood Fuel Task Force on mobilising the resource, including coordinating the major FCS Energy Forestry Trials programme, improving estimates of woodfuel resource and usage in Scotland, and coordinating FCS network of biomass advisors. At a UK level, she sits on the Forestry Commission's GB Woodfuel Coordination Group and represents the Scottish Government on DECC's Biomass Sustainability Working Group.

Prior to joining FCS, she worked as a carbon consultant on forestry carbon sequestration and renewable energy projects, as well as on expert groups exploring development of the CDM and other carbon trading mechanisms.



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Duncan has been Chief Executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland since 2003 and has led the organisation in successful campaigns against nuclear power in Scotland, for a tough Climate Change Act with ambitious climate change targets and for improved waste recycling. In 2008 he was surprised to be named among the 50 most influential people in Scotland by the Scotsman newspaper.

He has been an environmental campaigner for 20 years. Among other roles, he is a board member of Changeworks and the Scottish Environmental Law Centre, and advises the Joint Research Councils on energy research. He lives in Edinburgh with his partner and two young children who remind him daily of the importance of campaigning for a sustainable future. He is also a keen hill walker, with over 100 Munros completed so far.



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Evan first met Al Gore in 2006 at the launch of the film and book An Inconvenient Truth. That meeting led to Evan volunteering with Al and Tipper Gore's organisation, 'The Climate Project', and in November 2008 he was appointed the UK Director of the organisation, providing support to more than 150 people personally trained by Al Gore to communicate issues concerning the threats and solutions to climate change.
Evan is an experienced environmental economist who has worked with a number of transnational corporations as well as working for more than eight years with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Last year, Evan provided advice to HRH the Prince of Wales Rainforest Project. He is currently a Principal Consultant with AEA working on a variety of climate change and economics projects. Evan teaches a Masters course at the University of Strathclyde on Climate Change, Adaptation and Mitigation. He also serves as chairperson of the Scottish Sustainable Development Forum.



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Jonathan Leucci joined SEGEC in March 2010. He spent the previous four years at ABB as project manager to one of the largest UK research, development, and demonstration collaborations between academia, industry, and government. Prior to that, Jonathan graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from the University of Strathclyde.

As Thematic Manager for Grids at SEGEC, Jonathan will focus and bring expertise on smart grids and off-shore super grids as well as significant experience in collaboration and funding schemes.

Jonathan is also a member of the North Sea Grid Development (Adamowitsch) Working Group and European Smart Grids Technology Platform Demand & Metering Working Group.



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David Middleton is the Head of the Private Sector and Channel Marketing teams for powerPerfector and has been with the company since July 2008. In this time, he has seen the business (and his role) grow substantially. David joined powerPerfector with 22 years experience in the electricity industry, latterly with British Energy. He has a unique set of experiences in the electricity industry, including;
• Developing new systems of supply in electricity distribution from 240 Volts to 33,000 Volts, including maintenance and refurbishment;
• Short-term generation planning and despatch, including water management for hydro stations;
• Initial feasibility and development of CHP projects to board approval, including the purchase of a private distribution network;
• Development and negotiation of commercial arrangements to sell and purchase electricity from a variety of generation projects, including contract renegotiation as a result of fundamental market structure for two projects with a contract value of £6bn and an offshore wind farm concession;
• Structuring arrangements for supporting new electricity supply businesses;
• Responsible for leading the majority of a business re-organisation, including culture change programme;
• Developing an energy service plan for a major energy supplier, including the initial implementation.
David is a member of the Institution of Engineering and Technology, and holds a BSc(Eng) (Hons) from Aberdeen University and an MBA from the Open Business School.



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