SPEAKERS

John Swinney MSP

John Swinney graduated from Edinburgh University with an MA (Hons) in Politics. He has worked for the Scottish Coal Project, Development Options and Scottish Amicable.

Prior to his election as Westminster MP for North Tayside in 1997, he held a number of posts in the SNP at local and national level. In 1999, he became the MSP for Tayside North, remaining as the constituency's MP until standing down from Westminster at the 2001 General Election.

 From 1998 to 2000, he served as deputy leader of the SNP, and then as party leader between 2000 and 2004. He was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth in 2007, followed by Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Finance, Constitution and Economy in 2014 and Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills in 2016. In 2021 he was appointed Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Covid Recovery until March 2023 and was appointed First Minister in March 2024.

Professor Linda Bauld OBE

Professor Linda Bauld leads the Office of the Chief Social Policy Adviser that contributes to analysis, research and policy making across government, particularly relating to supporting communities and addressing inequalities. Professor Bauld provides ministers with expert social and behavioural science advice, as well as promoting evidence-based policy making and the contribution of research within and outside government to effectively deliver outcomes. Professor Bauld also holds the Bruce and John Usher Chair in Public Health in the Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh.

Shirley Ann Somerville MSP

Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice

Professor John McKendrick

Co-director at Scottish Poverty and Inequality Research Unit (SPIRU), Commissioner for Fair Access and member of the Scottish Government’s Child Poverty Programme Board.

Ruth Glassborow

Director of Population Health and Wellbeing, Public Health Scotland (PHS)