Registration & Networking

Chair’s Welcome & Introduction

Prof George Crooks OBE, Chief Executive Officer,
Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI)

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Prof George Crooks OBE, Chief Executive Officer,

Chief Executive Officer, Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI)

Professor George Crooks is currently the Chief Executive of the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre, Scotland’s national innovation centre for digital health and care. He leads an organisation that is tasked with delivering innovation in digital health and care that will help Scotland’s people to live longer, healthier lives, deliver sustainable health and care services for the future and create economic benefits for Scotland. He was previously the Medical Director for NHS 24, the Scottish Ambulance Service and Director of the Scottish Centre for Telehealth & Telecare. George was a General Medical Practitioner for 23 years in Aberdeen latterly combining that role as Director of Primary Care for Grampian.    George is on the Board of the European Connected Health Alliance and is a past president of the European Health Telematics Association. He was an assessor for the European Commission on programmes involving digital health and care provision, led the Integrated Care Action Group in the European Innovation Partnership for Active and Healthy Ageing and is a member of the WHO roster of experts for digital health. He has been an advisor to several European governments and global organisations including the World Bank on digital health and care. He is an advisor to Innovate UK for its Industrial Grand Challenge programme for Health Ageing. He is also an adjunct Professor of Telehealth at the University of Southern Denmark.    He was awarded an OBE in the Queen's New Year Honours List 2011 for services to healthcare. 

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MyCare.scot

Driving our ambitions for Scotland.

Jonathan Cameron, Head of Digital Health and Care,
Scottish Government

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Jonathan Cameron, Head of Digital Health and Care,

Head of Digital Health and Care, Scottish Government

Jonathan is the Deputy Director for Digital Health and Care in Scottish Government, overseeing the Digital Health and Care Strategy for Scotland, and is currently leading the delivery of the Digital Front Door programme. During the Covid pandemic, Jonathan led the digital response including the delivery of the Covid Vaccination System and Protect Scotland app. Prior to his current role, Jonathan has held a number of data and IT programme posts in the public and private sector, and has a strong track record on complex IT and data system delivery. His career in eHealth and IT includes the delivery of the Emergency Care Summary and Key Information Summary systems which were major achievements in improving patient care across Scotland.  

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Delivering with Purpose

How to Bring About a ‘Digital Shift’ in Services.

Lara Sampson, Partner,
Public Digital

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Lara Sampson, Partner,

Partner, Public Digital

Lara is a digital transformation and product ways of working expert who specialises in advising and supporting large-scale, complex organisations that provide essential public products and services. She implements long-term cultural change and transformation programmes, including setting up structures and processes to support effective delivery, most notably in the implementation of Universal Credit. Lara upskills organisations across leadership, service ownership and change delivery to create the conditions for success. She drives user-centred, iterative change and scales multidisciplinary teams, providing strategic leadership support to embed new ways of working in critical public services.  

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Industry Voice

Bringing Trusted Technology to the Heart of National Digital Delivery.

Alison Ward, Vice President, Programme Director,
CGI

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Alison Ward, Vice President, Programme Director,

Vice President, Programme Director, CGI

Alison is a Digital Programme and Delivery Director with 25 years of experience leading complex, high-risk transformations. She has dedicated her career to building national-scale digital and data services that address the health system's most pressing challenges. During the pandemic, she led urgent programs like the Shielding Patients List and COVID Therapeutics, initiatives that directly impacted patient care. Her work included delivering Wayfinder, a national service for managing hospital appointments in the NHS App, and the digital solution for the bowel cancer screening test. Alison is a leader committed to user-centered design, innovation, and mentoring the next generation of digital leaders.

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Q & A

Fireside Chat

Translating Digital Health and Social Care Policy into Practice in Scotland.

Christine McLaughlin, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive,
NHS Scotland

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Christine McLaughlin, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive,

Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Scotland

Christine McLaughlin CBE was appointed as Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Scotland in June 2025.  Prior to this she was Co-Director of Population Health for the Scottish Government where she had responsibility for oversight of Health and Care Reform and for Digital Health and Care.  Christine has held a number of roles in Scottish Government Health & Care Directorates, including Director of Covid-19 Test & Protect, and Director of Health Finance.  Christine began her career working in the NHS, where she held a number of senior finance roles.  She then spent 6 years in management consulting roles with PwC, KPMG and Capgemini, working with public sector clients on financial transformation.  Christine is a Chartered Public Finance Accountant and a Charity Trustee with Carnegie UK.   

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Cllr Paul Kelly, Health & Social Care Spokesperson,
COSLA

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Cllr Paul Kelly, Health & Social Care Spokesperson,

Health & Social Care Spokesperson, COSLA

Councillor Kelly graduated from Glasgow University with a MA Honours in History.      He has been an elected Councillor for North Lanarkshire since 2007 and the COSLA Health & Social Care Spokesperson since 2022.    He held the position of Depute Leader of the Council from 2016 to 2023. He was a non-executive board member of NHS Lanarkshire from 2016-2022. He was a member of North Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership Joint Integration Board from 2016-2025 and was at various times Chair and Vice Chair.      As well as being a member of various Council Committees and Working Groups, Councillor Kelly has represented the Council on a number of outside bodies over the years, including: the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities; COSLA Health & Social Care Executive Group; Glasgow and Clyde Valley City Deal Cabinet. 

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Networking & Refreshments

The Importance of Digital Communications in Health

Discover how modern digital communications can ease pressure on Scotland’s health services and improve patient experiences. This session explores lessons from NHS England’s unified messaging programme and how clearer, timely notifications help reduce missed appointments, support better access to care and strengthen public health engagement. Learn how similar approaches could enhance efficiency and outcomes across Scotland’s healthcare system.

Stephen Marshall, Senior Consultant, Architect,
CGI

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Stephen Marshall, Senior Consultant, Architect,

Senior Consultant, Architect , CGI

Stephen Marshall is a digital transformation and service-design leader with more than 30 years of experience delivering complex, technology-driven change across major UK public and private sector programmes. His career spans architecture, service design, analysis, and digital strategy, with senior roles including Head of Service Design, Head of Digital Service Development, Business Architect and Principal Analyst.   At BJSS, now part of CGI, Stephen played a central role on the NHS Mobile First Programme, with the aim of moving communication from paper to digital means. He also worked alongside the team creating NHS Notify, NHS England’s unified national patient-messaging platform that has delivered more than 257 million communications and transformed how millions of patients engage with healthcare services. 

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The AI Healthcare Shift: From Interoperable Data to Patient-Driven Care

Healthcare is entering one of its most significant transformations in decades. AI is not just a new tool—it is redefining how data connects, how decisions are made, and how care is delivered. This session explores how true interoperability and data readiness lay the foundation for AI-native platforms serving clinicians, policymakers, and patients. We’ll highlight how InterSystems IRIS for Health and the next-generation IntelliCare platform are enabling intelligent, seamless, and actionable healthcare, culminating in a vision of patient-driven care powered by connected insights and AI-supported collaboration.

Rami Riman, Director of Clinical and Business Improvements,
InterSystems

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Rami Riman, Director of Clinical and Business Improvements,

Director of Clinical and Business Improvements , InterSystems

Rami Riman leverages clinical best practices across multiple healthcare disciplines through engagement with InterSystems solutions. In his role, Rami works to improve hospital workflows to ensure patient safety, improve efficiencies and increase system adoption. Rami has extensive consultancy experience in healthcare IT, including change management consultancy, professional accreditation, hospital workflow management, and realizing a return on investments. Prior to InterSystems, Rami had 10 years of clinical experience across multiple hospitals in the US, UK, Lebanon and UAE. Rami’s passion remains in increasing patient engagement to improve community’s health and awareness.  Rami holds a B.A. from the American University of Beirut in Biology, a Doctorate in Medicine from St. George’s University School of Medicine. Rami is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.     

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Networking Lunch & Innovation Showcase

Strategic Data Leadership

Designing Policies and Frameworks to Unlock Predictive, Preventative, and Personalised Health and Care.

David J. Lowe (Chair), Clinical Director of Innovation,
University of Glasgow

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David J. Lowe (Chair), Clinical Director of Innovation,

Clinical Director of Innovation, University of Glasgow

David J. Lowe is Clinical Director of Innovation at the University of Glasgow, Emergency Consultant at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital, and Clinical Lead for Innovation for the Scottish Government. With extensive experience fostering innovation in healthcare, he collaborates with academic and industry partners globally to develop cutting-edge devices, services, and solutions. He has led AI-focused initiatives as lead for the Digital Health Validation Lab, including applications in COVID-19, osteoporosis, and the development of AI solutions across a range of imaging modalities including echo, CT and X-Ray. David directs programmes implementing and evaluation technologies within clinical pathways focused on system redesign focusing on diagnostics and long term condition management. He is a founding member of the Centre of Excellence for Regulatory Science- AI, part of UK Commission for AI Regulation in Heath and on the board for MHRA Airlock. Areas of focus are COPD, HF and lung cancer embedding new medtech and specifically AI solutions to support case-finding, diagnosis and prioritisation. 

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Layla Robinson, Chief Operating Officer,
Research Data Scotland

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Layla Robinson, Chief Operating Officer,

Chief Operating Officer, Research Data Scotland

Layla Robinson is Chief Operating Officer at Research Data Scotland (RDS). RDS was established in late 2021 to make it simpler for researchers to access public sector data for the public good. Layla joined RDS in September 2022, initially as Partnerships and Strategy Director. She oversees strategy, partnerships, communications and engagement and operations. As part of this, she has worked closely with the Scottish Safe Haven Network, including overseeing the refresh of the Safe Haven Charter and how to ensure the network is more closely aligned, in the context of a UK-wide Health Data Research Service.  Layla has over 20 years of working in partnerships, strategy, communications and engagement and related fields, mainly around research. She has worked in the charity, private and research sectors in Edinburgh, London and Brussels. This includes seven years working in public affairs and related consultancy in London and Brussels, advising a range of healthcare and research companies and charities. She was Head of Public Affairs and Campaigns for six years at Cancer Research UK; and has also led a coalition of disability charities; worked inhouse for a multi-national healthcare company; and at a research centre at the University of Edinburgh.  

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Rami Riman, Director of Clinical and Business Improvements,
InterSystems

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Rami Riman, Director of Clinical and Business Improvements,

Director of Clinical and Business Improvements , InterSystems

Rami Riman leverages clinical best practices across multiple healthcare disciplines through engagement with InterSystems solutions. In his role, Rami works to improve hospital workflows to ensure patient safety, improve efficiencies and increase system adoption. Rami has extensive consultancy experience in healthcare IT, including change management consultancy, professional accreditation, hospital workflow management, and realizing a return on investments. Prior to InterSystems, Rami had 10 years of clinical experience across multiple hospitals in the US, UK, Lebanon and UAE. Rami’s passion remains in increasing patient engagement to improve community’s health and awareness.  Rami holds a B.A. from the American University of Beirut in Biology, a Doctorate in Medicine from St. George’s University School of Medicine. Rami is board certified in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology.     

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Isobel Houston, AI Policy Lead for Health and Social Care,
Scottish Government

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Isobel Houston, AI Policy Lead for Health and Social Care,

AI Policy Lead for Health and Social Care, Scottish Government

Issy works in Digital Health and Care (DHAC) which is part of the Directorate for the Chief Operating Officer in the Scottish Government as the lead for AI and Innovation Policy. Her team's work involves developing a policy framework for the safe, efficient and ethical application of AI across health and social care which is part of health and social care reform plans. It also includes supporting Responsible AI adoption by Health Boards and Local Authorities through workstreams focused on strategy, governance, procurement and workforce.  Previous to this Isobel worked on the National Mission to reduce drug deaths. Her work involved bringing together communities, health and social care staff and senior leaders to shape a human rights based framework for services. 

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Prof Dr Dennis Ostwald, CEO and Founder,
Wilfor Institute

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Prof Dr Dennis Ostwald, CEO and Founder,

CEO and Founder, Wilfor Institute

Prof. Dr. Dennis A. Ostwald is the CEO and Founder of WifOR Institute. His mission is to instigate a paradigm shift towards recognizing health as an investment – into societal wellbeing, prosperity, and ultimately: better health for all. Prof. Ostwald is a renowned speaker – delivering addresses at institutions including the UN General Assembly, CEO Summit of the Americas, World Health Summit, and EU Parliament. He teaches economic research and international management at the Steinbeis School of International Business and Entrepreneurship (SIBE)

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Designing the Future of Integrated Care

From Silos to Systems, How Care Pathways are Being Transformed by Digital Innovation.

Chaloner Chute, (Chair), Chief Technology Officer,
DHI

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Chaloner Chute, (Chair), Chief Technology Officer,

Chief Technology Officer, DHI

Chal leads on DHI’s technical strategy and is responsible for the way we support and deliver technical innovation, by applying systems thinking and methodologies in support of the DHI innovation model. 
 
He is devoted to the idea that citizens can be empowered to take an active role in their own well-being. 
 
Chal believes that digital health offers the tools to achieve this, and the DHI has the fresh perspective necessary to reconceive the relationship between the citizens and those who might care for them. 
 
He brings a range of skills including a Master’s in Healthcare Management & Leadership and a Master’s in Public Health Policy: Health Systems. 
 
He has spent seven years working in digital innovation, seven years working in Scottish Government public policy and healthcare service delivery and has led the design, development, integration and roll-out of many digital health and care services with several now in use at scale across Scotland. 

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Steve Baguley FRCP, Chief Clinical Digital Officer,
NHS Grampian 

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Steve Baguley FRCP, Chief Clinical Digital Officer,

Chief Clinical Digital Officer, NHS Grampian 

Dr Steve Baguley is Chief Clinical Digital Officer and a consultant in Sexual Health & HIV at NHS Grampian.     He was lead author of NHS Grampian's Strategy "Service Transformation through Digital" and of the North of Scotland's AI Strategy "Spending Time Where it Counts".     Steve has previously worked as a clinical advisor to the Digital Health & Care Division of the Scottish Government, was clinical chair of the Health Board Digital Leads group and clinical advisor to the NES Digital Service. He sits on the national Technical Design Authority and the M365 Programme Board.    Steve is dedicated to practical transformation across community and hospital healthcare and established the Scottish Digital Health & Care Network as a vehicle to support collaboration between organisations.  

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Jacqueline Walker, Dietetic Lead,
Moray Health & Social Care Partnership

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Jacqueline Walker, Dietetic Lead,

Dietetic Lead, Moray Health & Social Care Partnership

Jacqueline Walker MSc RD is a nationally recognised leader in nutrition and dietetic transformation, with over 30 years’ experience across NHS Scotland. She combines public health, service design, digital innovation, research and QI to improve outcomes, reduce inequalities and deliver value. Jacqueline is Lead Dietitian in Moray HSCP, Professional Adviser to the Scottish Government, Clinical Lead for Living Lab 1 (DHI/RCEM), and Trustee of NDR-UK. She holds an MSc from the University of Glasgow and delivered the BDA Elsie Widdowson Lecture in 2023. Her work has earned multiple awards and research/innovation grants. 

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Prof Roma Maguire MBE,Digital Health and Care & Director Health and Care Futures,
University of Strathclyde

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Prof Roma Maguire MBE,Digital Health and Care & Director Health and Care Futures,

Digital Health and Care & Director Health and Care Futures, University of Strathclyde

Roma Maguire is Deputy Associate Principal and Professor of Digital Health and Care at the University of Strathclyde, where she also directs the cross-University Health and Care Futures initiative. She holds an Honorary Professorial role at NHS Lanarkshire and was awarded an MBE in the 2024 New Year Honours for her contributions to healthcare research. Her work spans Digital Health, Remote Patient Monitoring, Human-Centric AI, and Supportive Care, with a strong focus on co-design, implementation science, and improving patient experience. Roma leads multi-site studies across clinical specialties, driving innovation in health and care across the UK and Europe. 

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Maureen Holmes, Senior Business Development Manager,
Legrand Care

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Maureen Holmes, Senior Business Development Manager,

Senior Business Development Manager, Legrand Care

Maureen Holmes has over 15 years’ experience in Technology Enabled Care (TEC), supporting the transition from analogue to digital and promoting hybrid solutions for services not yet ready for full adoption. She contributes to test-of-change initiatives that improve outcomes and efficiency, aligning with Legrand’s vision for integrated digital ecosystems that empower providers and enhance care delivery. 

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Rob Hurrell, Senior Business Development Manager - Health,
Enovation

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Rob Hurrell, Senior Business Development Manager - Health,

Senior Business Development Manager - Health, Enovation

Rob has been involved in Health and Care technology for the past 15 years, from core IT infrastructure and integration, to clinical systems, apps, and ‘care in the hand of the patient’. He is particularly interested in rethinking the divisions between Health and Social Care provision, to enable more holistic treatments across boundaries, with better outcomes and improved wellbeing. 

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Digital Skills and the Health & Social Care Workforce

Developing the Talent of Tomorrow with the Digital Capabilities to Transform Care in a Changing Landscape.

Janette Hughes, (Chair),Director of Planning & Performance,
DHI

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Janette Hughes, (Chair),Director of Planning & Performance,

Director of Planning & Performance, DHI

Janette has over 20 years of experience in Design, Innovation, Economic Development and Programme Management. She has focused the last ten years on Digital Health and Wellness leading various high-profile innovation projects in Scotland, including the Wellness and Health Innovation Project, and over the last 5 years, involvement with two major Innovate UK-backed programmes:   

• Future city demonstrator (Glasgow) where she assisted in the development of a City Observatory that harnessed the power of data for City challenges (some of which related to Health and well-being)
• The Scottish DALLAS programme, which pioneered a Digital wellness platform and applications in Scotland

Janette has undertaken many international keynote presentations on this subject and has led numerous trade missions to Japan, the USA, India and throughout Europe. She has a thorough understanding of this sector and how service, technical and business innovation and readiness levels need to merge and connect to benefit stakeholders. In addition, Janette is: 

• Chair of the Digital Working Group for All Policies for a Healthy Europe
• Chair of the UKTIN Health & Care Working Group
• Scottish Government Digital Capability Advisory Group Member
• Remote & Rural Health & Care Strategic Board Member
• Scottish Lead for the UK & Ireland HIMSS Steering Group

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Marion Logan, Policy Team Leader, Digital Leadership & Capabilities,
Scottish Government

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Marion Logan, Policy Team Leader, Digital Leadership & Capabilities,

Policy Team Leader, Digital Leadership & Capabilities, Scottish Government

Marion has worked within the Digital Health and Care Division of Scottish Government since 2022. She leads on Scotland’s organisational Digital Maturity programme that is open to all health and social care organisations. She also manages the Scottish Government commission of the Digitally Enabled Workforce Team at NHS NES. This is designed to improve the digital capability of the workforce and leadership across our health and care landscape.  Prior to joining Scottish Government, she worked in the Third Sector, NHS and academia in a range of senior management and operational roles. She has extensive experience and qualifications in organisational & workforce development and addiction & recovery service design and delivery. 

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Prof. Kevin Kelman, Director NHS Scotland Academy, Learning & Innovation,
NHS Education for Scotland (NES)

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Prof. Kevin Kelman, Director NHS Scotland Academy, Learning & Innovation,

Director NHS Scotland Academy, Learning & Innovation, NHS Education for Scotland (NES)

Professor Kevin Kelman was appointed as the first Director of NHS Scotland Academy, Learning and Innovation in NHS Education for Scotland (NES) in 2023.   The NHS Scotland Academy, Learning and Innovation Directorate supports the strategic delivery of innovation which can support innovative practice through workforce education, training, research and workforce redesign.  In 2023, Kevin was appointed as a visiting professor within Strathclyde Business School at the University of Strathclyde in recognition of his experience in leadership and management in public services.  Kevin has been a member of the Scottish Funding Council’s Skills, Enhancement, Access and Learning (SEAL) Committee since 2023.  

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Lisa Farrell, Health Robotics Lead,
National Robotarium

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Lisa Farrell, Health Robotics Lead,

Health Robotics Lead , National Robotarium

Lisa Farrell leads healthcare partnerships at the National Health Robotarium, working with NHS Scotland Innovation Hubs to integrate robotics into health and care delivery. With expertise in digital transformation and public sector innovation, Lisa focuses on turning emerging technology into practical, scalable solutions. At DigiFest 2025, she will discuss how robotics can strengthen workforce capacity, improve patient outcomes, and ensure public spending drives sustainable value. Her work bridges academia, industry, and the NHS to build an evidence-based pathway for national adoption of robotics in healthcare. 

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Crispin Scotter,
World Health Organisation

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Crispin Scotter,

Policy Advisor, World Health Organisation

Crispin Scotter is a Policy Advisor at WHO in Copenhagen, focusing on digital capability and the future health and care workforce. His background includes senior roles in the UK’s Legal Services Commission and the Department of Health, following earlier private-sector experience in retail, sales, and supply-chain management. He has supported workforce transformation in more than twenty countries and established the Northern and Western European HRH hubs. Crispin’s work includes workforce digital enablement, lifelong learning, and modern workforce models, including leadership of the 2025 HRH modelling symposium and contributions to EU initiatives such as the HEROS Joint Action. 

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Networking & Refreshments

From Data to Delivery

Driving Predictive, Preventative, and Personalised Health and Care in Practice.

Moira MacKenzie, (Chair), Deputy Chief Executive,
DHI

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Moira MacKenzie, (Chair), Deputy Chief Executive,

Deputy Chief Executive, DHI

Moira is a key member of our executive team and she believes that the progress of any country can best be evidenced by the quality of care it provides to its most vulnerable citizens. She has over 30 years’ of experience in leading complex transformational change developments, enabled by digital within health, housing and care environments.    Moira led West Lothian Council's ground-breaking Opening Doors for Older People Initiative, which inspired subsequent influential and high-profile roles including leadership of the Scottish Government’s National Telecare Development Programme and Head of Service for the high-achieving Scottish Centre for Telehealth & Telecare, which led the roll-out of Home & Mobile Health Monitoring, Telecare, computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, and virtual consultations across Scotland.    Within DHI, Moira leads senior stakeholder engagement, design, finance, comms & marketing functions to identify collaborative health & care opportunities where DHI can add the most value from its expertise in digitally enabled research & innovation.   

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Debbie Collins, CEO,
Bield Housing

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Debbie Collins, CEO,

CEO, Bield Housing

Debbie Collins joined Bield in 2023 as Chief Operating Office before moving into the CEO role. A CIMA-qualified accountant, she had established herself as a strong senior leader within the social housing sector.  Since taking the reins at Bield she has successfully led the organisation through the launch of its ambitious growth strategy and overseen several significant milestones in the use of digital solutions and tenant led services that support older people to live their best lives independently within their own homes and communities.  Passionate about high-quality housing that can adapt to the needs of its tenants and creating platforms that ensure the voices of older people in Scotland are heard. Debbie is driving forward innovation and placing Bield as a key leader in shaping the future of housing and care in Scotland. 

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Martyn Wallace, Chief Digital Officer,
Digital Office for Scottish Local Government

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Martyn Wallace, Chief Digital Officer,

Chief Digital Officer, Digital Office for Scottish Local Government

Martyn founded the Digital Office back in 2016 to create and support accelerated digital change in partnership with Scottish councils in delivering critical front-line services whilst also balancing budgets. Martyn is the Senior Responsible Officer for Digital Telecare, working in close partnership with Technology Enabled Care, Scottish Government and Health & Care colleagues. Alongside his Digital Office duties, Martyn is chair of the Scottish Government’s Digital Identity Programme. Before founding the Digital Office, Martyn enjoyed a rich and varied career, consulting with Private and Public Sector clients, whilst working for tech companies including Capita Secure Digital Solutions, Telefonica O2UK, BlackBerry, Computacenter, and Compaq – leading on digital innovation projects that drive real change.

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Dr Fi Strachan, Programme Lead for the Innovative Healthcare Delivery Programme,
University of Edinburgh

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Dr Fi Strachan, Programme Lead for the Innovative Healthcare Delivery Programme,

Programme Lead for the Innovative Healthcare Delivery Programme, University of Edinburgh

Fi is Programme Lead for the Innovative Healthcare Delivery Programme (IHDP) within the Usher Institute’s Centre for Medical Informatics, University of Edinburgh. With a background in nursing, research and digital health, Fi has worked in academic, NHS and in commercial and third sector settings. More recently, Fi has focussed on the use of healthcare data for research and to inform healthcare policy and practice across Scotland. Fi has a keen interest in developing processes to support the implementation of digital solutions across the care service and in keeping patients and people at the heart of service development. 

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Greg Thomson, DFD Programme Director,
NHS Education for Scotland (NES)

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Greg Thomson, DFD Programme Director,

DFD Programme Director, NHS Education for Scotland (NES)

Greg is the Programme Director for the Digital Front Door Programme. Greg has delivered many national digital and transformation programmes across various sectors in Health and Care over the last 20+ years. Greg is passionate about transformation and data to maximise benefits for the people of Scotland underpinned by the use of digital services.

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Digital Addiction Support

How Digital Solutions are supporting people and joining up services for people at risk of harm through substance use.

Prof Margaret Whoriskey MBE, (Chair), Head of Innovation for Care & Wellbeing,
DHI

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Prof Margaret Whoriskey MBE, (Chair), Head of Innovation for Care & Wellbeing,

Head of Innovation for Care & Wellbeing, DHI

Margaret is the Head of Innovation for Care and Wellbeing at the Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre (DHI). With over 20 years’ experience working with the Scottish Government in both strategic and programme delivery roles, Margaret brings a strong background in leading major transformation programmes, complemented by her clinical and operational experience within NHS Fife.  Since taking up her current role in 2024, Margaret has led a national collaboration to drive digital innovation in social care and social work. A key focus of this work is the development of a Digital Care Innovation Hub in Scotland, aiming to transform care delivery through technology and partnership.  Margaret also leads Digital Lifelines Scotland—a Scottish Government-funded programme focused on reducing the risk of harm and death among people who use drugs. This is achieved through digital inclusion and tailored digital services, delivered in partnership with the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations and Simon Community Scotland.  Prior to this, until January 2024, Margaret headed the national Technology Enabled Care (TEC) Programme, a cross-sector initiative involving the NHS, local government, third sector, housing, and independent care providers. The programme centred on the citizen, aiming to enhance service access and outcomes through the use of digital technologies and person-centred approaches.  In her role at DHI, Margaret champions digital innovation to support integrated care and wellbeing, with a strong emphasis on social care and housing. Her leadership continues to highlight the potential of technology to improve lives and system efficiency across sectors.  Outside of her role at DHI, Margaret is a Trustee and Board Member of ENABLE Scotland, and chair designate of Hanover Housing Association. 

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Alison Crocket, Whole Systems Unit Head, Drug Policy Division,
Scottish Government

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Alison Crocket, Whole Systems Unit Head, Drug Policy Division,

Whole Systems Unit Head, Drug Policy Division, Scottish Government

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Dr Richard Lowrie, Reader, Centre for Homelessness and Inclusion Health ,
The University of Edinburgh

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Dr Richard Lowrie, Reader, Centre for Homelessness and Inclusion Health ,

Reader, Centre for Homelessness and Inclusion Health  , The University of Edinburgh

Reader in the Centre for Homelessness and Inclusion Health, University of Edinburgh, for the past two years. Before that, for 25 years, led NHS Pharmacy clinical services and research while delivering care (as an independent prescriber) to people experiencing homelessness in Glasgow, on outreach, with Simon Community Scotland. I've setup and sustained a number of NHS clinical services after demonstrating benefits through pragmatic health services research. I have a particular interest in helping people experiencing homelessness with multimorbidity.  Published over 60 peer reviewed publications, secured over £10m in grants, editor for Pilot and Feasibility Trials, CSO Drug Death Innovation challenge National Clinical adviser, PhD supervisor, lead for research and development in Pharmacy (NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde), run a weekly clinic in The Access Place for people experiencing homelessness with substance dependency. 

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Lorraine McGrath, Chief Executive Officer,
Simon Community Scotland

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Lorraine McGrath, Chief Executive Officer,

Chief Executive Officer, Simon Community Scotland

Lorraine began her career in mental health, moving into social care in 1990 and for the past 30 years she has held executive/senior management roles. She has been Chief Executive of Simon Community Scotland since 2012, an organisation that for 57 years has been wholly dedicated to combatting the causes and effects of homelessness in the West of Scotland, employing over 300 staff and reaching more than 10000 people each year, www.simonscotland.org. She has represented organisations internationally and nationally including contributing directly to the development of Scottish Government strategies on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping, National Drugs Mission, Self Directed Support, Suicide Prevention, veterans mental health and those that experience mental health issues in combination with other needs such as addiction.  Lorraine is passionate about delivering impact and empowering the people who receive support and the front-line staff supporting them to achieve the very best they can. She is constantly surprised and inspired by the resilience of people and their ability to overcome the greatest of harm and trauma and by the ability of staff to find solutions for the most intractable of issues. 

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Neil Mitchell, Innovation Manager,
NHS Fife, Health Innovation South East Scotland

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Neil Mitchell, Innovation Manager,

Innovation Manager , NHS Fife, Health Innovation South East Scotland

Neil is the Innovation Manager in NHS Fife, member Board of the Southeast Innovation Hub (HISES).  Beginning his career in early phase, first in human, clinical trials working in Regulatory Affairs before moving to NHS Lothian Research and Development Department (ACCORD) as a Research Governance Officer, focusing on commercial research within the NHS. After gaining experience in NHS research governance, Neil moved to a Sponsorship role in the University of Edinburgh, initially working on a European wide Alzheimer’s platform trial. Neil has experience in regulatory affairs, academic clinical trials and trial sponsorship.  Neil joined NHS Fife as Innovation Manager in 2022 working on building the portfolio of Innovation within NHS Fife and the Southeast Innovation Hub (HISES) and brings extensive knowledge in research governance and health and medical research. Neil has been pivotal in the delivery of the Reducing Drug Deaths Innovation Challenge across the UK and has worked on innovation projects in women and children's services, mental health , neonatology and cancer services.  

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Future Digital Skills in Action

Real-World Examples of How Health and Social Care Teams are using Technology to Transform Services.

Dr Sanna Rimpiläinen, (Chair), Head of Research and Skills,
DHI

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Dr Sanna Rimpiläinen, (Chair), Head of Research and Skills,

Head of Research and Skills, DHI

Dr Sanna Rimpiläinen, Head of Research and Skills at the Digital Health and Care Innovation Centre (DHI) in Glasgow, leads on one of DHI’s key strategic areas, the Skills and Future Workforce Development agenda.  This work stimulates a future pipeline of talent to support the digital transformation of health and care services in Scotland through collaboration with key stakeholders in academia, industry, and the civic sectors. With over 25 years of experience in research, she manages the DHI’s Research and Knowledge Management team, who provide an internal research service to inform DHI’s work and administer the Scottish digital health and care master’s funding. Sanna is a member of several national boards and advisory, steering and reference groups related to workforce development and skills.  Sanna has a PhD in Education. Her work focuses on the softer side of digital innovation. 

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Pamela Dimberline, Specialist Lead Digital Health and Social Care,
NHS Education for Scotland (NES)

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Pamela Dimberline, Specialist Lead Digital Health and Social Care,

Specialist Lead Digital Health and Social Care, NHS Education for Scotland (NES)

Pamela Dimberline is a national lead in digital workforce development, with over 35 years' experience across health care and social care in Scotland and England. A founding member of the Digitally Enabled Workforce (DEW) team at NHS Education for Scotland (NES), she plays a key role in delivering the Digital, Data and Digital Leadership Capabilities Programme, commissioned by the Scottish Government and COSLA. With a career rooted in frontline social work and social care, Pamela’s interest in using digital to enhance services and build digital skills across  the workforce has been a consistent thread, ensuring that staff at all levels have the digital capabilities and support they need to navigate the digital age. Today, she continues to champion these core values, focusing on how digital can be used not only to benefit the workforce but also to deliver improvements across the wider health and social care systems in Scotland. 

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Theo Parry, Delivery Manager,
Magic Notes Powered By Beam

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Theo Parry, Delivery Manager,

Delivery Manager, Magic Notes Powered By Beam

Theo is a Delivery Manager at Beam, partnering with local authorities to drive adoption and impact with AI-powered solutions. His primary focus is ensuring frontline workers receive the maximum value from Beam's suite of tools, allowing them to reclaim their time, and focus more on delivering human-centered care.  

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Tony Brady, Lecturer, Dental Health & Social Care,
New College Lanarkshire

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Tony Brady, Lecturer, Dental Health & Social Care,

Lecturer, Dental Health & Social Care, New College Lanarkshire

Tony Brady is a lecturer in Dental, Health and Social Care at New College Lanarkshire, where he serves as a lead for the HNC Healthcare Practice programme. His academic and professional interests centre on the advancement of digital health education, with a particular emphasis on the integration of virtual reality and immersive technologies into clinical teaching. He is engaged in the development of digital clinical scenarios designed to enhance experiential learning, support skills acquisition, and strengthen the delivery of high-quality, person-centred healthcare training.

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Lisa Farrell, Health Robotics Lead,
National Robotarium

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Lisa Farrell, Health Robotics Lead,

Health Robotics Lead , National Robotarium

Lisa Farrell leads healthcare partnerships at the National Health Robotarium, working with NHS Scotland Innovation Hubs to integrate robotics into health and care delivery. With expertise in digital transformation and public sector innovation, Lisa focuses on turning emerging technology into practical, scalable solutions. At DigiFest 2025, she will discuss how robotics can strengthen workforce capacity, improve patient outcomes, and ensure public spending drives sustainable value. Her work bridges academia, industry, and the NHS to build an evidence-based pathway for national adoption of robotics in healthcare. 

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Drinks Reception & Networking