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In the latest session of our Non-Executive Director Development Programme, we had the privilege of hosting Valentina Kretzschmar and Amanda Young, two distinguished experts in the fields of energy transition and corporate sustainability. Their insights provided a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities that non-executive directors (NXDs) face in guiding their companies through the energy transition while ensuring long-term sustainability.

Earlier this week, we were delighted to hold our second session for Chief Internal Auditors, kindly hosted by Royal London and Arlene McGichen (Director at the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors and Group Chief Audit Officer at Royal London). The discussion quickly gained momentum, focusing on IA Vision 35, an ambitious roadmap set to redefine the future of Internal Audit. The question wasn’t whether we’re ready for this vision, but rather why it isn’t already here. The conversation underscored a shared concern: without evolution, Internal Audit risks becoming obsolete. The key issue was the need to balance assurance with a strategic advisory role while maintaining independence.

Session 4 of The FWB/University of Edinburgh Business School (UEBS) Executive Leadership Programme addressed ‘Driving Sustainability Effectively for Business and Environmental Benefit’ earlier this month. We were delighted to welcome two esteemed speakers on this subject - Dominic Fry ,Chair of Zero Waste Scotland and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Dr Sarah Ivory, Senior Lecturer in Executive Education, Climate Change and Sustainability at the University of Edinburgh and immediate past Director of the Centre for Business, Climate Change and Sustainability. 

Chris Tiso's journey into business was anything but conventional. He emphasised the importance of adapting to change, staying relevant, and building resilience. His family, with a shared passion for the outdoors, took a bold step by leaving their successful careers to start their own business. They identified a gap in the market for quality outdoor clothing and equipment in Scotland and the UK.

Our Non-Executive Director Development Programme continued with a fourth session that deep-dived into the unique challenges and opportunities that non-executive directors (NXDs) face in private equity-backed businesses. Featuring insights from Calum Paterson of Scottish Equity Partners (SEP) and John Watson, the session highlighted the critical role of strategic alignment, effective communication, and ethical governance in […]

The NXD Development Programme continued with a session focused on the role of the NXD in assessing risk. The session explored this important topic in relation to corporate risk and the growing impact of geopolitical risk on organisations.

This session addressed ‘A Plan for Living and Leading with Artificial Intelligence and Increased Technology Innovation’. We were delighted to have two experienced speakers on this important topic: Catriona Campbell MBE, Chief Technology and Innovation Officer at EY UK & Ireland, and Prof. Michael Rovatsos from the School of Informatics at the University of Edinburgh.

Ahead of World Food Day, Michael Dickson, Co-Lead of our Consumer Practice caught up with a number of our Food Manufacturing clients to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the market at present. The summary was agreement that the UK food production and manufacturing industry stands at a critical juncture as it grapples with significant […]

The Executive Leadership Programme (ELP) 2024 continues with a session on Leading Change. Jointly run by FWB and the University of Edinburgh Business School (UEBS), the programme is designed to enable the next generation of leaders across multiple ownership classes or organisations with a broad range of private, public, and non-profit sectors.