Meet The Support Agencies
2:30pm - 3:30pm
Hear from representatives from a broad cross-reach of regional and national organisations on how you can access the support to bring your creative ideas to life, secure funding to develop your business and gain a valuable insight into current programmes which offer support to develop your project and innovate your business model.
Chair
Rachel Hunter
Director of Service Delivery, Highlands and Islands Enterprise
Rachel has worked for Highlands and Islands Enterprise for over 18 years in various roles, including Area Manager for HIE’s Shetland Area Office from 2012 to 2021. In May 2021 Rachel was promoted to Director of Service Delivery and has responsibility for Client Programmes, Key Sectors (including Food and Drink), Innovation and International Trade and Investment.
Rachel was born in Shetland and continues to be based there in her current role. Rachel is married with a young daughter. In her spare time Rachel enjoys walking her dog, reading and baking. As a keen knitter, she is very interested in Shetland textiles and is a member of the Shetland Guild of Spinners, Weavers, Knitters and Dyers.
Speakers
Mark Geddes
Creative and Cultural Strategy Manager, South of Scotland Enterprise
Mark has worked in economic development for the past 17 years developing strategies, initiatives and supporting business in the creative industries, tourism, and food & drink sectors. During this time, Mark was also the Screen Commissioner for South West Scotland, promoting and facilitating film and TV production across the region. Prior to this he had a successful career in hospitality spanning 10 years in Edinburgh, the Highlands and Dumfries. His role is to support and enhance the wealth of creative and cultural activity in the South of Scotland, employing his skills and knowledge as a published author and a graduate of Edinburgh College of Art.
Derek McCrindle
Derek is Head of Place in Scottish Enterprise and manages a number of teams comprising various disciplines dealing with a range of place making activities including; tourism, creative industries, major place and infrastructure projects throughout Scotland. Derek is the Senior Responsible Owner for a range of major place programmes such as the Edinburgh BioQuarter. He is also the SE representative on Building Scotland Fund and the regional lead for Argyle and Bute. Derek is a chartered surveyor with over 30 years in the property industry both public and private sector. He has an MBA and is married with three children and a grand daughter.
Morgan Petrie
Creative Scotland
Morgan leads on digital as a connecting theme for Creative Scotland.
He was previously Head of Market Development at the national screen agency Scottish Screen, engaged in developing and deploying strategic programmes of funding to support critical screen culture and the digital media industries in Scotland. In his early career he was a musician and actor before making documentaries for the education sector, working in web development, software marketing and consultancy. He has a Postgraduate Diploma in Film and Television Production and an MSc in Electronic Imaging.
