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Event Speakers

Superintendent Tracey Robinson 

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Tracey is a superintendent in Police Scotland. Since joining the police in 1995, Tracey has served in a variety of operational roles and settings, in Dyfed Powys Police, then Lothian and Borders Police; and now Police Scotland. 

 

As an instructor at The Scottish Police College, Tracey delivered training to newly promoted sergeants and inspectors and in 2017 worked in Qatar, training female police officers in assessing risk and security planning in preparation for the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. Tracey has wide experience in counter-terrorism security planning and has worked on security plans for numerous high-level events. 

In 2017, Tracey was seconded to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland, working to drive improvements in policing.  

In Edinburgh, Tracey has a wide portfolio within service and delivery, including staff development and training; continuous improvement; change program; performance support; and audit and compliance.

Dr. Grace Vickers

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Dr Grace Vickers took up the post of Chief Executive at Midlothian Council on 1 August 2018, having previously held the position of Head of Education and Chief Education Officer with Midlothian Council.

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Educated at the University of Edinburgh, Grace holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh Business School and a B.Mus. She was a secondary school Head Teacher and Quality Improvement Manager with the City of Edinburgh Council.

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The Chief Executive is responsible for the effective operation of the council and in ensuring that excellent and efficient services are delivered to the people and communities of Midlothian. 

Grace is responsible for ensuring that corporate aims and objectives are met and is the main point of contact between elected members and officers.

Amy Brown

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Amy Brown loves working for NSW Government. She is passionate about delivering real outcomes that improve quality of life for our citizens, provide access to opportunities for individuals and deliver value for taxpayers.

 

She’s currently Deputy Secretary and head of the Strategy & Delivery group at Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) – a group formed to provide expert commercial, strategic and economic advice to the Premier on major and complex whole-of-government policies, programs and projects in the State of NSW, Australia.

 

Prior to joining DPC, Amy was a Partner in the Sydney office of PwC’s Infrastructure and Urban Renewal Business, with a practice that focused on social infrastructure and housing. She’s also worked in infrastructure finance at NSW Treasury, and as an infrastructure lawyer in a number of top tier law firms. 

 

When she’s not working, she loves writing articles for LinkedIn, playing the drums and watching her 2 kids dominate on the sports field.

Johanna Holtan

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Johanna has spent over 15 years designing and building programmes and businesses for social good across a variety of sectors including higher education, active transport, sport & culture, international development and social enterprise. In addition to being one of the co-founders of CycleHack, Johanna has created and curated four TEDx events, two creative and cultural festivals, and the global phenomenon Penny in Yo’ Pants. Johanna also served as a Peace Corps volunteer and USAID programme consultant in Georgia, working with a network of local women’s health organisations.

Johanna is currently the Director of the $27 million, 7 year, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh which provides full scholarships and leadership programming to students from Africa with high leadership potential but few educational opportunities.

Johanna also received the prestigious Principal’s Medal for her contributions to the University of Edinburgh. 

Sarah Banyard

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Sarah is a working mother of two and Head of Sales at Heart of Midlothian Football Club. After moving to Edinburgh 13 years ago she spent years working in the hospitality industry in the city, she has now found her home in Scottish Football.

Sarah is passionate about her role, her team and hitting financial targets. Working hard to ensure that her clients adverting and brand promotion expectations are met. Sarah believes in female empowerment and has always worked hard to ensure there is a work life balance.

Lesley Franklin

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Principal of George Heriot’s School, one of the top independent schools in Edinburgh, Lesley Franklin was appointed to the senior role in early 2018 becoming the school’s first female Principal in its 390-year history. Lesley is the first Primary Head to be appointed Principal of an all through Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference (HMC) school.

 

Passionate about young people and learning, Lesley has extensive experience in education. During her time as Principal, she seeks to uphold and highlight the school’s values of kindness, hard work and personal happiness. She also aims to improve the employability skills of young people by embracing creativity and STEM subjects.

Lynne cadenhead

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A serial entrepreneur, Lynne has over 20 years’ investment experience, investing in, mentoring and nurturing a range of early stage technology and retail companies throughout the UK. She has worked with a wide portfolio of technology companies – from pharmaceuticals and polymers, to prosthetics and optics – and has also managed two early stage technology venture capital funds, served on over 30 boards and started up a number of her own entrepreneurial ventures.
Currently Lynne is involved with several early stage retail and technology companies as director and business angel investor and recently co-founded the drinks company Immaculate and women-centric business angel group Mint
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She is a key influencer on the Leadership in Board Governance Programme at Edinburgh Napier University and in 2017 the University awarded her the prestigious
title of Visiting Professor in Governance and Enterprise.
Lynne is a long-standing member of two Edinburgh Napier University Boards, a member of Technology Scotland Advisory Board, an Ambassador for Women in
Boards, Chair of UNICEF Scotland Advisory Board and Chair of Women EnterpriseScotland.

Sarra Bejaoui

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Sarra Bejaoui, is firstly a working mother and secondly the Founder and Managing Director of SmartPA. As Managing Director, Sarra leads SmartPA in its quest to challenge the perception and experience of the PA and business support sector and transform the lives of individual SmartPAs and their clients. An experienced global business leader, Sarra has led multiple operations across the finance sector and has directed learning and development contracts for governments and global corporations.

Sarra is passionate about company culture, people and how they perform. Her dedication and attention to the link between personal happiness and quality customer service makes for a seamless brand experience. She is a strong advocate of female empowerment and finding a healthy balance between work and life.

Aasia Baraky

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Aasia Baraky is General Manager UK for Women and Leadership International.


For over fifteen years Women & Leadership International (WLI) has been providing

We are 100% focused on developing leadership capability, enabling career progression and assisting women to more effectively manage the opposing challenges of career and life.


Women & Leadership International is an initiative dedicated to supporting a higher representation of female leadership throughout the workforce and the broader community.

 

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Angela Crawley

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Angela Crawley MP is a Scottish National Party politician. She was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Lanark and Hamilton East at the 2015 general election. Crawley is the SNP spokesperson for Women and Equalities and a member of the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee.

Niki Hutchison

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Niki Hutchison is a Marketing Strategist who, following a career spent working as a Strategic Planner in advertising agencies, left to set up ... and kids Hip Hop Dance Company! Now with a team in place running that business, Niki has returned to her first love and help female coaches and creative small business owners use marketing to achieve bigger results. Niki will be sharing her business journey, from corporate employee to small business owner and employer, with some bumps and twists along the way.

Pinky Ghadiali

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Pinky is a women’s transformational life and business coach working with career driven women and entrepreneurs across the UK and globe. She is passionate about helping her clients become empowered to achieve personal
and professional goals with purpose, drive and vision. Whether it’s asking for a promotion or chasing leads and closing business deals, believing in yourself is the first step towards creating a life you love. She will help you create your killer mindset that dismisses your inner critic and puts you on the right track for professional and personal success.
She founded netwomen.co in 2015, working within the local community to help Scottish ladies support each other and create new professional and business opportunities. Join us and meet our badass ladies.

Rt. Hon Ruth Davidson

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Ruth Davidson is a Scottish politician who served as Leader of the Scottish Conservative Party from 2011 to 2019, and has served as Member of the Scottish Parliament for Edinburgh Central since 2016. After graduating from Edinburgh University she worked as a BBC journalist as well as working at Real Radio, Kingdom FM & Johnson Press. 

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