Guiding innovation across Scotland’s islands - our industry advisory board
The Industry Advisory Board brings together six accomplished business leaders from Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides to help drive innovation and sustainable growth across Scotland’s island economies.
Appointed by Heriot-Watt University, the board combines deep local knowledge with national and international expertise across sectors including renewable energy, social enterprise, finance, textiles and economic development. Together, they play a vital role in shaping funding decisions, mentoring applicants, and ensuring that the TalEntEd programme delivers meaningful impact for island communities.
Steven Coutts
Steven Coutts is currently CEO of COPE Ltd, which provides volunteer and employability skills development opportunities for individuals with learning disabilities and autism. Prior to this, he served as the leader of Shetland Islands Council and was heavily involved in progressing the Islands Deal.
Margaret Ann Macleod
Margaret Ann Macleod is CEO at Harris Tweed Hebrides. With more than 20 years experience in textile manufacturing, retail and rural economic development, she returned to Lewis and Harris, initially working for HIE, before joining Harris Tweed Hebrides in 2013. She also serves as chair of the board at Stornoway Port.
Alister Brown
Alister Brown joined Highlands and Islands Enterprise in 2022 after 14 years at Orkney Islands Council, working in economic/community development and external funding. He works as senior innovation manager within HIE’s innovation and technology team and has been engaged in the Islands Deal from conception to delivery.
Margaret Keenan
Margaret Keenan is a senior relationship manager based at the Royal Bank of Scotland in Kirkwall. She has 38 years of experience in banking having started her career in Orkney, followed by a period working in Edinburgh. Now back in Orkney, she works with a mix of commercial clients.
Matthew Finn
Matthew Finn is managing director at the European Marine Energy Centre in Orkney. He works with a wide range of organisations to develop new areas of research and technology development in the low carbon sector. In the past five years, he has helped raised more than £250m in funding to support projects in wave energy, tidal energy, floating wind, hydrogen and energy systems.
Daniel Gear
Daniel Gear is the founder and managing director of Voar Energy Ltd in Shetland, the co-founder of Equitable Energy Research and the Norn Engineering Alliance. His work focuses on helping communities, developers and public bodies to define practical ways for energy projects to deliver long-term local value.