- The Institute of Directors (IoD) Scotland has announced the 39 leaders shortlisted for the 2023 Director of the Year Awards, including 11 from Aberdeen and the Highlands.
- Among the finalists are Michael Golding, CEO of Visit Inverness, Jai Aenugu, Director and Founder at TechForce, and Grant Moir, CEO of the Cairngorms National Park Authority.
IoD Scotland has today revealed the finalists for its 2023 Director of the Year Awards, including 11 Directors from the Aberdeen and Highlands & Islands region shortlisted for national awards.
The annual awards, sponsored by Turcan Connell, Zero Waste Scotland, Wheatley Group, SCVO, Scottish Government, Insights, and Prosperity, will celebrate leadership during a challenging year, and offer some recognition for those navigating their organisations through a rapidly changing landscape.
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Those shortlisted from the region for national awards including sustainability, public sector, and young director of the year include:
- Michael Golding, CEO at Visit Inverness (Sustainability)
- Jai Aenugu, Director and Founder at TechForce (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion)
- Stuart Black, Chief Executive at Highlands and Islands Enterprise (Public Sector)
- Grant Moir, CEO at Cairngorms National Park Authority (Public Sector)
- Shona MacLennan, Ceannard (CEO) at bòrd na gàidhlig (Public Sector)
- Bob Keiller, Non-Exec Chair at Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (Non-Executive)
- Jonathan Christie, Chief Executive at The Cabrach Trust (Third Sector)
- Jeremy Legget, Director at Highlands Rewilding Ltd (Sustainability)
- Edward Obi, Director at HR Hub Plus (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion)
- Neale Bisset, Co-chairman at PMC Property Management & Lettings (Family Business, and Young)
Over 100 submissions were received from leaders across Scotland, with 39 directors shortlisted across 12 key categories. Each finalist will also be entered into one of seven corresponding regional categories, with the hope of being recognised as Director of the Year in their region.
The winners will be crowned at the prestigious ceremony on 8 June at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), which will be the first Director of the Year award with new nations director Catherine McWilliam at the helm.
Catherine McWilliam, Nations Director at the Institute of Directors Scotland, said: “The IoD’s Director of the Year Awards are renowned for attracting high calibre entries from across Scotland’s director community, so it is an honour to be able to recognise and celebrate their immense achievements with this year’s in-person ceremony.
“I am regularly struck by the resilience and commitment shown by our members and directors across the country as they strive to ensure stability and confidence within their organisations. While it sometimes feels like par for the course, this leadership is invaluable, and exactly what these awards set out to recognise.”
Tickets for the ceremony are available here.
The full list of individuals shortlisted for the IoD Scotland 2023 Director of the Year Awards are:
| Award Category | Shortlist | Based in |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – International | Fiona Logan – Insights Learning & Development Dr Ken Sutherland – Canon Medical Research Poonam Gupta – PG Paper | Dundee Edinburgh Glasgow |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Agility & Resilience Sponsored by Insights | James Gillespie – Kibble Education and Care Centre Laura Davidson – Tag Digital Ltd Nick Ravenhall – Holyrood Distillery Josie Saunders – Ceteris | Glasgow Glasgow Edinburgh Alloa |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Family Business Sponsored by Turcan Connell | Lucy Harrier – Prepress Projects Ltd Neale Bisset – PMC Property Management Rebecca Bell – Spectrum Service Solutions | Perth Aberdeen Glasgow |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Third Sector Sponsored by SCVO | Jacqueline Stone – St Columba’s Hospice Care Jonathan Christie – The Carbrach Trust Kirsteen Campbell – SSPCA Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine – Edinburgh Dog & Cat Home | Edinburgh Aberdeen Fife Edinburgh |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Public Sector | Esther Black – Crown Estate Scotland Grant Moir – Cairngorms National Park Authority Shona MacLennan – Bòrd na Gàidhlig Stuart Black – HIE | Edinburgh Highlands Highlands Highlands |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Young | Neale Bisset – PMC Property Management Romy Berits – CANTEEN | Aberdeen Edinburgh |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Sponsored by Wheatley Group | Carolyn Currie – Women’s Enterprise Scotland David Dent MBE – Parexel Edward Obi – HR Plus Limited Jai Aenugu – TechForce | Glasgow Carluke Aberdeen Aberdeen |
IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Innovation Sponsored by Scottish Government | Duncan Wallace – PlacesWork Nick Ravenhall – Holyrood Distillery | Edinburgh Edinburgh |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Sustainability Sponsored by Zero Waste Scotland | Duncan Wallace – PlacesWork Jeremy Leggett – Highlands Rewilding Ltd Michael Golding – Visit Inverness Lochness Richard and Ed Nimmons – Carbon Capture Scotland | Edinburgh Highlands Highlands Perth (business in South Scotland) |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Non-Executive | Bill Skelly – Team Police Ltd Bob Keiller – Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce Dr B Arturo Langa – NHS National Services Scotland Tracey Rob Perera – Institute of Chartered Accountants for Scotland (ICAS) | Edinburgh Aberdeen Edinburgh Edinburgh |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Small-Medium Business | Lucy Harrier – Prepress Projects Ltd Nick Ravenhall – Holyrood Distillery Robin Stevenson – Hamilton Waste & Recycling Ltd Sara Speirs – Spectrum Service Solutions Ltd | Perth Edinburgh Edinburgh Glasgow (Paisley) |
| IoD Scotland Director of the Year – Large Business | Jackie Kipps – Insights Learning & Development Poonam Gupta – PG Paper | Dundee Glasgow |
