Stephen Flynn MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport
Stephen Flynn was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport in May 2026.
Stephen Flynn was born in Dundee. He studied history and politics at the University of Dundee before being elected to Aberdeen City Council in 2015.
Mr Flynn represented Aberdeen South in the UK Parliament for more than 6 years, and was elected as MSP for Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine in 2026.
Anna Holligan
BBC Foreign Correspondent
Anna Holligan is a BBC foreign correspondent and author based in the Netherlands, best known for delivering “Dutch news from the cycle path” by cargo bike.
Her reporting for BBC News spans TV, radio and digital, where she has pioneered mobile journalism from the saddle, using everyday journeys to showcase the Netherlands’ world‑class cycling infrastructure and what it means for safety, health and climate.
She is currently writing Verhalen vanaf het fietspad, a non-fiction part-memoir, book of stories from the cycle path exploring bikenomics, cities built around bikes and how cycling shapes belonging, care and resilience in a changing country. Drawing on Scottish roots, years of reporting from The Hague and her workshops on mobile bike journalism and non-linear storytelling, Anna shows how rethinking the daily ride can transform both how we move and how we tell the stories of our streets.
Paul McNamee
Journalist, broadcaster and previous Editorial Director of The Big Issue
Paul McNamee has been with Big Issue for 19 years, first as deputy editor of the Scotland edition, then, since 2012 when Big Issue amalgamated all regional titles, as UK editor and now Editorial Director for the entire Big Issue group. He has guided Big Issue through a shift to digital-first output, while maintaining street sales.
He has been named British Editor of The Year four times by the British Society of Magazine Editors, was named Editor of the Year four times by the leading publishing industry body PPA Scotland, was inducted into the PPA Scotland Hall of Fame in 2021. He recently served as Chairman of the board of trustees of Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre and on the board of Glasgow Jazz Festival.
Also a broadcaster, he is a regular contributor to news, politics and sports shows across BBC and Sky.
Zara Mohammed
Former Secretary-General, Muslim Council of Britain
Zara Mohammed is a nationally recognised leadership voice in British Muslim civil society. As former Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Britain, and the first woman and youngest person to hold the role, she led critical work inspiring a new generation of leaders.
Through her consultancy, Zara supports civil society organisations with leadership development, governance and inclusive practice.
Zara is a cycle leader working with Scottish Forestry on projects that help diverse communities access the woodlands, she's a keen cyclist and nature advocate to promote better wellbeing.
Councillor Richard Watters
Convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee
Councillor Richard Watters was first elected in 2017 and currently serves as Convener of Perth and Kinross Council’s Climate Change and Sustainability Committee. In this role, he plays a leading part in shaping the authority’s response to the climate and biodiversity emergencies.
Prior to entering local government, Richard worked as a consultant and project manager specialising in Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Since his election as an SNP councillor for Kinross-shire, he has been a consistent and committed advocate for ensuring climate change and sustainability are embedded at the heart of council decision-making.
He brought forward the Council’s Net Zero motion in 2019 and was instrumental in establishing the Climate Change and Sustainability Committee in 2022. Richard continues to champion policies and initiatives that place environmental sustainability at the core of Perth and Kinross Council’s priorities – his passion for the natural environment and wildlife strongly informs his work and drives his commitment to protecting it for future generations.
Zarina Ahmad, Conference Chair
Co-Director, Women's Environmental Network
One of the mighty women on Woman’s Hour’s 2020 Our Planet Power List, Zarina founded the Ethnic Minority Environmental Network leading the charge for increasing participation in environmentalism in Scotland.
Zarina has dedicated herself to creating pathways for under-represented groups to belong to the environmental sector – increasing not only a diversity of people, but a diversity of ideas by providing anti racism training and creating learning spaces.
Zarina is a researcher on various food justice projects through her PhD, the Just FACT programme, Nourish and University of Glasgow. At present Zarina is completing a PhD at Manchester University and as well as heading the organisation Women’s Environmental Network working at the intersectionality of climate, race and gender.
