Guest Speakers and Judges
Each Scottish EDGE Final brings together an expert panel of judges, inspiring guest speakers, and charismatic hosts drawn from Scotland’s business, investment, and entrepreneurial communities. These leaders bring a wealth of experience across sectors, providing invaluable insight and guidance to our finalists and audience alike. Their role is not only to assess the pitches, but to champion innovation, encourage bold ambition, and help shape the next generation of high-growth Scottish businesses.
See below for this Round’s guest Judges and Speakers
Hosts & Speaker
Kylie Reid
Founder of egg
(Host - Pitching Room 2)
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Kylie is the founder of EGG (formerly Edinburgh Gossip Girls), a thriving female-led community and platform that connects women to each other and to local businesses. What began as a simple Facebook group offering recommendations for places to eat, shop and socialise in Edinburgh has grown into a flourishing network and events business with thousands of active members.
She launched the group shortly after moving to Edinburgh as a new mum, looking for support and connection in a new city. The rapid growth of the online community inspired Kylie to leave her role as a global sales manager and turn EGG into a full-time venture. Today it offers a membership model, curated events, business support, networking opportunities and a growing focus on emotional wellbeing.
From lunchtime meet-ups and wellness events to 10k runs and intimate talks on topics such as grief, anxiety and maternal mental health, Kylie is passionate about creating spaces where women can feel seen, supported and empowered.
Now expanding into Glasgow and exploring new growth opportunities, Kylie continues to champion community-building, entrepreneurship, female empowerment and work–life balance through her talks and her work with EGG.
Nick Murray
Start-up Advisor & Ecosystem Builder
(Host - Pitching Room 1)
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Nick Murray is a startup advisor and ecosystem builder with over a decade of experience designing and delivering international entrepreneurship programmes, founder cohorts, and large-scale community-driven initiatives.
He currently serves as Head of Ecosystem Partnerships with The Ventures Lab by Challenges Group, joining the dots to provide tailored support for impact-driven businesses in Scotland. He also leads TecTonic Night Summit in Scotland, a flagship innovation 'Market Square' showcase gathering that connects founders, investors, and ecosystem partners.
Dex Hunter-Torricke
Founder & President, The Center for Tomorrow
(Speaker)
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After nearly two decades advising some of the world’s most influential leaders — from Elon Musk to Mark Zuckerberg to the UN Secretary-General — and most recently leading communications at Google DeepMind, Dex left Big Tech in 2025. Not because he lost faith in technology, but because he saw how unprepared global institutions are for the scale of transformation AI is driving.
The son of a refugee from Burma and an immigrant from Malaysia, and the first in his family to attend university, Dex brings a deeply personal outsider’s perspective on power, systems, and global responsibility.
Today, he is Founder and President of the Center for Tomorrow, a global nonprofit launched in 2026 focused on building the leadership, ideas, and collective capacity needed as AI reshapes our societies. He also serves on the board of HM Treasury in the UK.
Judging Panel - Upstairs Atrium
John Devlin
CEO of Ascensos
(Judge)
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John Devlin is the co-founder and CEO of Ascensos, a leading customer experience and business process outsourcing provider to the retail sector, supporting major brands such as John Lewis, Shark Ninja, Selfridges and Aldi amongst others.
Since founding the business in 2013, he has led its rapid growth into an international operation across 6 countries and with 5,000 employees.
During this time, John has driven the development of the business through organic growth combined with several key strategic acquisitions.
In 2024 he led the successful sale of Ascensos to Indian listed Firstsource Solutions, part of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group.
In addition to his executive role, John serves as a Non-Executive Director with Scottish technology business Appointedd and as a board advisor to the Africa Scotland Business Network, bringing expertise in growth, commercial strategy and scaling businesses internationally.
He was recognised as EY Entrepreneur of the Year (Scotland) in 2021 and is based in Edinburgh.
Sarah Hardy
Director, Head of New Investments at Archangel Investors
(Judge)
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Archangels is a prominent business angel syndicate, which has been at the forefront of early-stage investing in Scotland for more than two decades. It invests in promising start-up and early stage companies across Scotland.
Archangels focus on technology and life-sciences companies, and has invested in sectors ranging from software development and alternative energy to biopharmaceuticals and bionics. Sarah has extensive international experience of financing early-stage opportunities in the technology sector, with specific focus in life science and healthcare arena.
She has managed a large portfolio of academic programmes, charitable organisations, SMES and larger companies (public and private) to add value and achieve a commercial exit.
Michael Atkinson
Growth Strategy Consultant
(Judge)
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Michael brings a blend of experience, linking a senior operational background in global strategy, marketing and communications, with significant time in investment, as a senior director within a consumer brand private equity fund. During his career, he has led and grown some of the world’s most famous brands at globally renowned organisations including L’Oréal, Britvic Soft Drinks, Bacardi Global Brands and the LVMH Group.
His mix of operational, investment and Board level experience spans large corporates to SMEs to founder-led and family run businesses. He has worked across multiple categories during his career. He has a deep understanding of what drives performance, growth, and long-term value across different business models. Today, Michael partners with boards, founders and executive teams of B2C and B2B businesses to help define and set their long term vision and ambition, then works closely with them to understand, create and execute the building blocks that will deliver than ambition, with a strong focus on brand and commercial components.
Michael also understands the challenges of founding businesses, having co-founded a golf publishing and media business in late 2021.
Dr. Poonam Malik
Co-Founder & Non-Executive Director, Board Member of Microplate Dx Limited
(Judge)
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Dr. Poonam Malik is an entrepreneur, business strategist, innovation investor, and distinguished Life Sciences Chair with deep expertise in in MedTech, biotech, and digital transformation, with extensive board experience and investment success. She co-founded Microplate Dx Ltd, a MedTech Diagnostic business to combat antimicrobial resistance. Dr. Malik formerly led investments in innovative commercial Venture as Head of Investments at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow UK. She holds influential roles in Scottish economic and skills development. Recognised globally, she advocates for innovation, collaboration, and diverse leadership.
Dr. Malik leads Economy & Enterprise, as Vice President- Business (Economy & Enterprise), at the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s National Academy. She is an elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) and Royal Society of Biology (FRSB). Dr Malik has been awarded multiple honours, including ‘Scottish Women’s Awards 2025 for Achievements in Science & Technology’, and ‘Asian Tech Pioneer Award 2024, London’ by Diversity UK, as well as ‘Scotland’s Businesswoman of the Year Award in 2023’. She holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences/Virology, an MBA in Strategy and Leadership, an MSc in Biotechnology, and BSc in Chemistry and Zoology.
Judging Panel - Auditorium
Colin Temple
President of schuh
(Judge)
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Colin Temple has been part of the schuh story and behind the success of this leading footwear retailer for over 35 years. Joining the business as a merchandiser in 1988, Colin worked his way up to Managing Director in 2002, and more recently was named President of schuh in 2023.
Colin has been integral in establishing schuh’s omnichannel capabilities, creating an unrivalled destination for brand partners, and a strong nationwide store footprint.
He has built a company infrastructure that ensures schuh will continue to thrive on the high street and online. Colin is also a great ambassador of youth, ensuring young people play a vital role within schuh.
Kerry Sharp
Chief Finance & Investment Officer
(Judge)
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As Scottish Enterprise’s first Chief Finance & Investment Officer, Kerry is a member of the organisation’s executive team and plays a central role in shaping Scotland’s economic development ambitions. Her leadership remit spans financial and corporate governance, strategic planning, organisational performance, and the mobilisation of investment to drive sustainable economic growth across Scotland.
Kerry leads teams responsible for the effective stewardship of public funds, including the preparation of Scottish Enterprise’s annual report and accounts, the development and embedding of robust risk management frameworks, and the ongoing evolution of the organisation’s corporate strategy. She also leads cross-organisational efforts to align skills, expertise and capital to attract and deploy external investment into Scottish companies, transformational projects and critical business infrastructure.
A qualified accountant and chartered banker, Kerry brings more than two decades of experience supporting start-ups and high-growth businesses, both as an early-stage investor and as a strategic partner to founders and management teams. Since joining Scottish Enterprise in 2006, she has held a number of senior leadership roles, most recently leading teams that support innovative, high-growth companies through tailored advice, grant funding and commercial equity investment.
Prior to joining Scottish Enterprise, Kerry worked in venture capital and corporate banking in the private sector, providing her with deep insight into capital markets, investment decision-making and the needs of ambitious businesses scaling internationally.
In addition to her executive role, Kerry has contributed her expertise through a range of advisory and non-executive positions, including with the London Co-Investment Fund, Converge and FinTech Scotland, supporting the development of strong, investable ecosystems across key growth sectors.
Scott Smyth
Managing Director, Accenture
(Judge)
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Scott founded Soben in 2011 to disrupt construction consultancy. The guiding principles were simple: every client should see a clear return on the fees they paid, and Soben should be held accountable for outcomes rather than just supplying people.
The approach earned early traction with Scottish wind farm developers, electrical transmission and distribution operators, and general contractors, and the business grew rapidly across the UK.
Soben entered the data centre sector in 2017, and Scott led the move up the value chain to work directly with hyperscale and co-location developers — helping the world's largest technology companies build the data centre infrastructure underpinning the global digital economy. He secured Soben's first international commission in 2019 and scaled the business to around 300 people across 13 countries in the Americas, EMEA and APAC, navigating the organisational change and cultural challenges that come with rapid international growth.
Accenture acquired Soben in March 2025. Scott is currently a Managing Director at Accenture, supporting the integration of the business as the team continues to disrupt the market, backed by Accenture's global scale and digital capability.
Scott is a Chartered Quantity Surveyor (MRICS) with over 30 years' experience. Before founding Soben his career spanned consultancy, local government and major contractors. He completed Cranfield's Business Growth Programme in 2017 and invests in and mentors high-growth businesses.
Jenny Phillips
Head of Open Innovation at Natwest
(Judge)
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Jenny Phillips is a dynamic leader within the innovation team at NatWest Group. As Head of the Innovation Office, Jenny plays a pivotal role in shaping and steering strategic initiatives that drive cultural transformation, experimentation and organisational agility.
A qualified accountant with experience in risk and portfolio management, Jenny is responsible for maintaining the comprehensive framework and resources to accelerate innovation and demonstrate value.
She is a trusted voice in leadership forums, a mentor to emerging talent and a catalyst for making innovation real and relatable, whether navigating governance complexities or advocating for wider visibility of impact.