EDGE26 Judges & Speakers

Kylie Reid
Founder of egg
(Host - Pitching Room 1)

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 2)

Nick Murray is an experienced startup advisor and ecosystem builder with over a decade of experience designing and managing international entrepreneurship programmes, cohorts, social impact projects and global events. 

Nick currently works with Techstars, leads TecTonic Night Summit in Scotland, a flagship gathering for founders, investors, and ecosystem partners, and has served as a Strategic Advisor for Pathways Forward, Startup Grind Scotland, and KnowVate Hub, championing entrepreneurship and inclusion.

Fiona McKenzie OBE FRSA
Founder and CEO at Centrestage
(Speaker)

In 2006, Fiona McKenzie left her career as a secondary school Principal Teacher of Music to establish the Scottish charity, CentreStage Communities Ltd.

Guided by its vision to build a community with the arts at its heart, CentreStage has grown into a nationally recognised model of place-based regeneration, realised through the £5.2M redevelopment of Scotland’s largest community-led asset transfer to date – the 1.8-hectare former Kilmarnock Academy site.

Today, more than 30 organisations from across the public, private and third sectors are co-located there, working collaboratively to deliver an integrated model of support championing early intervention, preventative spend and public sector reform. With proven impact across Ayrshire, the ambition is to see this delivery model scaled and adopted across the UK, inspiring systemic change in how communities and individuals can be supported to thrive.

Fiona was awarded an OBE in the King’s first Birthday Honours List and conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Glasgow Caledonian University. She is an Entrepreneurial Founder at the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship at Strathclyde Business School and has been honoured with the Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International, the Association of Scottish Businesswomen Awards for Woman of Inspiration and Outstanding Contribution.

Alongside her role at CentreStage, Fiona chairs the Kilmarnock Neighbourhood Board, which is responsible for delivering £20M of UK Government funding to the town over the next decade.

Paula Skinner 
Partner at Harper Macleod
(Judge)

Paula Skinner is a highly respected corporate lawyer with 25 years experience in advising high-growth businesses, investors, and founders through every stage of the business lifecycle — from seed funding to Series A to strategic exits.

Recognised by both Chambers UK and The Legal 500 as a trusted adviser in corporate and venture capital law, Paula Skinner is known for combining technical precision with commercial acumen, making her a go-to for scaling companies navigating complex transactions. Her extensive experience includes equity investments, corporate structuring, shareholder agreements, and M&A, with a particular focus on working with ambitious, fast-moving tech and innovation-led businesses.

Paula brings a rare perspective from both sides of the table, having spent time seconded to the investment team at Scottish Enterprise and working in-house at a venture capital firm. This dual insight means she speaks the language of both founders and investors — understanding what drives deals, what derails them, and how to get them over the line.

Named recently as one of the Sunday Times’ Women in Law to Watch, she is recognised not only for her legal talent but also for her commitment to empowering diverse leadership in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.  She was also the winner of “Achievements in Law” at the 2025 Scottish Women’s Business Awards. 

“Paula is an excellent, commercially aware and very responsive lawyer who is one of my most trusted advisers.” (Chambers UK).  The Legal 500 regards her as a Leading Partner in Corporate & Commercial.  The Lawyer magazine previously listed Paula in the Hot 100 of Lawyers across the UK (the only lawyer from a Scottish firm to be listed that year).

Approachable, strategic, and relentlessly focused on client success, Paula is a trusted adviser to some of Scotland’s most exciting scaling businesses.

Coming Soon

Coming soon.

Ruth Chandler
Board Advisor and Executive Coach
(Judge)

Ruth Chandler is a Board Advisor and Executive Coach, currently supporting Skyscanner and a portfolio of other high-growth companies. She specialises in the human side of business — developing leaders, navigating complex people challenges, and driving organisational success through culture, communication, and connection.

With a strong commercial background and significant executive leadership experience, Ruth is known for her ability to influence, build trusted relationships, and help people perform at their best. Her approach combines strategic insight with empathy and practical action, enabling leaders to thrive in dynamic and often ambiguous environments.

Before becoming an advisor and coach, Ruth was Chief People Officer at Skyscanner having joined during its early growth phase. Over more than a decade, she helped shape the company’s culture and leadership journey, ultimately serving as Chief People Officer through its transformation into a global travel brand — culminating in its £1.4 billion acquisition by Trip.com in 2016.  Prior to her time at Skyscanner, Ruth spent several years in leadership positions in Financial Services.

Ruth’s leadership story is one of resilience, vision, and authenticity. She is passionate about fostering environments where curiosity and openness are valued, where vulnerability is seen as a strength, and where success is achieved through people, not in spite of them.

Today, Ruth works with executives and boards to anticipate “what’s next,” unlock potential, and create sustainable, people-led growth.