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.
Fred MacAulay
Comedian and Event Host
(Host - Pitching Room 1)
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Fred is one of Scotland’s best-loved comedians, broadcasters and live hosts, with a career spanning more than three decades.
A familiar voice and face to audiences across the UK, Fred presented BBC Radio Scotland’s hugely popular MacAulay and Co. for almost 18 years and has appeared on some of Britain’s best-known comedy programmes, including Have I Got News for You, QI and Mock the Week. He has also been a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4 favourites including Just a Minute, The News Quiz, The Unbelievable Truth and I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue.
Before swapping spreadsheets for stand-up, Fred graduated from the University of Dundee in Accountancy and Jurisprudence and spent a decade working as an accountant – giving him perhaps more insight into the world of business than your average comedian.
An experienced event host and compere, Fred brings his trademark quick wit, warmth and sharp observational humour to the Scottish EDGE Live Final.
Andrew Dobbie
Founder/CEO of MadeBrave
(Speaker)
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Andrew is a creative entrepreneur and CEO of MadeBrave, a Brand & Creative agency based in Glasgow, Scotland.
Andrew founded MadeBrave in 2012 with just £1,000, when his son Fin was two weeks old, and has since grown it into a multi-million-pound global creative force. Today, MadeBrave delivers award-winning work for some of the world’s leading brands, including Bank of Scotland, Tunnock’s, Nestlé, Medtronic, Pfizer, Diageo, Hard Rock Hotels, FirstGroup, VELUX and KPMG.
A creative at heart, Andrew began his career as a designer and photographer and believes the bravest brands are built from the inside out. His belief that exceptional work starts with exceptional culture has helped earn MadeBrave recognition from Campaign’s Best Places to Work and The Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For. In 2026, Andrew was named a Campaign Magazine 40 Over 40 winner and Scottish Business Influencer of the Year.
MadeBrave are experts at taking products, services or ideas, giving them meaning, and making them go viral for all the right reasons. Andrew recently proved it with the Boston Cone: turning a hand-painted Glasgow traffic cone into a global cultural phenomenon. It generated more than 30 million views and coverage from 150+ media outlets, including Sky News, The New York Times and The Washington Post, and most importantly raised over $30,000 for mental health charities.
Andrew also hosts the podcast ‘Just A Chat With’, and when he's not helping brands find their brave, he creates content with his son Fin on @EntertainingDad, generating over 300 million views - including a video that caught the attention of Will Smith - and spends his downtime playing electric guitar with his French Bulldog, Astro, by his side.
Judging Panel - Auditorium
Julie Grieve
Chair of Vistage CEO Peer Advisory Groups
(Judge)
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Julie Grieve is a Chair of Vistage CEO Peer Advisory Groups, an executive coach and a mentor to start-up and scale-up businesses across the UK.
In 2016, Julie founded Criton, a technology platform that helped independent hotels embrace digital transformation by enabling a fully digital guest journey. She successfully grew the business before selling it in 2022.
Prior to founding Criton, Julie was Managing Director of Abbey Business Centres, a national provider of serviced office space. She took over the business in 2004, when it was loss-making following the dot-com crash. Under her leadership, she returned the company to profitability, led its expansion into London and other major UK cities, and successfully oversaw its sale to Regus in 2011.
Julie is also a Trustee of Entrepreneurial Scotland.
Steve Tiger
Founder and CEO of loveelectric
(Judge)
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Steve Tigar is the Founder and CEO of loveelectric, the Edinburgh-based EV salary sacrifice business that helps employers make electric cars more affordable and accessible for their staff.
Steve has spent much of his career building and leading high-growth fintech businesses. He led two technology companies to successful exits: Money Dashboard, acquired by the ClearScore Group in 2021, and more recently loveelectric, acquired by the Perkbox Group in 2025.
Before moving into technology and entrepreneurship, Steve built his career in advertising, where he worked on major brands and developed award-winning campaigns. That experience helped shape his approach to building businesses around a clear customer proposition, strong brand and simple communication.
Steve graduated from the University of St Andrews with First Class Honours and is a Saltire Fellow, having been selected for the programme’s intensive leadership and entrepreneurship development in the United States.
Based in Edinburgh, Steve remains focused on growing loveelectric following its acquisition by Perkbox, alongside investing in and advising ambitious early-stage businesses.
Dr Marie Macklin CBE
Entrepreneur, Investor & Executive Chair
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Dr Marie Macklin CBE is an entrepreneur, investor and founder and Executive Chair of HALO Urban Regeneration. Born and raised in Kilmarnock, she has built a career spanning finance, property development and community regeneration.
She is the driving force behind the award-winning HALO Enterprise and Innovation Centre in her hometown, bringing together business, education and sustainable development to create opportunities for local communities.
A mentor to emerging entrepreneurs and an advocate for inclusive economic growth, Marie was awarded a CBE for services to economic regeneration and entrepreneurship in Scotland.
Adeel Hyder
Managing Director of NatWest Business Banking
(Judge)
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Adeel Hyder is the Managing Director of NatWest Business Banking, leading the bank’s strategy to strengthen support for small and micro businesses across the UK.
Joining NatWest from Starling Bank on 1 June 2026, Adeel is an experienced banking leader with a strong track record in customer‑centric digital transformation and deep SME expertise.
His background spans McKinsey, TSB and, most recently, Starling, where he helped build and scale its digital‑first business bank.
He brings proven commercial leadership, deep experience overseeing business performance, and sharp insight into the needs of UK small businesses.
Judging Panel - Mezzanine
Nicola McMillan
Head of Venture Creation at
Scottish Enterprise
(Judge)
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Nicola McMillan is Interim Head of Venture Building at Scottish Enterprise and a recognised leader in innovation-led economic development. She is responsible for designing and delivering Scotland's approach to venture building, creating the conditions for more world-class technology companies to emerge, attract investment and scale globally.
Combining expertise in company creation, commercialisation, ecosystem development and investment, Nicola works across universities, industry, investors and government to transform Scotland's research excellence into high-growth, internationally competitive businesses.
Iain Galloway
Institutional Investment Manager
(Judge)
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Iain Galloway is an experienced institutional investment manager, with a career that has evolved into roles of business founder, Non-Executive Director, and Angel investor. He brings substantial experience of operating at board and senior executive level, with additional strengths in strategic thinking, financial oversight, risk management, governance, organisational development and stakeholder engagement.
Iain began his investment career at Standard Life Investments in Edinburgh becoming an Investment Director and Head of Pan-European Funds. He managed a range of long-term equity portfolios, leading investment decisions through fundamental research and engagement with CEOs and leadership teams to assess strategic plans, business performance and other board-level issues. He developed specialist expertise in the life-science and healthcare sector as well as the banking sector which continued throughout his career. His achievements include developing and launching an innovative “unconstrained” investment fund that resulted in a ‘AA’ award from Standard & Poors shortly before his departure.
In 2012, Iain was recruited to join the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA), one of the world's largest sovereign wealth funds, where as Head of Europe Region he led the origination of $250 million investment transactions for a specialist global equity fund. He was subsequently asked to create and lead a new ‘Global Alpha’ portfolio, hiring and developing a team to manage long-term, global investments.
Taking on operational challenges, Iain founded and led Clarian Chalets Ltd, a luxury hospitality business, as well as developing a broad portfolio of non-executive roles. He is Chair of the Board of Governors at Erskine Stewart Melville, a Director of the East of Scotland Lawn Tennis Association, and a Non-Executive Director of Gutsy Health Ltd, a former Scottish EDGE winner.
Iain holds degrees in Physics from the University of Cambridge, as well as a diploma as a Non-Executive Director; he is a CFA charterholder as well as holding other qualifications in investment management and ESG.
Jennifer MacKenzie
Co-founder & Director of
The TEFL Org
(Judge)
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Jennifer MacKenzie is the co‑founder and Chair of The TEFL Org, an award‑winning international training company that grew from a back‑garden shed in the Scottish Highlands into one of the most respected TEFL providers in the world. After several years living and teaching across Europe, Jennifer saw first‑hand the transformative power of language learning — inspiration that led her to launch The TEFL Org celebrating its 18th year this year with her partner, Joe.
As Managing Director, Jennifer guided the organisation through sustained growth, international expansion, and multiple academic and industry accreditations, including its first US academic accreditation in 2021. She led the company’s transition to Employee Ownership Trust status that same year, reinforcing her commitment to shared success and values‑driven leadership. Today, The TEFL Org is a Queen’s Award for Enterprise (International Trade) winner, a certified B Corp, and proudly listed in the Times Best Places to Work.
Jennifer’s leadership has been recognised with IoD Scotland’s Regional Director of the Year (2015) and Medium‑Sized Director of the Year (2016), alongside numerous awards for The TEFL Org in digital marketing, business, and enterprise. She is a Women’s Enterprise Scotland Ambassador, a trustee with both the Social Enterprise Academy and the Scottish Book Trust, and an investor with Mint Ventures, focusing on female led businesses. This year Jennifer has also returned to university, studying post graduate History online.
Alex McVey
CEO of ogibiotech
(Judge)
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Before founding ogibiotec, Alex gained extensive experience in biotechnology, focusing on product development and improving laboratory efficiency. He started OGI Bio in 2020 so that other scientists could also get their precious time back.
At work, Alex is passionate about creating value, whether it’s expanding the range of measurements in OGI's products, helping scientists make the most of their time, or fostering a company ethos focused on innovation and collaboration.
Outside of the office, he spends his time with his young family and exercising his tireless Border Collie in the hills around Edinburgh.