Science and the Parliament 2024

Claire Baker has represented the Mid-Scotland and Fife region in the Scottish Parliament since 2007.  As Convener of the Scottish Parliament’s Economy and Fair Work Committee, she has led work scrutinising action to tackle the disability employment gap as well as inquiries on just transition and supply chains.  As a member of the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body, Claire has responsibility for overseeing policy on the staffing of the Parliament.

Before being elected, Claire worked in the voluntary sector and trade union movement. A graduate of Edinburgh and Glasgow Universities, she is a published author on the American poet Sylvia Plath. 

Annette has 35 years of international experience working within the pharmaceutical sector, including at Warner-Lambert, Pfizer and most recently GSK where she was Senior Vice President, Global Head of Product Development and Clinical Supply. She has been directly involved in the research, development and launch of over 30 new medicines in respiratory, infectious diseases, cancer and inflammatory conditions.

She is the recently appointed Chair of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and is also a non-executive at the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. She holds various Trustee positions including at Addenbrookes Hospital Charitable Trust (ACT), St John Ambulance charity and Member at the Tonbridge Grammar School Academy.  She is a Council Member at Innovate UK, part of UKRI.

She is currently Senior Advisor at Frazier Life Sciences, a team investing in and building companies developing and commercializing novel therapeutics.

She has a BSc in Chemistry (1982) and a PhD in Organic Synthesis (1985) from Imperial College London and has conducted postdoctoral research with a NATO fellowship at Ohio State University (1985-1987).  

In 2009, Annette was awarded an OBE in recognition of her services to the pharmaceutical sector.  She is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and an Honorary Fellow of the British Pharmacological Society.  She is the current President of the Royal Society of Chemistry - 2024 – 2026.

Dr Stuart Farmer is Learning and Skills Manager at the Institute of Physics Scotland and an Honorary Fellow at the University of Stirling Centre for Research into Curriculum Making. Previously he taught physics in Scottish secondary schools for 35 years. Throughout his career he has been active in many curriculum, assessment, and professional learning projects, and advising on educational policy.  He recently completed a PhD at the University of Strathclyde Institute of Education researching the policy and practice of teacher professional learning in Scotland.

Dr Alicia Greated is Executive Director of Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) where she leads a dynamic organisation that shapes significant changes in public policy. Alicia has extensive experience of strategic leadership and management in the R&D sector, including as a CEO, both in the UK and overseas. 
Alicia is also a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and holds a number of advisory roles including as a member of the Royal Society’s Science, Industry and Translation Committee, and a member of the Scottish Funding Council’s (SFC) Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee.

Richard Lochhead has represented the Moray Constituency in the Scottish Parliament since 2006. Prior to that, Mr Lochhead represented North East Scotland from 1999 to 2006.
He attended Williamwood High School in Clarkston and Central College of Commerce in Glasgow, before graduating in Political Studies from the University of Stirling. Immediately prior to his election, he worked as an economic development officer for Dundee City Council.
Mr Lochhead previously served as Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Food and the Environment between 2007 and 2016, and was appointed Minister for Small Business, Innovation, Tourism and Trade in March 2023. 

Willie Rennie is MSP for the North East Fife constituency and has held the seat since 2016 having previously served as an MSP for the Mid Scotland and Fife region from 2011 to 2016 and MP for Dunfermline and West Fife from 2006 to 2010. Willie served as party leader in Scotland for a number of years and is currently party spokesperson for Economy, Education and Communities and sits on the Parliament’s Education, Children and Young People’s Committee.

Prior to entering parliament Willie worked for the Lib Dems in England and spent five years working in communications and PR.

Dr Sinead Rhodes is an academic psychologist based in the College of Medicine at the University of Edinburgh. 
Her research focuses on understanding and supporting thinking, learning and the mental health of children and young people with Neurodevelopmental conditions e.g. autism, ADHD. She is the Founder and a Director of the spin-out social enterprise company EPIC Think Learn which provides services and resources to parents and teachers of children with Neurodevelopmental conditions including those not yet diagnosed / on waiting lists. 
She is an expert in science communication and public engagement and is the Founder of Research the Headlines, a project focused on engaging the public with research they are exposed to in the media.  

Lorna is Co-Leader of the Scottish Greens and has been an MSP for Lothian since 2021. Until her election, Lorna worked as a Project Manager and Electro-mechanical engineer in marine renewables energy. Lorna first became in engaged in politics following the 2014 Scottish Independence referendum and was elected Co-Leader of the Scottish greens in 2019. 
Lorna and fellow Co-Leader Patrick Harvie became the first Green politicians to enter Government anywhere in the UK following the cooperation agreement between the Scottish Greens and the Scottish Government. Lorna served as Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity from August 2021 until April 2024 
Away from work Lorna enjoys learning aerial circus skills, obstacle course racing and sewing. 

Dilraj is the Director of Equate Scotland, which is a national policy, research and development organisation focussing on women’s underrepresentation within the science, engineering, technology, and the built environment industries. As programme lead, she directs the work of Equate Scotland through financial, strategic, people and policy management. Dilraj has worked in senior programme management, policy development and executive positions across a diverse range of not-for-profit organisations.
With a grounding in business administration and carbon management, Dilraj brings cross-sector experience in urban development with subject matter expertise on the themes of environment, poverty, social capital, AI and ethics.

Dilraj is currently a member of Scotland’s AI Alliance Leadership Group, Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan Implementation Steering Group and as an industry expert in QMU’s  Psychology and Sociology Advisory panel. Dilraj also has ongoing trustee responsibilities in local and international organisations. Dilraj’s work has been always guided by her personal values- rights-based and intersectional.

Rebecca is a HCPC registered biomedical scientist trained in laboratory haematology, and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Rebecca is employed at Robert Gordon University in the School of Pharmacy, Applied Science and Public Health where she is involved in a wide range of biomedical teaching, including mentoring students undertaking clinical laboratory placements in NHS Grampian and NHS Highland laboratories. Rebecca is actively involved in her professional community, sitting on the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) local Aberdeen branch committee, the IBMS Scottish Teaching Forum, and is a STEM ambassador. In 2019, Rebecca received the award of Champion of Biomedical Science for Scotland from the IBMS.