Open Thinking - Barnardo's Scotland in partnership with the RSA and Scotland's Futures Forum

8th Sep 2010; 09:00

Open Thinking was held on 8 September 2010 in Glasgow and was created by Barnardo's Scotland in partnership with the RSA and Scotland's Futures Forum.

The single day event involved senior stakeholders from the public, private and non-profit sectors and challenged everyone to think differently about the future of Scotland.

The event had four themes:

1. The Power of Technology
2. The Future Economy
3. The Civil Economy
4. The Innovative State

Each speaker was limited to ten minutes. Click on the respective titles below to view a video of the speech.

Introduction to Open Thinking
Martin Crewe from Barnardo's introduces the day's event.

Event discussion summary
Event participants discuss the day's findings.

Session 1 - The Power of Technology

Expectations of an iPhone generation
Louise Macdonald, Chief Executive, Young Scot

Louise took up the role of Chief Executive of Young Scot, the national youth information and citizenship agency for Scotland, in December 2007. Prior to this Louise was Deputy CEO and Communications Director responsible for the communications and marketing of Young Scot services to its 380,000 members aged 11 to 26. She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a Board Member of ACOSVO (Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations).

Intelligent Education
Mike Boxall, Education Expert, PA Consulting

Mike leads PA Consulting Group's services in higher education, and is well known across the sector for his work with individual institutions and for HEFCE and other funding bodies. His work focuses on strategic and business changes, at the policy and organisational levels, and on cross-sector issues such as the costs and impacts of accountability and the future worksforce for HE institutions.

Rockets Packs and Food Pills: The future of public services in a digital world
Carrie Bishop, Partner, Future Gov

FutureGov is a consultancy and social innovation incubator helping to shape the future of government. FutureGov works in the government and social innovation sectors specialising in the use of web technologies to address business problems in the areas of communications, engagement and public service innovation.

Session 2 - The Future Economy

Future Economic Scenarioes: The good, the bad and the ugly
Robert Rae, Director, Scotland's Futures Forum

Robert is Director of Scotland's Futures Forum, a non party political think-tank and futures research unit, owned by the Scottish Parliament's Corporate Body. Robert led the Forum's recent scenario process looking at what sustainable communities might mean in Scotland in 2030. He also led the Forum's work looking at how Scotland might reduce the damage caused by alcohol and drugs by half and a visioning project looking at the positive aspects of Scotland ageing society.

Beyond Public and Private?
Sarah Deas, Chief Executive, Co-operative Development Scotland

Sarah leads Co-operative Development Scotland, a subsidiary of Scottish Enterprise, which has the remit to support the growth of co-operative enterprises throughout Scotland. Sarah's professional background is in strategy, marketing and business development within international companies. She is a director of the Scottish Youth Theatre and an Executive Coach.

Skills needed for the next generation to succeed [Part 1 | Part 2]
Anton Muscatelli, Principal, University of Glasgow

Anton is a graduate of the University who began his post as Principal on 1 October 2009. He graduated with an MA in Political Economy and a PhD in Economics. He was a lecturer in Economics from 1984 and Daniel Jack Professor of Economics from 1992 until 2007. He then moved to Heriot-Watt University where he was Principal and Vice-Chancellor from 2007 to 2009.

Session 3 - The Civil Economy

The Creative Deficit?
Simon Watson, Head of Developments, Barnardo's Scotland

Simon is Head of Developments for Barnardo's Scotland where he holds responsibility for new policy and programme development. He has previously held senior roles in policy and marketing communications in the voluntary sector. Before joining Barnardo's, Simon was Senior Advisor to The Prince's Trust in London and worked as a strategy consultant in the private sector. Simon is a fellow of the RSA, Vice Chair of the Scottish Community Development Centre, and a member of the British Council 2020 Transatlantic Network of emerging leaders.

The Big (Scottish) Society?
Max Wind-Cowie, Head of the Progressive Conservatism Project, DEMOS

Max is Head of the Progressive Conservatism Project at the think-tank Demos. He has previously worked for a Conservative MP, undertaken policy and public affairs projects for the Charity Commission for England and Wales and worked in Mind's policy and campaigns team. He holds a BSc (econ) in International Relations from the University of Wales Aberystwyth.

Priceless or Worthless: The role of volunteering in the Big Society
Helen Walker, Chief Executive, Timebank

Helen joined TimeBank as Chief Executive in July 2008 from her role as Director of Fundraising at SSAFA (Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association) Forces Help.  Since joining TimeBank she has undertaken a fundamental review of the organisation's vision, mission and values to define the charity’s core direction in preparation for entering its second decade in 2010.

Session 4 - The Innovative State

A postcard from 2030
Sue Bruce, Chief Executive, Aberdeen City Council

Sue took up her post as Chief Executive of Aberdeen City Council in December 2008. Sue was formerly Chief Executive of East Dunbartonshire Council, joining them in August 2000. She spent the early part of her career engaged in social and economic regeneration and partnership working, and later went into general education management.

Inside an outsourced world
Elaine Simpson, Serco, Global Director for Children's Services

Elaine joined Serco at the end of 2002 to run the then new large Education Walsall contract. Prior to joining Serco, she spent 25 years in Local Government working in senior roles across a number of North-West local education authorities in the UK. Elaine's current role focuses on capitalising on the many business opportunities available in the education and children’s services market, enhancing and maintaining Serco’s pre-eminent position in this market.

The future shape of the state in Scotland
Gerry Hassan, Writer and Commentator

Gerry is a writer, commentator and thinker about Scotland and the UK as well as on politics and ideas. Hailed by the Sunday Herald as 'Scotland's main public intellectual' , Gerry has written and edited a dozen books in the last decade on Scotland and the wider world: from the setting up of the Parliament, to its record, policy, in depth studies of the Labour Party and SNP, and looking at how we imagine the future. Gerry's activities include facilitating events, discussions and conversations which bring people together in Scotland and across the world.