Derrick Thomson
AB15 Limited

Derrick’s initial career choice was Air Traffic Control but concluded after six months that a career in Broadcasting might be a safer option.

He trained as a sound engineer at Central Television working on many classic programmes watched by millions in the 80’.

Appointed Managing Director Grampian Television in 1999, he oversaw the merger with the Scottish Media Group, where he was noted for his contributions to the parliamentary, international and regulatory arenas surrounding Broadcasting.

From 2007-2015 Derrick successfully deployed his skills across the housebuilding, whisky and care sectors. Derrick now works full-time alongside Bob Keiller at AB15.

David Thomson
Director of DC Thomson
(Panel - Tues 6th Dec)

David Thomson is a director of DC Thomson, one of the leading media organisations in the UK. A direct descendent of the company’s founder David Coupar Thomson, he joined the business in 2003 as a commercial executive and has been a director since 2014. He was chief operating officer of DC Thomson from 2011 to 2020 and was previously joint managing director of newspapers and head of programme and corporate services.

David has been instrumental in the transformation of DC Thomson over recent years, nurturing the family company to continue to be an innovative and responsible business, with people, customers and communities at its core. He is one of the architects of the T25 programme - the media business’ transformation to become a sustainable media company powered by data, technology and talent.

While its roots are firmly in publishing, thanks to its portfolio of newspapers and magazines, DC Thomson has diversified into digital technology, radio, TV and events. Using audience insight and data, it creates content and experiences that connect with its customers and build loyal communities.

David has a BA Hons in Politics, Management, History and Economics from Durham University and prior to joining DC Thomson worked for seven years with PricewaterhouseCoopers. He was an active member on the board that brought the V&A to Dundee and is a board member of Dundee’s Eden Project as well as British Ice Skating and the High School of Dundee. 

Paula Ritchie
Regional Enterprise Director at Royal Bank of Scotland
(Panel - Tues 6th Dec)

Paula is an experienced banker, having worked to support the business aspirations of a wide range of clients from large corporates to start-up businesses.

Having spent many years working with the NatWest Group across bands including Ulster Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland, she is currently Regional Enterprise Director within the Business Banking channel for Scotland and North of England. Her responsibilities include fostering business development through sectoral and segmental strategy, an Enterprise proposition and leveraging key strategic partnerships to ensure value add outputs are achieved.

Paula’s background in relationship management is augmented by work on Strategic Proposition development and she has undertaken several leadership roles. She is a strong believer in providing local business support and helping to create and grow local business networks and engagement. A leading supporter of inclusion and sustainability, Paula is Chair of Furniture Plus Ltd – Reuse not for profit charity, based in Fife.

Ana Stewart
Partner at EoS Advisory
(Panel - Wed 7th Dec)

Ana founded her digital consultancy business after graduating from University and grew it into a leading global innovator of consumer engagement software. As CEO, she led the AIM listing of the company on the London Stock Exchange and was voted Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year by the Scottish Entrepreneurial Exchange.

Ana then sold the company in a US trade sale. Ana sits on the Board of the Scottish FA and also sits on the main council of ICAS.

Earlier this year, Ana was commissioned by Scottish Government to Chair the Women in Enterprise Review, focusing on areas including education, access to finance, support and mentoring for women in business.

Sir Tom Hunter
& Lord Willie Haughey
’The Board You Can’t Afford’ - Live
(Tues 6th Dec)

As two of Scotland’s most inspirational leaders, Sir Tom Hunter and Lord Willie Haughey will look to inspire, inform and entertain the EDGE20 audience with insight, advice and guidance.

Taking their popular GoRadio Business Show on the road, Sir Tom and Lord Willie are swapping the sound booth for the EDGE stage as they invite questions from the audience for an interactive ‘Board You Can’t Afford’.

Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get advice on your business challenges from two of the country’s most successful business persons.

Sir Tom’s first business quite literally started from the back of a van and grew to become Europe’s largest independent sports retailer, Sports Division. He sold the business in 1998 for £ 290m going on to establish his private equity business, West Coast Capital (“WCC”) and philanthropy, The Hunter Foundation (“THF”)

Lord Haughey started City Refrigeration in 1985 with 4 employees and a turnover of £100k, by the mid 1990s, City transformed itself from a refrigeration company into one of the largest privately-owned Integrated Facilities Management companies in the world. It has taken the company 34 years to get to a £1bn turnover, with a realistic chance it will be at £2bn within the next 3 years.

So, whether you’re just starting out or are looking for some advice to help you take your business to the next level, enter the Boardroom on the Go Radio Business Show with Hunter & Haughey.

Margaret Gibson OBE
Experienced third sector Director & committed charity Trustee
(Wed 7th Dec)

With a long career in the not for profit sector Margaret has dedicated her life to supporting others. She has a particular focus and interest in helping others to achieve their potential and takes great joy in working with young people on their career or business ambitions.

Margaret was the first woman in Scotland to receive the Queens Award for Enterprise Promotion and was awarded an OBE for services to entrepreneurship and small business.

She has mentored and coached hundreds of people and currently serves as a trustee for several charities.

She is a committed swimmer and recently completed a 400 Kilometre challenge. With all that swimming it means she can eat some of the many cakes that she bakes every week. Margaret is a former musician and has a very eclectic music taste.

Chris van der Kuyl CBE
Co-founder - 4J Studios
(Wed 7th Dec)

Chris van der Kuyl is one of Scotland’s leading entrepreneurs working across the technology, media, gaming and entertainment sectors. Chris is most notably co-founder and chairman of multiple award-winning games developer 4J Studios, best known for developing Minecraft for Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo games consoles. He and fellow co-founder Paddy Burns launched Chroma Ventures, the investment arm of 4J Studios, in 2021.

Chris is chairman of; Puny Astronaut, Stormcloud Games and Parsley Box and sits on the boards of; Blippar, Ace Aquatec, Ant Workshop and ADV Holdings. He is also a non-executive director of the Ballie Gifford US Growth Trust.

Alongside his commercial roles, he was the founding chairman of Entrepreneurial Scotland and is currently a member of multiple advisory and local charity boards. Elected as one of the youngest Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2013, Chris was also formally recognised for his contribution to technology in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020, becoming a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).