UWS Research Conference

The conference keynote speaker for Wednesday 22nd June will be Ian Houston, President of the Scottish Business Network (SBN) US.

Ian Houston currently serves as President of the Scottish Business Network (SBN) US and as Ambassador in Washington, DC. He focuses on promoting Scottish business, trade, industry, culture, and universities in the U.S. He is also the Director of Clydebuilt International which supports charitable organizations, businesses, and universities. He has developed a series of conversations through Clydebuilt with former US secretaries of state, senators, ambassadors, CEOs, and academics focused on leadership, education, and the value of cooperation.

He also served as Chair of the Development Committee of the DACOR Bacon House, an historic home in Washington, DC owned by DACOR, an association of foreign affairs and diplomatic professionals, and currently serves on the board of the Robert Burns Ellisland Farm near Dumfries, Scotland.

Houston, served for 12 years as the Executive Director and Legislative (Parliamentary) Director of the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA). He represented the views of diplomats, trade and humanitarian professionals, and ambassadors as the senior operational director at AFSA. He has deep experience with foreign policy, trade, and international development. For many years prior to AFSA, he held senior advocacy positions with a coalition of international humanitarian groups called InterAction, and other non-profit humanitarian groups. Prior to that he served as a Legislative Director and policy advisor in the U.S. Congress.

He has also dedicated time to teaching college courses in public policy and international affairs, and volunteering in a variety of capacities in his local community.

Houston holds a MA degree in International Relations from the University of Kent in Canterbury, England and a BA in Political Science from Brigham Young University. He is a recipient of a Harry S. Truman Presidential Library Scholarship, Institute of World Affairs Scholarship, and received a commendation medal for public service from California’s Governor.

He also writes monthly columns for Herald Scotland and Voice newspapers across Cornwall, and contributes to Daily Business Magazine. He has appeared on BBC Radio Scotland several times.

The first keynote speaker for Thursday 23rd June will be Dr Lidia Borrell- Damián, Secretary General of Science Europe.

Dr Lidia Borrell-Damián is the Secretary General of Science Europe, the association representing major public organisations that fund or perform excellent, ground-breaking research in Europe. She holds overall responsibility for the strategy and functioning of the organisation. Prior to this she worked for the European University Association (EUA) between 2006 and 2014. During the last five years in EUA she served as its Director for Research and Innovation (R&I), holding responsible for the overall strategy and activities of EUA in the area, working with EUA individual universities as well as the National Rectors’ Conferences.

Her areas of experience cover a wide range of EU R&I priorities, including the EU Framework Programme; European Research Area; research infrastructures; research ethics and integrity; research assessment processes; university-business cooperation; regional innovation; gender issues in research; Digital Agenda and Open Science. She also worked on doctoral education through the EUA-Council for Doctoral Education (EUA-CDE), and coordinated scientific policy input to the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) through the European Platform of Universities in Energy (EUA-EPUE).

Dr Lidia Borrell-Damian holds a Doctorate in Chemistry (Chemical Engineering Specialty; Solar Energy) from the University of Barcelona. Prior to joining EUA, she was Director of Research at Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona from 2003-2005. Before then she was Visiting Scholar at the University of Western Ontario (1999-2001) and at the North Carolina State University (1997-1998).

The second keynote speaker for Thursday 23rd June will be Dr. Poonam Malik, Head of Investments, University of Strathclyde 

Dr. Poonam Malik is an entrepreneurial business strategist academic leader and an investor in Innovation. She is Head of Investments at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow UK– responsible for strategic leadership of the University’s enhanced Investments from entrepreneurial and commercialisation activities, focused on innovative startups, spinouts and spinin companies, solving global societal challenges. A GlobalScot, Scottish Enterprise Board Member- Climate Champion, Skills Development Scotland Board Director and Firstport, Social Enterprise, Trustee- Dr Malik has held leadership roles across public, private, higher education and social enterprise sectors.

 Dr Malik has extensive experience of working in startups, investment, innovation, enterprise, research and governance internationally. Poonam brings 25+ years expertise in Technology & business sectors in Life Sciences & Health- Biotech, digital & Medical sciences research & innovation. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, impact, Equality, Diversity & Inclusive (ED&I) values & climate change/NetZero. She is a Syndicate Investor with Investing Women Angels, and Chair, NED, Board-level Advisor/Consultant & mentor for technology Startups.

 Poonam has held Academic positions at the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cumbria/Lancaster and worked internationally in Asia/India. She is an elected Fellow with the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE) and Royal Society of Biology (FRSB). Poonam holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences/Virology from the University of Glasgow, UK, an MBA (with Distinction) in 'Strategy and Leadership' from the University of Edinburgh Business School, a Masters (MSc) degree in Biotechnology and a Bachelors (BSc) in Chemistry & Zoology from India