ScotPEN 2026 Elections 

ScotPEN brings together professionals, researchers, and practitioners from across Scotland who are passionate about meaningful engagement. Our elected representatives play a vital role in guiding the network’s direction, championing inclusive practices, and helping us strengthen connections across sectors.

Election timeline:

• Nominations open – 15th January 2026
• Nominations close – 26th February 2026
• Voting opens – 5th March 2026
• Voting closes – 19th March 2026
• Elected members contacted and new committee announced by 26th March 2026
• New committee formally take over at ScotPEN Annual Gathering on 23rd April 2026 in Edinburgh.

Nominations for the ScotPEN Elections are now closed. 

Voting is now OPEN until 12pm on Thursday 19th March and you can vote for your preferred candidate here:

Vote in ScotPEN Elections here

Voting eligibility 

Only those on the new membership list collected through our online form will be contacted and invited to vote. Please make sure you have signed up! 

ScotPEN Committee Nominations 

Please take a look at the individuals who have been nominated for a position on the ScotPEN Committee. Once you have read through their personal statements, you can vote for preferred candidates by clicking the button below:

Chair
Responsibilities: Chairing committee meetings, collating items for agendas, overseeing committee outputs, facilitating elections.

Nomiees:

Faye Watson: I would love the opportunity to continue as the ScotPEN Chair for another term and keep the momentum we have built together over the last 3 years. During my time as ScotPEN Chair I have led on securing 2 years of funding from the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement, building on invaluable work done by the previous committee and through the ScotPEN Futures work. This much needed funding has allowed us time and resource to get our house in order, formalising the network and begin to make strides towards a more sustainable future. Now it is important we strengthen our offer and build momentum within the sector. I am also passionate about positioning Scotland as a place of excellence in public engagement. Looking ahead, I want to bring several new ideas to the committee. These include strengthening professional development pathways, expanding cross-sector collaborations, and improving visibility of engagement work across Scotland. I would like to introduce more structured peer-support mechanisms, recognising the emotional labour of engagement roles, and to develop clearer advocacy channels so ScotPEN can represent the sector more confidently in UK-wide conversations and beyond. As the funding and political landscape continues to shift, I want to ensure Public Engagement professionals Scotland-wide have a network that supports and champions them.

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Secretary
Responsibilities: Maintaining the membership database for the network with the support of the ScotPEN Administrative Assistant. Circulating ScotPEN communications via email and liaising with communications role.

Nominees:

Jean-Christophe Denis: I have been a “member” of ScotPEN since its start some years ago, as I am a public engagement professional working at the University of Edinburgh since 2017. I am responsible for anything to do with public engagement at the School of Physics and Astronomy and the National Biofilms Innovation Centre, a research wide research consortium on biofilms. My role involves anything from training researchers to designing and delivering activities, to advocate for PE and define the PE strategies of the organisations I work for. I would really like for ScotPEN to reach beyond the University based PE community, through organising joint events, collaborating with other networks and actively reaching out to other potential interested parties. I also think there is a lot which can be done in term of communication and supporting the community now that the website is live, and I would like to be part of this adventure. I also chaired and founded two cultural societies in Scotland (EdinBal in 2014, and BreizhAlba in 2023 – both still active nowadays), and sat on a number of other committees related to education, science and culture, – being a committee member is something I have experienced of!

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Communications
Responsibilities: Ensuring all communications channels (e.g. LinkedIn, Facebook, Bluesky, website, mailing list) are kept up to date and being used to their best ability. Oversee any volunteers recruited to contribute to comms.

Nominees:

Dom Cairns-Gibson: I have been a member of ScotPEN since I started working in public engagement and it has been a fantastic network to connect with new people and learn about the sector. It has been great to see ScotPEN develop in the past few years, with the revamp of the membership and website and I would love to be a part of its next steps. As BioQuarter Education and Community Manager, I have worked extensively in Edinburgh to build networks and bring the research of the BioQuarter into underserved communities. Joining ScotPEN would give me the opportunity to develop a more national outlook on engagement, while brining expertise in community engagement, PPIE, and strategic planning.

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Annual Gathering Co-ordinator
Responsibilities: Organising the annual gathering, consulting with membership re: gathering sessions, training, etc. Oversee any volunteers recruited to help with AG.

No nominees – will reopen for election in Autumn 2026. 

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Lunch & Learn Co-ordinator
Responsibilities: Coordinating the monthly Lunch & Learn sessions which will incorporate practice sharing with the original ScotPEN journal club. This re-imagined role will support the programme of events and chairing meetings, with support from the ScotPEN Administrator. 

Nominees: 

Maria Fanourgiaki: ScotPEN has supported me throughout my career by providing opportunities for peer learning, and shared reflection. Conversations with colleagues and knowledge sharing, have not only shaped my practice and understanding of meaningful engagement, but have also developed my confidence as an engagement professional. I have worked in public engagement at the University of Edinburgh for more than a decade and previously across a range of cultural and community settings. Over the years, I have collaborated with schools, community organisations, museums to develop and deliver projects that make research more accessible, relevant and inclusive. Through my work I have engaged with people of all ages, and I have built long-term partnerships with local communities, where trust, listening and sustained relationships are crucial. If elected, I will bring my skills to help sustain a collaborative and supportive culture within ScotPEN, encouraging positive interactions between engagement professionals and creating platforms where challenges, successes, and concerns can be shared and acted upon. I am particularly interested in practical knowledge exchange around professional development, meaningful engagement and involvement. Also, in amplifying community voices that are often underrepresented in engagement conversations, placing these practices at the heart of ScotPEN. I would like to join the ScotPEN Committee to give something back to a network that has given me so much. I would be delighted to contribute to ScotPEN’s growth and impact.

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Ordinary member
Responsibilities: The Ordinary Member does not have strictly prescribed responsibilities. It enables more members to work with the committee and represent a wide range of viewpoints and backgrounds.

Nominees: 

 Amy Shergold: I would be delighted to join the ScotPEN committee because of its role in bringing research to people in Scotland. I am particularly excited by ScotPEN’s commitment to supporting researchers to communicate their work in accessible, inclusive, and collaborative ways – something I believe is fundamental to building trust in science. My experience spans both science communications and engagement, and I would be excited to bring this combined expertise to the committee. Following my PhD in cancer immunology, I moved into science communication as a Senior Research Communications Officer at Breast Cancer Now. My work focuses on communicating the impact of research, support, and campaigning activity through storytelling that strengthens public trust, influences donors, and builds organisational reputation. Alongside this role, I have over six years of experience in public engagement. I co-founded Cell to Cell, a science engagement programme for incarcerated learners, where I recruit and train researchers to deliver science sessions in prisons. I have also worked as a freelancer for the MRC-UofG-CVR, developing resources and supporting researchers to engage with families involved in research. In addition, I have volunteered for, and later worked with, the Glasgow Science Festival; co-founded the This Is A Stupid Question But… science podcast; interviewed people for GIRLvsCANCER case studies; organised science and equality-focused events; and secured three engagement grants. As a committee member, I would be keen to support raising ScotPEN’s profile, securing fundraising and partnerships, developing communications for events and resources, and helping to organise training and networking opportunities.

Jean-Christophe Denis: I have been a “member” of ScotPEN since its start some years ago, as I am a public engagement professional working at the University of Edinburgh since 2017. I am responsible for anything to do with public engagement at the School of Physics and Astronomy and the National Biofilms Innovation Centre, a research wide research consortium on biofilms. My role involves anything from training researchers to designing and delivering activities, to advocate for PE and define the PE strategies of the organisations I work for. I would really like for ScotPEN to reach beyond the University based PE community, through organising joint events, collaborating with other networks and actively reaching out to other potential interested parties. I also think there is a lot which can be done in term of communication and supporting the community now that the website is live, and I would like to be part of this adventure. I also chaired and founded two cultural societies in Scotland (EdinBal in 2014, and BreizhAlba in 2023 – both still active nowadays), and sat on a number of other committees related to education, science and culture, – being a committee member is something I have experienced of!

Chris Croly: I wish to carry on as a member of the ScotPEN committee for a number of reasons. Firstly I think its vital that as a wider community come together as ScotPEN – in order to best repersent the needs of the wider community. Also – crucially we need to learn and understand exactly what those needs are. The community changes constantly and we need to be part of a wider conversation. In terms of experience – I have worked in this field for decades in Scotland and bring lots of contacts and knowledge of how things have worked and how the funding landscape is changing – as indeed is the political climate. It is crucial that we are ready to meet the challenges of an uncertain future.

Kirsty Ross: I became a full time public engagement professional in June 2015, having been involved in engagement with research since 2006. I have worked across three of Scotland’s higher education institutions and in multiple roles, from project-based to central engagement teams and back again. I would bring this diversity of experience to the ScotPEN committee. As industrial liaison for the School of Computer Science at the University of St Andrews, I have become more involved in engagement practice using open knowledge and digital tools such as Wikipedia editing. I would be happy to contribute knowledge and experience about these practices to the Lunch and Learn sessions. I would also be happy to support funding applications for additional support for ScotPEN’s work, as well as joining short lived working groups to benefit ScotPEN as a whole. Thank you for your consideration for the position of Ordinary Member.

Faye Watson: I would love the opportunity to continue as the ScotPEN Chair for another term and keep the momentum we have built together over the last 3 years. During my time as ScotPEN Chair I have led on securing 2 years of funding from the National Coordinating Centre for Public Engagement, building on invaluable work done by the previous committee and through the ScotPEN Futures work. This much needed funding has allowed us time and resource to get our house in order, formalising the network and begin to make strides towards a more sustainable future. Now it is important we strengthen our offer and build momentum within the sector. I am also passionate about positioning Scotland as a place of excellence in public engagement. Looking ahead, I want to bring several new ideas to the committee. These include strengthening professional development pathways, expanding cross-sector collaborations, and improving visibility of engagement work across Scotland. I would like to introduce more structured peer-support mechanisms, recognising the emotional labour of engagement roles, and to develop clearer advocacy channels so ScotPEN can represent the sector more confidently in UK-wide conversations and beyond. As the funding and political landscape continues to shift, I want to ensure Public Engagement professionals Scotland-wide have a network that supports and champions them.

Dom Cairns-Gibson: I have been a member of ScotPEN since I started working in public engagement and it has been a fantastic network to connect with new people and learn about the sector. It has been great to see ScotPEN develop in the past few years, with the revamp of the membership and website and I would love to be a part of its next steps. As BioQuarter Education and Community Manager, I have worked extensively in Edinburgh to build networks and bring the research of the BioQuarter into underserved communities. Joining ScotPEN would give me the opportunity to develop a more national outlook on engagement, while brining expertise in community engagement, PPIE, and strategic planning.

Maria Fanourgiaki: ScotPEN has supported me throughout my career by providing opportunities for peer learning, and shared reflection. Conversations with colleagues and knowledge sharing, have not only shaped my practice and understanding of meaningful engagement, but have also developed my confidence as an engagement professional. I have worked in public engagement at the University of Edinburgh for more than a decade and previously across a range of cultural and community settings. Over the years, I have collaborated with schools, community organisations, museums to develop and deliver projects that make research more accessible, relevant and inclusive. Through my work I have engaged with people of all ages, and I have built long-term partnerships with local communities, where trust, listening and sustained relationships are crucial. If elected, I will bring my skills to help sustain a collaborative and supportive culture within ScotPEN, encouraging positive interactions between engagement professionals and creating platforms where challenges, successes, and concerns can be shared and acted upon. I am particularly interested in practical knowledge exchange around professional development, meaningful engagement and involvement. Also, in amplifying community voices that are often underrepresented in engagement conversations, placing these practices at the heart of ScotPEN. I would like to join the ScotPEN Committee to give something back to a network that has given me so much. I would be delighted to contribute to ScotPEN’s growth and impact.

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International member
Responsibilities: An Ordinary Member based outside of the UK who supports cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange. Putting ScotPEN in the global context.

Nominees: 

Sylvester Weekes: I am eager to join the ScotPEN committee because I believe strong, inclusive connections between research, policy, and lived community experience are essential for delivering meaningful public impact. ScotPEN’s mission aligns closely with my work at the intersection of policy engagement, climate action, and community-led development, particularly in contexts that require translating evidence into practical, people-centered solutions. I would bring a global and equity-driven perspective to the committee, informed by my experience leading and supporting initiatives across Africa and working with diverse stakeholders including governments, nonprofits, researchers, and grassroots actors. I am particularly interested in strengthening South–North knowledge exchange, amplifying underrepresented voices in policy discussions, and supporting early-career researchers and practitioners to engage confidently with policymakers. In terms of new ideas, I would like to contribute to innovative engagement formats such as policy labs, community-informed evidence briefs, and practitioner–researcher matchmaking sessions that make research more accessible, actionable, and responsive to real-world challenges. I am also keen to support ScotPEN’s digital and outreach strategies to broaden participation and deepen cross-sector collaboration. My background in programme coordination, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement has equipped me with strong facilitation skills, an ability to manage complex partnerships, and a commitment to collaborative leadership. I would value the opportunity to contribute these skills to the ScotPEN committee and help advance its impact across Scotland and beyond.

Mohammed Sabah Abbas: As someone who got into public engagement out of local necessity and with passion to share my experience, it is exciting for me to apply to join your committee because I think we look from the same lens but maybe with different filters to public engagement. Thus, I am hoping to bring that to the table with my fresh unique perspective. My local work has been from day one with the international organisation of Foldscope both as an entity and playing an active role within its global community. In a nutshell, what I have been doing is literally “Think globally and act locally”. I think I can contribute in reversing that phrase with ScotPEN’s work by exporting your PE insights to an international frame that can be replicated elsewhere to exchange public engagement beyond the UK. If we work together, I will use my accumulated experience of capturing my personal public outreach -that has been on grassroots-level- as an attempt to share my findings. I get full energy from brainstorming about ideas and how to implement them. Additionally, as a practical person I would like to share as an example from your work with the University of Edinburgh “The Fabric of Life” with Wellcome Trust, in order, to put Scotland’s that rich experience into the global context, I would suggest to adjust that practice into online trend-friendly media in alignment with different local stakeholders to bring together local textile customs. That may lead up to relevant proposal ideas to meet the needs of potential projects ready to fund similar opportunities.

Jahnavi Phalkey: If invited to join ScotPEN as an international member, I look forward to contributing with ideas from my own experience in developing a new kind of public space for knowledge, and the consequences of a changing global context for public engagement with research. In addition, my current work has ties to Scotland – our fourteen-month mentorship initiative in Bengaluru, is credentialled with a Postgraduate Certificate by the University of Glasgow. As Founding Director, Science Gallery Bengaluru, I have led the establishment of a radically renewed version of the Science Gallery model with a pioneering public laboratory complex which will be codeveloped with Imperial College London. Over the last eight years, I have supervised construction, governance and recruitment, apart from exhibition curation and programmes. Science Gallery Bengaluru opened its doors to the public on 19 January 2024 with 105000 square feet in exhibition halls, laboratories, and back of house. I have led the co-curation of eight exhibitions, and raised approximately GBP 10 million. Our work has been covered favourably in The Economist, The Lancet and Physics Today. Apart from my work in Bengaluru, I hold the following leadership positions: I am invited to (i) Governing Board of Science Gallery International, Dublin; (ii) International Advisory Board ArtScience Museum, Singapore; (iii) International Advisory Board, ‘Global Observatory on Gene Editing’ an initiative at Harvard University; (iv) International Committee, Science History Institute, Philadelphia; and (v) nominated to the Standing Committee on Outreach and Engagement of the Paris based ‘International Science Council.’

Mhairi Stewart: I am a Scottish public engagement professional with extensive experience developing and delivering local, national, and international engagement initiatives, and supporting the institutional embedding of a culture of engagement. Now based in Berlin, my work sits at the intersection of practice, research, and strategy, with a particular focus on strengthening the professionalisation and international exchange of public engagement. Alongside running an international leadership academy, my research explores and evidences the value of engagement to academia, helping to build confidence and advocacy across the sector. Scotland already has a strong reputation for excellence in public engagement, and I am deeply proud to be part of that community. If elected as International Committee Member, I would love to help ScotPEN grow its international presence in a way that feels ambitious, collaborative, and grounded in shared benefit. I believe we can create greater visibility, meaningful opportunities, and global partnerships that directly support our membership. Through networks spanning collaborators in Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, Thailand, Australia, and the Indian subcontinent, I see clear potential for exchanges that offer tangible benefits for members and partners alike, from co-designed projects and leadership exchanges to comparative research and joint funding bids. For me, international work is about connection and mutual learning. ScotPEN has the opportunity to become not just a national network with international links, but an international connector in its own right. I would be committed to building partnerships and platforms that open doors for our members while showcasing the strength of Scottish public engagement practice.

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Non-elected

Standing Member (Public Engagement with Research Manager, Edinburgh Research Office at the University of Edinburgh)
Responsibilities: Line management of ScotPEN Administrator, NCCPE Funding budget holder, Data Protection Impact Assessment owner, signatory to ScotPEN/NCCPE Data Sharing Agreement, responsible for supporting ScotPEN digital infrastructure including: website domain registration, website hosting and access permissions, setting up @scotpen.org email addresses, managing Lastpass account and Eventbrite account

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Working groups – Committee members are invited to create working groups around particular tasks or areas identified by the committee or the membership. Working group membership is open to all ScotPEN members and will be invited through social media and mailing list announcements. It is expected working groups will be active for a set amount of time and then wrap up when their work is concluded.

Committee positions will be held for two years and are open to all individuals working in or delivering public engagement in Scotland. We encourage members from all areas of public engagement including arts and humanities, STEM subjects, the heritage sector, community engagement and especially those outwith higher education institutions.