Scottish Finance Leaders Network Conference 2025

This September marked the return of the Scottish Finance Leaders Network (SFLN) Annual Conference, hosted for the first time at the iconic Old Course Hotel in St Andrews. Over two days, senior finance professionals from across Scotland gathered to explore what it means to lead high-performing finance teams in a rapidly changing world.

Co-sponsored by FWB and EY, with RBC Brewin Dolphin joining us as conference sponsor, the event offered a curated programme of keynote talks, interactive panels, and peer-to-peer learning — all set against the stunning backdrop of one of Scotland’s most prestigious venues.

Whether attendees sought to enhance their CPD, connect with fellow CFOs and FDs, or take time to reflect and recharge, #SFLN25 provided a space to explore the future of finance leadership with energy, insight, and a sense of community.

People, Purpose and Performance

In her opening remarks, outgoing co-chair Nicola McIntosh welcomed attendees to what she described as a “flagship event that brings together Scotland’s most forward-thinking finance professionals to connect, collaborate, and lead.”

She reflected on the conference’s powerful and timely theme: optimising financial performance, strengthening leadership, and developing high-performing teams. In today’s complex environment, finance leaders are being called upon not only to manage numbers but also to shape strategy, drive innovation, and inspire people.

Across the event, the network chairs encouraged attendees to engage fully, challenge assumptions, and connect with peers to help shape the future of Scotland’s finance leadership community — reminding everyone that this conference is more than a series of sessions; it’s a platform for shared learning, meaningful dialogue, and community building.

Day 1 opened with a session titled “The Insightful CFO: Driving Performance Through People and Purpose”, led by Marcus Wylie, Head of Culture at Insights. This interactive session set the tone for the day, exploring how self-awareness and team dynamics can drive high performance and purposeful leadership. Marcus was later joined by Michael Dickson (FWB) and Neil Miller, CFO at Insights, for a fireside chat that brought the concepts to life through real-world leadership experiences.

Jaclyn Needham (FWB) then hosted a panel on Developing a High-Performance Finance Team, joined by HR leaders who shared strategies on performance management, development, values, and retention — offering practical insights into what truly defines a high-performing finance function.

Jen Campbell (EY) led a session on Navigating the Scaling Journey, featuring John Devlin (Ascensos) and Calum Paterson (Scottish Equity Partners). The panel explored the evolving role of the CFO, the challenges of scaling, and the qualities that define exceptional financial leadership — with integrity, commercial acumen, and strategic influence emerging as key themes.

Our co-founder Judy chaired a packed panel on Board Development: Transitioning from Executive to Non-Executive Leadership, joined by seasoned NEDs including John Watson (Crosswind Developments), Fraser Thornton (Campari), John McGuigan (Scottish Rugby) and Sonya Hotson (RSE). The session provided invaluable advice for those considering or already embarking on the NXD journey.

The day concluded with a hands-on session led by Catriona Campbell MBE, EY’s UK&I Client AI Strategy Leader, where attendees built their own AI bots in under 45 minutes — a powerful demonstration of how accessible and impactful emerging technologies can be.

Celebrating Leadership Transitions

Later that evening, during the gala dinner, Graeme Menzies took to the stage to mark the end of his and Nicola’s tenure as co-chairs of the Scottish Finance Leaders Network. He announced the appointment of three new regional vice-chairs, ushering in a new era of leadership for the network:

• Fraser Robertson, CFO at Rabbie’s (Edinburgh)
• Andrew Telfer, CFO at GAP Group (Glasgow)
• Stuart Wyness, CFO at Stena Drilling Ltd (Aberdeen)

Their addition complements the continued leadership of regional chairs Ashleigh Greenan (Calexsol), Gordon Farmer (Global Energy Group), and Stewart Macintosh (David Brown Santasalo), and signals exciting growth for the Scottish Finance Leaders Network.

Driving Growth — Funding Innovation and Economic Insight

Day 2 shifted focus to funding, macroeconomics, and strategic leadership.

We began with a panel on Innovative Funding Strategies, hosted by EY-Parthenon partners Andrew Munro, Will Rix, and Mike Timmins, who explored the shifting UK funding landscape shaped by COVID-19, political transitions, and global tariffs. The session offered practical advice on preparing for capital raising in a stabilising market.

Next, James Gardiner, Senior Economist at EY UK’s Economic Advisory Practice, delivered a comprehensive Economics and Market Update, covering global geopolitical and trade dynamics; central bank policy direction and taxation; government progress on energy, housing, labour markets, and investment; insights from the EY ITEM Club economic outlook and macroeconomic headwinds and identifying emerging tailwinds.

The conference closed with an inspiring In Conversation session between Charles Hammond OBE and Ally Scott (EY). As one of our headline speakers, Charles brought a wealth of experience and insight to the stage.

Charles is the Chairman of AGS Airports and a highly respected leader across the UK business landscape. He was awarded an OBE in 2020 for his services to the ports industry and business in Scotland. Throughout his career, he has transformed the Forth Ports Group into the third-largest and fastest-growing ports group in the UK, with a market capitalisation exceeding £3 billion.

His leadership has spanned listed and private equity ownership, and he continues to contribute to national conversations on energy policy, food security, post-COVID-19 recovery, and the UK’s exit from the European Union. With deep expertise across the Ports, Energy, Property, Transport, and Logistics sectors, Charles shared reflections on the CFO’s role in driving organisational change, building strategic relationships, and using emotional intelligence and storytelling to make financial data accessible and impactful.

His session was a powerful reminder of how aligning organisational purpose with personal values can shape meaningful and influential leadership journeys.

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A Community Built for the Future

From technology adoption and talent strategies to navigating economic shifts, #SFLN25 reaffirmed the value of connection, collaboration, and continuous learning within Scotland’s finance leadership community.

This is a closed-group event for SFLN Members and senior finance professionals. If you’re not currently a member but would like to attend future events, please get in touch with sfln@fwbltd.com.

We’re proud to support the Scottish Finance Leaders Network alongside EY, and we look forward to continuing to build a thriving, future-focused community of finance leaders. Planning is already well underway for #SFLN26 – watch this space! – and we hope to see many members of the network at our festive gatherings at the end of this year: