Team
The RSE is proud to have a dynamic and experienced team committed to driving the organisation’s mission forward to explore, discover and share knowledge.
Jump to: Senior leadership Team Council Committees Careers
Senior leadership team
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Professor Sarah Skerratt
Chief ExecutiveSarah is Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Sarah is Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE). A familiar face to the RSE, having been the Director of Programmes for two years. Prior to this, Sarah was Director of Policy Engagement at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), where she worked for just over two decades. Sarah is Professor of Rural Society and Policy.
For 30+ years, Sarah has researched rural community resilience, disempowerment, poverty and rural mental health. She has enhanced rural and national policies and made a difference in rural communities via robust data, particularly lived-experienced evidence. Sarah works with Scottish Government task forces, Scottish and UK Parliaments, universities, private, public and third sectors, communities and development agencies in Scotland and internationally. Following a two-year secondment with Audit Scotland, Sarah is retained as their rural adviser, having established their Islands Forum in 2017.
Sarah’s charity Board appointments have included: Rural Housing Scotland and Scotland’s Regeneration Forum. She was also on the Board of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC).
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Karen Sim
Head of ProgrammesKaren Sim is the Head of Programmes at the Royal Society of Edinburgh. A familiar face to the RSE, having been at the RSE for 11 years, previously managing the public engagement team and the broad programme of activity. Her progression during her time has given her a 360 view of the organisation combined with her dedication. During her time at the RSE she has organised international workshops, led a series of thematic debates during the Scottish independence referendum, streamlined the hybrid approach to the public engagement programme during the Covid-19 pandemic, and provided essential support for the Post Covid Futures Commission.
Previously, she worked for a charity that empowered people through a programme of educational and vocational activities. It was while at FABB Scotland that she discovered her passion for working in an educational charity, working with like-minded colleagues to achieve a shared mission.
When she’s not at work, you can often find her running around after her two children, enjoying some fresh air walking the dog or going for a run.
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Iagan MacNeil
Head of CommunicationsIagan joined the RSE in September 2022 as Head of Communications having previously worked for a variety of organisations mainly in the public or not-for-profit sectors. His department oversees the RSE’s marketing, social media, media relations and internal communications. A former journalist, his experience has mainly been in media relations and public affairs for organisations such as Smart Energy GB, Historic Scotland, Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, VisitScotland, and Digital UK.
He is a fluent Gaelic speaker from the Hebrides and a Trustee with the Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust which supports youth music education across Scotland. Iagan has also presented some general interest walking series for BBC Alba.
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Laura Steven
Director of Finance & Corporate Services
Meet the teams
Our archives tell the stories of Fellows and the Institution from the 18th century to the present. The archive team manages the RSE’s historical records, library, and archive and ensures the organisation has a good system for information and records management that fully complies with all relevant statutory requirements and regulations.
- Katie McDonald, Records and Archive Officer kmcdonald@therse.org.uk
Our business support services are the backbone of the RSE. The business operations team is responsible for the operations and systems that ensure that the RSE’s activities run seamlessly and efficiently. They provide support and specialist knowledge on matter such as HR, IT, business support and the maintenance of our venue on George Street, Edinburgh.
Business support
- Fi Cameron, Operations Support Assistant, corporateservices@theRSE.org.uk
- Sheena Cummings, Operations Officer, SCummings@theRSE.org.uk
- Julie Steele, Executive Assistant to President and Chief Executive, corporateservices@theRSE.org.uk
Facilities
- Brian Adie, Venue and Facilities Assistant, facilities@theRSE.org.uk
- George Pendleton, Facilities and Maintenance Officer, facilities@theRSE.org.uk
HR
- Cecile Clegg, Interim HR Officer, vacancies@theRSE.co.uk
IT
- Beth Parker, IT Support Assistant, corporateservices@theRSE.org.uk
- Rab Winter, AV/IT Officer, venue@theRSE.org.uk
The Communications team is responsible for all of the RSE’s communication functions including its website, social media channels, publications, magazines, marketing, internal communications and media profile.
For any media enquiries press@theRSE.org.uk
For any general communication enquiries comms@theRSE.org.uk
- Lucy Parfitt, Marketing Officer lparfitt@theRSE.org.uk
- Andy Revill, Media Relations Officer arevill@theRSE.org.uk
- Hannah Robertson, Marketing Officer hrobertson@theRSE.org.uk
- Federica R. Simone, SAHA Policy and Communications Officer fsimone@theRSE.org.uk
- Sam Telford, Communications Manager stelford@theRSE.org.uk
- James Thomas, Digital Communications Officer jthomas@theRSE.org.uk
The Fellowship Team is responsible for managing the process for election to the Fellowship (including work to ensure diversity within the Fellowship), delivering a programme of activities for Fellows, and supporting the engagement of Fellows across the wide range of RSE activities.
- Michelle Friedel, Fellowship Officer fellowship@theRSE.org.uk
- Madeleine Koster, Fellowship and YAS Officer fellowship@theRSE.org.uk
- Caroline Whitson, Fellowship Manager fellowship@theRSE.org.uk
The Finance team is responsible for all aspects of financial control, financial reporting and financial monitoring. This covers all activities from reviewing and preparing the annual budget for our Council, monitoring our results throughout the year and reporting to Council, making sure awards, staff and suppliers are paid.
- Marie Maguire, Finance Assistant accounts@theRSE.org.uk
- Lachlan McDonald, Finance Officer accounts@theRSE.org.uk
- Shazia Siddique, Financial Controller accounts@theRSE.org.uk
The International team is responsible for managing the RSE’s collaborative work and our reputation across the globe. This involves facilitating relationships and building research links with our international partner academies, as well as hosting visits to and from their respective countries to represent the RSE and our work.
- Alan Salonika, International Relations and Awards Manager international@theRSE.org.uk
- Eva-Maria Schnelten, International Officer international@theRSE.org.uk
The Policy team manage the RSE’s work with local and national governments. They are responsible for facilitating RSE committee meetings and submitting their findings to government in the form of our advice papers and responses.
- Dr Cristina Clopot, Policy Advice Officer (Maternity leave) publicpolicy@theRSE.org.uk
- Fraser Gillan, Public Affairs Officer publicpolicy@theRSE.org.uk
- Gwynneth Redemann, Policy Advice Officer (Maternity cover) publicpolicy@theRSE.org.uk
- Daria Tuhtar, Policy Manager publicpolicy@theRSE.org.uk
- Stephanie Webb, Policy Advice Officer publicpolicy@theRSE.org.uk
The RSE’s public engagement activities enhance the public’s contribution to and engagement with contemporary national and global scientific, cultural, and economic issues. Activities create opportunities for audiences across Scotland to learn from world-leading thinkers. Including an annual programme of events, inspiring young people through our schools’ programme, and engaging at the local level in national and global debates.
- Kate Kennedy, Public Engagement Manager public_engagement@theRSE.org.uk
- Jess Fletcher, Public Engagement Officer (Education) public_engagement@theRSE.org.uk
- Lesley-Ann Lamont, Public Engagement Officer public_engagement@theRSE.org.uk
- Becky Stabler, Regional Engagement Officer public_engagement@theRSE.org.uk
- Hannah Tonry, Public Engagement Officer public_engagement@theRSE.org.uk
- Thalia West, Public Engagement Officer public_engagement@theRSE.org.uk
The Research Awards team leads and facilitates our awards programmes which support Scotland in being at the forefront of new research challenges and opportunities. Through our range of Fellowships, Grants and Scholarships, we mobilise Scotland’s diverse and rich research base for public good at home and internationally.
- Anna Knowles-Smith, Research Awards Officer awards@theRSE.org.uk
- Alan Salonika, International Relations and Awards Manager awards@theRSE.org.uk
- Diane Stewart, Research Awards Programme Coordinator awards@theRSE.org.uk
- Lydia Suen, Research Awards Officer awards@theRSE.org.uk
The venue team manages all events and conferences held at the RSE’s premises on George Street, Edinburgh.
For any catering enquiries catering@theRSE.org.uk
- Fiona O’Keeffe, Venue Coordinator venue@theRSE.org.uk
- Mathilde Scott, Internal Events Coordinator venue@theRSE.org.uk
- Rab Winter, AV/IT Officer venue@theRSE.org.uk
The RSE supports the Young Academy of Scotland (YAS) to drive change within Scotland and internationally.
YAS is committed to addressing social issues and informing public debate, making sure they listen to those who are marginalised. To support this commitment, the 120 YAS members are diverse, aged from the mid-20s to early 40s, coming from all areas of business, third sector, public life and academia.
- Madeleine Koster, Fellowship and YAS Officer youngacademy@theRSE.org.uk
- Marie Montondo, YAS Manager youngacademy@theRSE.org.uk
Council
The RSE Council consists of Fellows who are appointed annually by their peers through a competitive election process. It is responsible for setting the Society’s overall governance, policy and strategy.
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Committees and standing groups
Careers
Discover jobs at the Royal Society of Edinburgh and join the collaborative, committed, and forward-thinking team.