Upcoming Events
Lessons from the Dava / Carrbridge Wildfire 2025
22ND April 2026 at 11:00am
Speakers:
Kenneth Barbour, Deputy Assistant Chief Officer and Head of Prevention at SFRS
Colin McClean, Cairngorm National Park Authority
Themes:
Wildfire realities and challenges
Lessons for multi-agency working in a dynamic, sustained major incident
Communicating and decision-making when faced with multiple stakeholders
Realities of business and community recovery from a major disruption event
Past Events
SCG Annual Conference 2026 Programme
Keynote Speaker – Professor Lucy Easthope
Come What May: Lessons in resilience from a life in crisis
Lucy Easthope is a leading authority on responding to and recovering from emergencies. For over two decades she has challenged others to think differently about what comes next after complex, tragic events. She is a passionate and thought-provoking voice in planning for pandemics, conflict, sudden death and disaster, and has been a tactical advisor to international emergency responders since 2001.
She is the author of The Recovery Myth and of the Sunday Times Bestseller ‘When The Dust Settles.’ Her new book ‘Come What May: Life-changing lessons for Coping with Crisis’ was released in May 2025 and her radio show on Citizen Preparedness aired on BBC Radio 4 in December 2025.
Professor Gaven Smith CB- Beyond Blue
From COLOSSUS to Covid and Cornwall to Cyber: Why Resilience is Vital to Keeping Us Safe Online and in the Real World
Gaven is a distinguished engineering leader who has worked for more than 30 years in the UK national security sector. He has been a strong advocate for online safety, inclusion in engineering, and cutting-edge technology.
He is now an academic, a technology advisor, a non-executive director, and a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. He is also a senior technology advisor to a range of companies and a non-executive director at Beyond Blue. Gaven was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in 2023 for his services to national security.
John T Frost Hon.MBCI - Resilience Management Solutions (RMS)
Keeping Retail Moving – Lessons learned:
A distinguished resilience professional with 24 years’ service at Marks & Spencer, including 15 years as Head of Business Continuity and 10+ years as the Chairperson of the Retail Business Continuity Association (RBCA).
Successfully leading the response to critical incidents including the Grenfell Fire, Terrorist Attacks, Major Flooding, Covid-19 and the most recent Cyber Attack. His expertise spans across incident & crisis management, crisis management exercising, operational & technical resilience with particular depth in counter terrorism.
Now operating as an independent consultant, John brings authentic, lived experience insights from decades at the sharp end of crisis management.
Findlay Whitelaw - Exabeam
AI and Insider Threat – a new dimension
Findlay is a recognised thought leader, specialising in insider threats and security operations, with her career spanning security operations, consultancy and leadership roles.
A published author and award-winning practitioner, her professional interests include tackling human-centric cyber risks and leveraging advanced technologies to address modern challenges. Her research and practical insights empower organisations to strengthen resilience and manage insider threats in an evolving digital landscape.
Ciaran Pugh - NatWest
AI and Insider Threat – a new dimension
Ciaran has a decade of experience in security, guiding organisations to strengthen systems, manage risk, and develop talent in response to today’s rapidly evolving threat landscape. He brings strategic insight and influence through active roles on boards, industry initiatives, and professional engagement groups.
Ciaran currently sits on the Security Intelligence management team at NatWest Group, leading on geopolitical, physical security and operational resilience intelligence workstreams – alongside cyber - helping to secure customers, colleagues and operations globally.
Keith McDevitt MBE - Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre
Real-World Lessons – Reflections on Cyber Incidents
Scotland's cyber security and resilience, providing services to help protect against cyber incidents while promoting adherence to appropriate standards and best practices across critical functions and infrastructure.
Having supported numerous Scottish public sector organisations through major cyber incidents – including the ransomware attacks on SEPA (2020), the University of the Highlands and Islands (2021), Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (2023), and West Lothian Council (2025) – SC3 has developed unique insights into what makes the difference between a manageable incident and a prolonged crisis.
SCG Annual Conference 2026 Exhibitors
We are pleased to welcome the following exhibitors to our Resilience Zone at the Scottish Continuity Annual Conference 2026.
Noggin, a Motorola Solutions Company, is a global provider of critical event management & resilience software. Its software helps enterprises, government agencies and critical infrastructure anticipate, prepare for and efficiently respond to incidents.
Noggin’s integrated platform offers flexible workflows and checklists, built-in maps and situational awareness dashboards to help streamline incident management and strengthen business resilience
Continuity2 (C2), founded in 2003, is a UK‑headquartered global leader in Business Continuity, Operational Resilience and IT Disaster Recovery.
With offices in the UAE, it provides specialised software aligned with ISO 22301 to streamline resilience management.
For over 23 years, C2 has pioneered solutions that help organisations build strong risk and resilience frameworks.
Inverroy provides tailored resilience solutions across crisis management, business continuity, security risk and supply‑chain resilience.
With over 300 years of combined expertise, including former military and police professionals, they help organisations prepare for, respond to and recover from disruptive events, reducing operational, financial and reputational impacts.
They are certified to ISO 22301 (Business Continuity) standards.
Don’t Let Disruption Derail Your Business
Exabeam is a global cybersecurity leader delivering intelligence and automation to power modern security operations. Its flexible, security-focused solutions enhance threat detection, investigation and response (TDIR).
With proven expertise in AI, SIEM and user behaviour analytics, Exabeam helps organisations improve SOC performance, reduce risk and accelerate incident resolution.
The service is vital across Scotland’s remote and rural communities, where treatment within the “Golden Hour” can mean the difference between life and death.
Working in partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service, SCAA covers more than 30,000 square miles, delivering rapid emergency care wherever it’s needed. Entirely funded by public donations, every contribution helps keep their helicopters flying.
Their new 145 aircraft, based in Aberdeen, is the largest in the UK and can carry a patient’s family member alongside the medical team.
Scottish Continuity is proud to support SCAA as its chosen conference charity.
F24 provides leading emergency notification and crisis management solutions that help organisations protect people, operations, and assets.
Through its ENS+ and CIM platforms, F24 enables fast communication, effective incident coordination, and stronger resilience.
Trusted globally, F24 supports organisations in managing critical events with confidence and clarity
ARO is an award-winning IT services and solutions company delivering sustainable competitive advantage by combining world-class cloud technologies with exceptional service.
While any organisation can access similar IT systems, they focus on ensuring superior performance, enabling customers to maximise value, efficiency and long-term business success.
Databarracks is the technology and business resilience specialist.
We deliver award-winning IT resilience and continuity services, supported 24/7/365 by our team of recovery experts.
We help organisations get the most out of the cloud and protect their data, wherever it lives.
Wavenet has been keeping businesses connected and protected since 2000. Through cyber security, connectivity, cloud and communications solutions, enhanced by AI, automation and human-centric design, Wavenet drives digital transformation.
Combining scalable technology, deep expertise and exceptional service, they empower organisations to focus on what matters most, today and tomorrow
AlertMedia’s award-winning Risk Intelligence and Response platform helps organisations identify, assess and respond to threats affecting people, operations and brand.
Combining real-time threat intelligence, emergency communication and response workflows in one system, it enables confident, coordinated action.
Trusted by thousands of organisations worldwide, it supports businesses in over 150 countries.
Brunch & Learn: Cyber Security in the Aviation Industry
Join Phil Packman, an established cybersecurity leader, for an essential briefing on the cyber security landscape in the aviation sector and some of the challenges that face complex supply chains.
Session Overview:
Increasingly business and personal travel is being impacted by IT and security incidents from power outages to cyber security incidents. These have a huge knock on effect which causes significant disruption to both travellers and the complex operations that support the aviation industry. Scottish Continuity are delighted to host a session on this subject with Phil Pckman, ChCSP for their December Lunch and Learn. This event will examine how cyber threats have exploded in the last six months and the impact some of these have had on the aviation industry. It will touch on the motivations driving threat actors and the challenges that manifest across complex operational and supplier ecosystems.
Speakers
Phil Packman ChCSP brings extensive expertise to this critical discussion, serving dual leaderships roles:
- Head of Cybersecurity architecture at a leading UK based low cost carrier: Leading security strategy for one of Europe’s largest low cost carriers, protecting critical flight operations, passenger data and interconnected aviation systems.
- Strategic Advisory Board Member at Beyond Blue: Contributing to thought leadership alongside former GCHQ CTO Gaven Smith CB FREng and other national security veterans.
As a Chartered Security Professional, Phil combines hands-on operational experience with strategic vision, positioning him uniquely to address the complex challenges facing aviation cyber security today.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights and connect with experts in the field. Register now to secure your spot!
Please register on the Eventbrite site by clicking HERE.
Brunch & Learn: Supply Chain Resilience
Join us for an informative online session discussing Supply Chain Resilience led by David Ferbrache and James Rankin, both from Beyond Blue.
Session Overview:
As supply chains grow more complex, resilience is essential. This session will share practical insights, frameworks and real-world examples of how organisations are strengthening third-party resilience and turning challenges into opportunities.
Speakers
David Ferbrache, OBE - MD, Beyond Blue
James Rankin - Head of Operational Resilience, Beyond Blue
Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights and connect with experts in the field. Register now to secure your spot!
Please register on the Eventbrite site by clicking HERE.
Brunch & Learn: Counter Terrorism and Protective Security Insights
Join us for an informative online presentation led by Steven Gates, Government Security Advisor, Home Office (Protective Security Centre) offering expert insights into the evolving landscape of counter terrorism and protective security. This session is designed to inform and empower resilience professionals across sectors.
Presentation Highlights:
• SCaN (See, Check, Notify): Identifying and responding to Hostile Reconnaissance.
• ACT Awareness (Action Counters Terrorism): Including Run, Hide, Tell guidance.
• Martyn’s Law: Overview of proposed legislation to enhance public venue security.
• Threats & Risks: Understanding current challenges and mitigation strategies.
Speaker Bios:
1. Steven Gates
• Former Police Officer with a background in Response Policing, Firearms, Surveillance, Investigations, Special Branch
• Counter Terrorism Security Advisor (CTSA)
• PSC – Security Advisor
1. Helen Bunyan
• Extensive experience as a CTSA
• PSC – Security Advisor
Helen will also be present to support live Q&A and chat engagement during the session.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights and connect with experts in the field. Register now to secure your spot!
Please register on the Eventbrite site by clicking HERE.
Resilient Scotland Annual Conference 2025 - 30th Anniversary
Click here to review the Resilient Scotland 2025 Programme
Take a look at the photos from the conference here. Lots of smiley faces.
Massive thank you to:
Our Members. Thank you for celebrating 30 years with us, and once again bringing your energy, questions, and engagement.
Our Speakers: Amanda Coleman (Director and Founder of Amanda Coleman Communications Ltd), Professor Bill Buchanan OBE FRSE, Chris Ullah (Critical Event Management Evangelist, BlackBerry Critical Event Management and Communications), Robert MacFarlane OBE (Head of Resilience, Department for Work and Pensions), David Ferbrache OBE (Managing Director, BeyondBlue), Professor Phil Wood MBE (Consultant, Inverroy Crisis Management), Dennis Flynn OBE (Founder and CEO of Ardenna), Chris Butler (Resilience Director, Databarracks), Charlie Maclean Bristol (Director, PlanB), Ciaran Pugh (Physical & Geopolitics Security Threat Intelligence Manager, NatWest), Sandra Riddell – Scottish Continuity Board Member
Our wonderful Sponsors and Exhibitors for their generous support: Blackberry, Databarracks, Beyond Blue, Inverroy Crisis Management, PlanB Consulting, Noggin, Continuity2, wavenet
Our Charity Exhibitors, whose impactful work resonates with the core mission of Scottish Continuity in fostering a more Resilient Scotland: Gareloch Riding for the Disabled Association.
We also asked you and our speakers who they would like to donate to instead of the usual conference memorabilia and gifts. Watch this space (while I get final figures!)
Extreme Weather Webinar with Robbie Macdonald, SEPA
Voted our favourite speaker at our last conference, Robbie Macdonald came back to lead on this virtual event on extreme weather situations in Scotland.
Robbie talked about reservoir dam flooding, the potential impact on stakeholders, including businesses and first responders, and how they can prepare for such extreme weather situations. Whether you're a business owner, emergency responder, or just interested in learning more about extreme weather, this event is for you.
Robbie previously served as a police officer with Northern Constabulary for 30 years, specialising in child protection and emergency planning. In his early policing life, he was a Child Protection Officer, later became a Designated Officer for Child Protection and latterly chair of the Child Protection Committee. Working in operational roles at all levels as an emergency planner and Incident Commander, he covered a range of operationally challenging incidents and events including several major incidents.
Robbie is now the Resilience Officer with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), covering the north of Scotland area. After three years he was appointed as the National Resilience Manager and has held this role for 8 years. Robbie represented SEPA on the national Strategic Coordinating Groups for both EU Exit and the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as managing SEPA’s involvement in events such as COP26 and the World Cycling Championships. During his time in SEPA, he has supported the response and recovery arrangements to a range of incidents including a serious and sophisticated cyber-attack, and many serious flooding and pollution events.
Robbie agreed to this webinar being recorded. Here is the link to our new ‘Recordings’ page, where you will find the Extreme Weather recording. THANK YOU Robbie!
Any queries, please get in touch with secretary@scottishcontinuity.com
Operational Resilience Webinar
The topic of Operational Resilience in the Financial Sector was raised at the last Resilient Scotland Conference (Feb 2024). We knew then that we needed to host an event dedicated to Operational Resilience.
And we are so glad we did. With a record number of our members attending, our fantastic expert panel – Carolyn Gall – Head of Resilience at Phoenix Group, Jon Seaton – Deputy Head of Resilience at Close Brothers, Kenny MacKay – Operational Resilience Lead at M&G - gave excellent presentations, sharing their knowledge and experience, and answering member questions. It was simply a brilliant event.
A huge THANK YOU to Carolyn, Jon, and Kenny. Thanks also to Michelle French-Fraser for facilitating such a brilliant session and to all our members who attended.
Scottish Continuity could not hold such quality Education & Awareness events or our Annual Conference without the support of such experts. We are a not-for-profit group, run by volunteers, who are dedicated to raising the collective resilience knowledge and experiences of our members. If you are interested in being a speaker at any of our events or have a topic you would like included, please contact secretary@scottishcontinuity.com. Even if you have never spoken at an event before, we have loads of experience and can guide you, if needed.
Roll on our 30th Anniversary Annual Conference on Tuesday 25th February 2025. We can’t wait to share our plans. If you have not signed up yet, you’d better get a move on, tickets are being snapped up? Read more here.
‘Virtual’ Breakfast Briefing
Scottish Continuity loves bringing our members together for some quality time. Fancy joining us for a ‘virtual’ breakfast briefing this time? You will need to bring your own coffee and croissant of course!
Our breakfast briefings are all about keeping it relaxed and friendly. We want to create space, on a regular basis, to share ideas and tackle challenges.
We’d like to firstly update you on upcoming events - especially the upcoming panel session on Operational Resilience in September - and get your views/ thoughts on those and then we've planned lots of time to chat about whatever's on your mind – no pressure, just good company and support.
What's said at the briefing stays at the briefing. We play by Chatham House rules, so you can speak your mind in confidence.
Join us on Wednesday 28th August, from 08:00-09:00 am. We can't wait to see you there!
SIGN UP (Eventbrite) to the ‘Virtual’ Breakfast Briefing with this link.
For further information, drop us a note at secretary@scottishcontinuity.com.
Breakfast Briefing
Fancy joining us for a relaxed morning chat, coffee and croissant? Scottish Continuity loves bringing our members together for some quality time.
Our breakfast briefings are all about keeping it relaxed and friendly. We meet at local and accessible cafés – this time it's Starbucks on Shandwick Place, in Edinburgh. And don't worry if you're not local, we've taken these briefings to Glasgow and Aberdeen too!
It's not just about the coffee and croissants (though they're on us for members!), it's about sharing ideas, tackling challenges, and maybe even making a few new connections. We'll chat about whatever's on your mind – no pressure, just good company and support.
What's said at the briefing stays at the briefing. We play by Chatham House rules, so you can speak your mind in confidence.
Join us on Wednesday 29th May, from 08:00-09:00 am. We can't wait to see you there!
For further information, drop us a note at secretary@scottishcontinuity.com.
Resilient Scotland 2024
Click here to review the Resilient Scotland 2024 Programme
Massive thanks to:
Our Members. Thank you for your energy, questions, and engagement.
Our Speakers: Ciaran Pugh (Physical & Geopolitics Security Threat Intelligence Manager, NatWest), Sara Cheyne (Team Lead – Business Resilience, CNOOC International), Pauline Adam (Crisis Manager, National Gas Transmission), David Ferbache (Managing Director, Beyond Blue), Jacqui Semple (Manager Risk, Resilience & Safety, Angus Council), Keith McDevitt (Incident, Vulnerability & Exercising Coordination Lead at Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre), Charlie Maclean-Bristol (Founder of PlanB Consulting and Business Continuity Training), Chris Butler (Head of Consulting, Databarracks), Andy Groundwater (Head of Media Relations, Fifth Ring), Matthew Wardner and Kirsty Bremner (Managing Director and Senior Consultant, Inverroy Crisis Management)
You can access speaker presentations by simply clicking on the hyperlinked speakers name above. There was no presentation for the panel discussion with David Ferbache, Jacqui Semple, Keith McDevitt, Charlie Maclean-Bristol and Chris Butler. Unfortunately, we were not granted permission to share presentations for all speakers. We respect the presenters decisions regarding the distribution of their materials.
Our wonderful Sponsors for their generous support: Barrier, Assured Data Protection and Databarracks
Our valued Exhibitors, whose products and services enrich our members experience: Inverroy Crisis Management, PlanB Consulting, Noggin, Blackberry Cybersecurity, Daisy, CyberScotland, F24
Our Charity Exhibitors, whose impactful work resonates with the core mission of Scottish Continuity in fostering a more Resilient Scotland: RE:ACT, Cross-sector Safety & Security Communications (CSSC)
Resilient Scotland 2023
A massive thank you again to all our speakers: Robbie MacDonald (Scotish Environment Protection Agency), George Lowder MBE (Transport for Edinburgh), Jim Preen (Jim Preen Media), Professor Linda Bauld, Rich Cooper (Fusion Risk Management), Dr Aarti Anhal (before nine), Chris Butler (Databarracks) and James Houston (PwC Partner UK with Fusion).
And thank you to our wonderful Sponsors: Fusion Risk Management, Alert Cascade, Riskonnect, Inverroy Crisis Management, Databarracks and CyberScotland.
Webinar - Power Outages and Preparation
Click here to review the webinar/ speakers supporting slides
Thank you to our speakers: Eric Leavy (Head of Transmission Networks, Scottish Power Energy Networks), John Beresford (Senior Resilience Co-Ordinator, East of Scotland RRP), Mark Freeburn (BCM & Civil Resilience Specialist, Networks) Amanda Coleman (Crisis Communication Consultant, Amanda Coleman Communication)
These video links may also be of interest
Amanda Coleman Communications ‘10 minutes with Canadian crisis management expert Shawna Bruce’
The Yarrow View | National Preparedness Commission