Our board

Willie Mackie, Interim Chair

Willie Mackie is a fellow of the Institute of Bankers in Scotland. He has over 36 years of experience in the financial services sector, including a spell as the managing partner of Clydesdale Bank’s private and agriculture customer base across Ayrshire and Arran.

Since establishing his business consultancy in 2013, he has played an active role in supporting and promoting skills and economic development through several non-executive positions. These include Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire (board member), Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce (past President), Ayrshire College (Regional Chair) and Chair, hub South West Scotland Limited.

In 2021 he was appointed to the board of Prestwick Airport where he is also Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

In 2014 he was appointed to the board of Skills Development Scotland where he is Chair of the Finance and Operational Committee.

Membership dates

Reappointment: 1 January 2022

To: 31 December 2023

Adrian Gillespie, Chief Executive

As Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise (SE) – Scotland’s national economic development agency, Adrian is responsible for leading a global workforce to create a more productive, resilient and competitive economy for Scotland. To achieve this, SE helps drive business innovation, build international competitiveness and encourages more investment in companies and infrastructure. 

Previously, Adrian was The University of Strathclyde’s first Chief Commercial Officer and member of its Executive Team. He oversaw growth of the University’s extensive industry facing activities, centres and relationships as well as the development of innovative, place-based economic development projects including the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland and the Glasgow City Innovation District.

Before joining Strathclyde, Adrian spent sixteen years at SE where he was a member of the Executive Leadership Team and Managing Director of Operations. He led SE’s business support through account management of high growth companies, entrepreneurship development and high growth start-up support, R&D and innovation support, and the Business Infrastructure division. He also held various roles in areas such as the Creative Industries, Digital Media and Enabling Technologies and Energy & Low Carbon Technologies.

During the 1990s he held various commercial and financial management positions within Marks and Spencer plc.

Adrian has a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from the University of Glasgow, and an MBA with Distinction from the University of Strathclyde.

He is also a former trustee of Glasgow Science Centre, the Glasgow Science Centre Endowment Fund, and a former Board member of Opportunity North East (ONE).

Membership dates

From: 1 September 2021

Carmel Teusner, Interim Chair of the Audit & Risk committee

Carmel Teusner is an organisational development specialist. She brings global business experience from a broad range of industries and sectors, through past consultancy and senior management roles in FTSE 100 and ASX 100 companies.

Prior to managing a portfolio of consulting and non-executive positions, she was Group Head of Organisational Development for UGL, one of Australia’s leading engineering and outsourced services companies.

A former director of software firm Azalient Ltd, her experience spans the whole business lifecycle — from start-up, strategy development, expansion, consolidation, acquisition, integration, and divestment.

Carmel is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development.

Membership dates

Reappointment: 1 January 2022

To: 31 December 2023

Dr Poonam Malik

Dr Poonam Malik is an entrepreneurial business strategist, academic leader, and investor in innovation. She is Head of Investments at the University of Strathclyde, responsible for strategic leadership of the university’s enhanced investments from entrepreneurial and commercialisation activities.

Poonam has extensive experience of working in startups, investments, research, innovation, enterprise and governance in health and business sectors across the world. As a GlobalScot, Scottish Enterprise Board Member, Climate Champion, and Skills Development Scotland Board Director, she has held leadership roles across public, private, higher education and social enterprise sectors.

Poonam brings over 25 years expertise working with technology businesses, in life sciences, biotech, health, digital and medical sciences research and innovation. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, impact, equality, diversity and inclusivity values, as well as climate change and achieving net zero. She is a syndicate investor with Investing Women Angels, and a Chair, NED and board-level advisor/consultant for technology startups.

Poonam has held academic positions at the Universities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Cumbria/Lancaster and has 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 an MBA (with Distinction) in Strategy and Leadership from the University of Edinburgh Business School, a PhD in Biomedical Sciences/Virology from the University of Glasgow, a Masters (MSc) degree in Biotechnology and a Bachelors (BSc) in Chemistry and Zoology from the Dayalbagh Educational Institute in India. 

Membership dates

Reappointment: 1 October 2021

To: 30 September 2024

Dr Sue Paterson

Dr Sue Paterson MBE is an oil and gas professional with over 35 years of UK and international experience in both technical and executive managerial roles.

She is a qualified IOD Chartered Director, with over 15 years’ experience as a non-executive board member (and board chair) in the private, public, and voluntary sectors.

As well as Scottish Enterprise, Sue is currently serving on the Boards of Company of Wolves, and the community-led North East Scotland Climate Action Network (NESCAN). She received an MBE in the 2020 New Year honours list for services to the community in North East Scotland.

She is the co-author of “The Fear Free Organization: Vital Insights from Neuroscience to Transform Your Business Culture” which was published by Kogan Page in 2015.

Sue is currently involved in helping deliver the transition to a low carbon economy in North East Scotland, as well as working with her local community to reach net zero, reduce biodiversity loss and eliminate waste.

Membership dates

Reappointment: 1 October 2021

To: 30 September 2024

Karthik Subramanya

Karthik Subramanya is Senior Advisor at Boston Consulting Group, advising senior management of utilities across Europe and the Middle East on energy transition, renewables, decarbonisation, and net zero.

He is a panel member of the Competition and Markets Authority and a court member at the University of Dundee.

Before taking on a portfolio of roles, Mr Subramanya held senior executive roles in utilities and banking. He was Director of Strategy and Performance at SSE plc and was also Director of Group Strategy and M&A of Lloyds Banking Group.

Karthik is an electrical engineer and has an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Membership dates

Reappointment: 1 October 2021

To: 30 September 2024

Peter McKellar

Peter McKellar was Global Head of Private Markets at Standard Life Aberdeen until September 2020. In the role, he was responsible for overseeing £63 billion of assets under management across private equity, infrastructure, real estate, natural resources, and certain private credit capabilities.

He is currently a non-executive director of 3i Group plc and deputy chairman of AssetCo plc.

Membership dates

From: 15 February 2021

End of term: 14 February 2024