The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
The people who inspire us, challenge us and change our world
The people who inspire us, challenge us and change our world
Jim Ratcliffe 60 NEW
HIS YEAR: Few people in recent history have held such influence over Scotland’s economy. The INEOS founder and billionaire has manoeuvred himself into a position of great power through his firm’s ownership of the Grangemouth petrochemicals complex – a site so vast it contributes around 4% of overall Scottish GDP. In June, INEOS unveiled new a multimillion-pound investment in upgrading the plastics cracker at Grangemouth – a move that will create more than 150 jobs. However, the company’s ambitions took a significant blow in October when the Scottish Government voted to ban fracking north of the border. PANEL VIEW: Jim Ratcliffe’s support for unconventional gas extraction in Scotland has proven to be a thorn in the side of the Holyrood administration.
Heather Stuart 59 50
HER YEAR: Kirkcaldy-born Heather Stuart, Fife Cultural Trust’s chief executive officer, was awarded for her contribution to arts and culture at the debut Scottish Women’s Awards in August. The event celebrated the achievements of women entrepreneurs, businesswomen, professionals, civil servants and charity workers who help make Scotland great. Heather Stuart has been involved with the arts most of her life, and has worked in the arts and culture sector for more than 15 years. She leads a staff of 400 delivering high quality libraries, museums, arts, archives and theatre services for Fife’s communities across more than 50 venues. PANEL VIEW: Heather Stuart took the reins of the newly-established Fife Cultural Trust in 2012 and by any standard has had an amazing five years in the job. She is truly deserving of her award.
Annie Marrs 58 NEW
HER YEAR: Dundee University fine arts graduate Annie Marrs inspired the world’s favourite colour this year – Marrs green. Annie, a UNESCO worker from Dundee, picked the shade to match the rich blue, grey and green tones which “dance” on the Tay. She was inspired after taking a boat trip on the river. However, nobody can decide whether the shade is actually blue or green and it’s been likened to a “teal”. Marrs green was voted for thousands of times on www.worldsfavouritecolour.com as part of a major global survey spanning hundreds of countries. The competition was organised by Hull 2017 UK City of Culture and paper merchant GF Smith. PANEL VIEW: Having a colour named after you is a huge honour. Annie Marrs’s green not only puts her in the limelight but Dundee and the River Tay, too.
John Swinney 57 NEW
HIS YEAR: The former party leader and former finance secretary has for years been seen as perhaps the safest pair of hands the SNP has. That’s just as well, as the Perthshire North MSP is wrestling with one of the most difficult of all briefs – education. With a teacher recruitment crisis, little progress on closing the attainment gap between rich and poor children and the Curriculum for Excellence coming under fire, it’s a role that could easily be seen as a poisoned chalice. Complicating matters has been John Swinney’s determination to ram through his currently-stalled named person scheme. PANEL VIEW: Having brought one of its biggest guns to bear on an issue of paramount importance to parents, the SNP has shown it’s serious about turning round its record on education. Can John Swinney make a difference?
Craig Blythe 56 NEW
HIS YEAR: Carnival 56 was held for the first time in August, attracting thousands of revellers to Camperdown Park and with global acts Rudimental and Mark Ronson headlining. But Craig Blythe – the man who founded the festival and was the public face of the event – quit the company which ran Carnival 56 amid claims of a dispute with a fellow director. In a statement, Mr Blyth said he had a “fundamental difference of opinion” on the future of the busiwness, whose only other director is Brechin-based Allan Carnegie. Despite its success, no firm decision has been made on whether the event will return for a second year. PANEL VIEW: Craig Blyth and his team did an excellent job running the first Carnival 56 and the event proved a big hit, bringing big names and investment to the city. It was widely credited with filling a gap in the festival market following the suspension of T in the Park. Craig Blythe can be proud.
Judge Anuja Ravindra Dhir QC 55 NEW
HER YEAR: Born in Dundee in 1968, Anuja became the first non-white judge to be appointed to the Old Bailey in London in April this year. She‘s also the youngest person to hold the position in the UK’s central criminal court. Judge Dhir went to Harris Academy and at Dundee University studied English and Scottish Law, graduating in 1988. She was awarded a Gray’s Inn scholarship, was called to the bar in 1989, and was a visiting lecturer at London’s City University. She has now practised at the bar for 23 years. When Judge Dhir first went to London, she was told by some that “as a complete outsider” she would find it difficult to get a place at the bar, never mind the bench. She proved them wrong. PANEL VIEW: Judge Dhir once said: “We are told by others there are glass ceilings but they are not really there.” That sums up her rise to the top of her career; it’s a major achievement.
Tommy McKay 54 NEW
HIS YEAR: Dundee man Tommy McKay’s campaigning led to Dundee United creating an amputee team. Tommy, who lost his leg at the age of nine to bone cancer, hit the headlines last year after scoring an impressive chip during a half-time challenge at a United game against Dunfermline at Tannadice. His goal of the month-winning strike went viral, thrust amputee football into the limelight and led the Tannadice side to host an open session in conjunction with the Amputee Football Association Scotland (AFAS). Tommy also took part in Scotland’s first amputee football match against the Netherlands in 2017. PANEL VIEW: Tommy McKay continues to be the face of amputee football in Scotland and hopefully more players will take up the game on the back of his exploits.
Lesley Bate 53 NEW
HER YEAR: It was a crime that shocked and sickened the nation. Fife toddler Liam Fee was abused and murdered by his mother Rachel Fee and her partner Nyomi Fee at their home in Thornton in 2014. The pair were handed life sentences in 2016 for killing the two-yearold. One of the social workers involved in the case, Lesley Bate, was struck off that year after being found guilty of misconduct by a professional watchdog. She resurfaced in a BBC documentary this year to claim she had been made a scapegoat for Fife Council’s failings in the case. PANEL VIEW: There’s little doubt Fife Council’s catalogue of failings stretches wider than one person. While admitting her own errors in relation to the case, Ms Bate’s evidence as part of the BBC documentary – sparking more questions than answers -– rightly put social work services in Fife back under the microscope.
Prof Andrew Hopkins 52 NEW
HIS YEAR: Professor Hopkins is founder and chief executive officer of Exscientia, an AI drug discovery firm that spun out of Dundee University. Exscientia uses artificial intelligencebased computational learning to deliver new candidate molecules for major pharma customers such as GSK and French group Sanofi. In 2017, it secured deals worth tens of millions. It also attracted a €15 million investment from German giant Evotec AG, which boasts one of the world’s largest drug discovery platforms, to accelerate its growth. PANEL VIEW: Exscientia has established itself as a world leader in the field of AI technology for drug discovery. The combination of new contract wins and the investment by Evotec is a major boost to the firm’s research, innovation and commercialisation activity and testament to the exceptional leadership of Professor Hopkins.
Love Oliver: Jennifer and Andy Gill 51 NEW
THEIR YEAR: In 2017, the charity Love Oliver won a string of awards – Fife Voluntary Action inspirational volunteer award, Kingdom FM Local Hero Awards fundraiser of the year and Charity Champions children’s charity of the year. Jennifer and Andy had set up the Love Oliver charity in January 2011 following the death of their first son at just 24 weeks old. The charity, which helps to fund research into childhood cancer and provides support to families, has raised more than £404,000. PANEL VIEW: Andy and Jennifer raise funds to continue being the best parents they can to Oliver, giving hope and support to other parents facing the horror of a child being diagnosed with cancer.
KY2 6 and DD9 6
50 NEW
THEIR YEAR: Two communities, in Brechin and Kirkcaldy, enjoyed huge windfalls after winning big in the People’s Postcode Lottery in April. Players in the KY2 6 area won a whopping £3 million between them. Four lucky players in the full winning postcode KY2 6NT scooped huge prizes, with Elizabeth and Andy Smith receiving £491,040. Another three players each won £245,520. A total of 753 people won prizes, with even the smallest amount a very healthy £2,094. There was similar neighbourhood joy in Brechin, which also split a £3m People’s Postcode Lottery pot, this time between 245 players. Neighbours Sheila Black and Susan Lindsay each won £239,663 and even winners of the lowest amount were £8,816 better off. PANEL VIEW: A lottery win can be a life -changing experience. What’s wonderful about this one is it’s shared between neighbours, making everyone wealthier and, hopefully, happier. Lord Ian Duncan
49 NEW
HIS YEAR: Parachuted into Perthshire to take on incumbent MP Pete Wishart, the charismatic Tory pushed the SNP firebrand to the limit, leaving him with just 21 votes left of his near 10,000 majority. The defeat hurt – however narrow – but within days the St Andrews University graduate had been controversially unveiled as Lord Duncan of Springbank, in a nod to the Alyth street where he grew up. He was also named Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Scotland Office – a decision that was hailed as recognition of his talents by supporters and as a vote of no confidence in the Conservatives’ 12 new MPs by critics. Lord Duncan had been a respected member of the European Parliament, only for Brexit to turn his career on its head. PANEL VIEW: Lord Duncan turned Brexit chaos and a narrow May General Election defeat into a position of power and a place in the Lords.
David Mackenzie 48 NEW
HIS YEAR: The first Scottish film director ever nominated for a coveted Best Film Oscar (in January this year), Perthshire’s David Mackenzie is now filming a major Netflix movie about Robert the Bruce, Outlaw King, in and around Stirling, due for release in 2018. Californian Star Trek actor Chris Pine, who starred in Mackenzie’s acclaimed modern western Hell Or High Water, is to play the Scottish king. Mackenzie, who graduated from Dundee University’s Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design in 1993 and received an honorary doctorate from the institution in summer 2017, has not ruled out filming scenes for his upcoming biopic in Dundee. PANEL VIEW: Major productions such as Braveheart, Rob Roy and Outlander have helped highlight Scottish history’s most colourful characters and inspired viewers to discover Scotland in person. Similarly, the Outlaw King should be a fascinating insight into Robert the Bruce and a huge boost to tourism.
Amanda Robertson 47 NEW
HER YEAR: Named Entrepreneur of the Year at the 2017 Courier Business Awards, Amanda Robertson has made her mark both on the local, national and international business scene. Heading the Dundee operations of tachograph group Stoneridge Electronics, Amanda’s relentless focus on quality and technical innovation has helped secure a brighter future for a traditional engineering business. PANEL VIEW: Amanda Robertson is an outstanding business leader. She has not only secured the long-term future of the Dundee site within the wider Stoneridge operation but helped lead the group into a new era. Her work in bringing forward a new digital tachograph system that both adheres to and surpasses new legislation in the US has been inspired and opened up new revenue streams for the business.
Caroline Millar 46 NEW
HER YEAR: Caroline Millar became the chairwoman of the Oxford Farming Conference in January, the highest profile talking shop of the year. She’ll hold the voluntary position for a year, during which she will lead the OFC’s charitable and industry work, as well as delivering the 2018 conference. She farms at Balkello, Auchterhouse, with her husband Ross, where, in addition to beef, sheep and arable enterprises, the couple have built a multi-award-winning agritourism business for couples – the Hideaway Experience. PANEL VIEW: Caroline Millar has a strong drive to grow the rural economy and is a great figurehead for UK – and local – farming.
Ian Borthwick 45 NEW
HIS YEAR: Earlier this year, following the local government elections and at the age of 78, Ian Borthwick became Dundee’s Lord Provost. Mr Borthwick is Scotland’s longestserving councillor, having celebrated 50 years in local government in 2013. He has seen Dundee Town Council replaced by Tayside Regional Council before Dundee City Council was formed in 1996. When Mr Borthwick first became a councillor in Dundee, President John F Kennedy was still alive. Harold Macmillan was Prime Minister, the moon landing was still six years in the future, Britain was predecimalisation, and Donald Trump was celebrating his 17th birthday. PANEL VIEW: Longevity means nothing on its own – witness Robert Mugabe. Fortunately, Ian Borthwick is a tireless campaigner for the good of his constituents and the city as a whole. We hope he has many more good years in local government.
John Alexander 44 NEW
HIS YEAR: May saw Dundee’s youngest councillor become the local authority’s youngest leader at the age of 28. It’s a big job at a big time for the city. With the V&A Dundee to open next year, the area’s Tay Cities Deal trying to bring huge investment in the city, traditional industries waning and new opportunities waxing, the city has rarely been in greater need of good leadership. He was thrust into the national spotlight last month when Dundee’s bid to be European Capital of Culture exploded on the eve of its entry being submitted, after the EU declared Britain was no longer eligible for the contest. PANEL VIEW: His 30th birthday may still be some distance away but John Alexander has been in local government for half a decade and has an old head on young shoulders.
Jonny Adam 43 68
HIS YEAR: Fifer Jonny Adam ticked a box on every sportscar racer’s CV with victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours in June, when he took the GTE Pro class win for Aston Martin in a thrilling finish. Adam also fought to retain the British GT3 Championship for the third season in succession in September. Despite relinquishing the crown he became the winningest driver in the history of the series. He enjoyed championship success in the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Pro-Am category in August. PANEL VIEW: Jonny Adam’s sensational Le Mans victory for Aston Martin, when he took the lead with just one lap remaining, was the talking point of endurance racing’s blue riband event in 2017.
Alistair Phillips-Davies 42 87
HIS YEAR: November’s announcement of a potential mega-merger between SSE’s retail arm and npower, the domestic UK operation of Germany’s innogy, was a powerful demonstration of the influence held by the chief executive of the Perth-based energy giant. Mr Phillips-Davies’ remit also extends to decisions affecting the cost of domestic electricity and gas bills and he is also playing a key role in driving the UK’s future energy mix – the multi-billion pound SSE-backed Beatrice wind farm in the Outer Moray Firth being a prime example. PANEL VIEW: Mr Phillips-Davies is responsible for an organisation that employs thousands and touches the lives of millions.The potential tie-up with innogy could be a game changer for the UK energy sector.
Tommy Wright 41 32
HIS YEAR: Tommy Wright’s CV as St Johnstone manager is unparalleled in the Perth club’s history. In the last three seasons Saints and Wright have consistently punched above their weight. Premiership finishes of sixth and fourth were followed by another fourth in 2017, which qualified the Perth side for European football. PANEL VIEW: St Johnstone have done well to hold on to Tommy Wright for as long as they have but if he leaves to take over the Northern Ireland job he will depart with thanks and good wishes .