Scottish Leadership Awards 2011
Thursday 6th October 2011, National Museum, Edinburgh

Please Note: nominations for the 2011 Leadership Awards have now closed.

The Scottish Leadership Awards recognises the achievements of leaders in Scotland's private and public sectors and has just recently been launched by Scottish Business Insider magazine.

Insider Editor Alasdair Northrop explains that the awards are designed to reflect the changing world we are in. “Leaders in all walks of life do not necessarily regard themselves as being part of the elite but accept the important role they have to guide their organisations to success,” he explains. “There was a feeling that the term ‘elite’ was inappropriate for today’s world but there is no doubt we need good leaders and that is what our awards are all about.”

However, the new awards will still be organised in the same way as the Elite Awards with the winners being decided by their peers in business and the public sector. Insider will draw up a list of Scotland’s leaders and they will be able to vote amongst themselves for the various category winners.

A number of new categories are being introduced for specific sectors including manufacturing and services. “We will be asking those voting to think about aspects such as the effectiveness of the individuals, their ability to communicate clearly and provide inspiration and, above all, the results of their endeavours.

The awards will be presented at an exclusive and exceptionally well appointed gala dinner and awards ceremony on Thursday 6th October at the newly refurbished National Museum in Edinburgh. This will be the venues first corporate event following an extensive 3 year refurbishment.

This years event will be hosted by Stephen Jardine, and we are pleased to welcome Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller DCB, former head of MI5 as our guest speaker.

Baroness Eliza Manningham-Buller DCB

Eliza Manningham-Buller headed Britain’s Security Service (MI5) from 2002 to 2007, leading the organisation through substantial change in the wake of 9/11 and the growing threat from Al-Qaeda. During her time at the helm MI5 doubled in size, opened eight new offices and altered its approach to the professional development of staff with the establishment of a training academy.

Earlier in her career, Eliza led the service’s investigation into the Lockerbie’s bombing. She served in Washington during the first Gulf war, returning to establish MI5’s intelligence effort against the Provisional IRA in mainland Britain. She joined the board and assumed lead responsibility for work on Irish terrorism, surveillance, technical collection, finance and IT before becoming Deputy Director General in charge of intelligence operations.

In her presentations Eliza draws on her experience in the most demanding of environments to stress the need for leaders in any walk of life to engage in frank dialogue and invite criticism. Do not try to be something you’re not, take responsibility for your team and remember that praising people takes seconds and can make enormous difference. And don’t forget that humour can be found even in the most awful situations.

Eliza Manningham-Buller is now a cross-bench Peer and a Governor of the Wellcome Trust.

Should you require further information regarding the event please contact Jackie Malloy, Event Manager, Tel: 0141 309 3549 or email

For sponsorship information or ticket sales please contact Michele Aaen, Head of Business & Events on 0141 309 1438 or by email.