A new chair has been appointed at the Scottish AI Alliance to drive innovation and the adoption of artificial intelligence across the country.

Catriona Campbell, client technology & innovation officer at consulting giant EY, will take over from Gillian Docherty OBE after completion of a two-year term.

Ms Campbell brings in extensive experience in AI in the private sector, having worked with a range of clients to deliver innovative solutions using emerging technologies.

She will work with stakeholders from academia, government, industry, and civil society to promote responsible AI practices, build a diverse and skilled AI workforce, and showcase Scotland as a leader in trustworthy, ethical and inclusive AI.

Ms Campbell was announced as successor to Gillian Docherty, chief commercial officer at Strathclyde University, by Ivan McKee, minister for business, trade, tourism and enterprise.

Tom Wilkinson, chief data officer for the Scottish Government, welcomed Ms. Campbell’s appointment, stating: “I am delighted to see Catriona appointed as chair of the Scottish AI Alliance by our minister. She is an outstanding technology leader and entrepreneur, and the ideal person to take on this challenging role and lead the Scottish Alliance on the next stage of its journey. I look forward to working with her.”

Ms Campbell said: “I am excited and honoured to take on the role of Chair at the Scottish AI Alliance. AI has the power to transform society, and Scotland has a wealth of talent, expertise, and potential to lead the way in AI innovation. I look forward to working with the Scottish AI Alliance’s executive team, its leadership group, partners, and stakeholders to build a strong, inclusive, and responsible AI ecosystem in Scotland and showcase Scotland’s AI capabilities to the world.”

The Scottish AI Alliance is a partnership with The Data Lab (Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and AI) and is tasked with the delivery of the actions outlined in Scotland’s national Artificial Intelligence Strategy launched in 2021 in an open, transparent and collaborative way.

Bringing together businesses, academia, government, and civil society to promote the development and adoption of trustworthy, ethical and inclusive AI, the Scottish AI Alliance collaborates with leading AI researchers, companies, and organisations, and it has been instrumental in promoting Scotland as a hub for AI innovation.