We were delighted to welcome our members and community to COSLA in Edinburgh, and online, for our 2025 Spring Conference on 1st April, where we explored how the sustainable development sector can bridge gaps in perception and inspire active participation, particularly in the context of recent aid cuts. Catch up on the highlights of the day, or watch the event recording below.
Event recording
Programme
9.30am – 9.35am Welcome from conference chair Frances Guy, CEO, SIDA.
9.35am – 10.00am Keynote address and Q&A – Kirsty Smith, Board Chair, BOND UK.
10.00am – 10.45am Presentation and Q&A – Soomin Oh, Deputy Director, Development Engagement Lab.
This presentation and open Q&A by Development Engagement Lab (DEL) examined Scottish public attitudes around and engagement with global poverty and development. Drawing on DEL’s multi-year survey data (2019-2025), Soomin explored the latest trends in Scottish attitudes and engagement, patterns of movement up (or down) the ‘engagement ladder’, and the profiles of aid sceptics. DEL is a multi-country research programme focused on understanding public support for aid and sustainable development.
11.15am – 12.15pm Panel discussion: Bridging sectors, engaging society
In today’s interconnected world, tackling global challenges requires INGOs to think beyond traditional partnerships. Effective collaboration across sectors is crucial to scaling impact. At the same time, engaging the general public in development issues remains a critical yet evolving challenge.
Following a presentation from Gemma Day on WaterAid’s new branding and public engagement strategy, this panel explored how INGOs can forge stronger cross-sector collaborations and connect meaningfully with the public to drive sustainable change.
Panellists
- Mark McAllister, Organisational Lead for Strategic Development, Public Health Scotland
- Gemma Day, Global and UK Head of Communications, WaterAid
- Dr Francisca Mutapi. Professor Global Health Infection and Immunity at The University of Edinburgh, Deputy Director TIBA Partnership
- Dan Paris, Director of Policy and Engagement, Scottish Environment Link
12.15pm – 1.30pm Workshops (Please note workshops are in-person only)
Workshops
Workshop 1: How can Scotland be a good Global Citizen? Exploring the role of Global Citizenship within international development
Join us for an engaging and interactive workshop exploring how a global citizenship approach can build solidarity and inspire action on urgent global issues. In this session we will consider how campaigns and fundraising can challenge harmful stereotypes and shift narratives about the global majority, while raising awareness of global issues including poverty, inequality and environmental threat.
Workshop leads
Charlotte Dwyer, Director, ScotDec
Faith Bateman, Education Lead: Professional Learning, WOSDEC
Workshop 2: AI strategy for INGOs
John Fitzgerald leads SCVO’s digital evolution programme. He and his team have helped thousands of charities to make strategic use of digital to serve their communities and further their aims. Alongside bespoke one-to-one help and advice, they also provide in-depth guides such as their new guide to using AI responsibly.
Depending on what you’ve read in the media, AI could stand for ‘Apocalypse Incoming’ or ‘Additional Interns’ – or everything in between! John will cut through the hype on AI and highlight what you need to know to start using it strategically and responsibly
Workshop lead
John Fitzgerald, Digital Evolution Project Manager, SCVO
Darran Gillan, Digital Inclusion Development Officer, SCVO
Workshop 3: Advocacy, development and 2026
This time next year the Scottish Parliament elections will be well underway – and there will be only four years remaining until the 2030 target date for achieving the SDGs. With these deadlines in sight, how can individual NGOs, and the sector collectively focus the minds of decision makers? How can we identify the most effective policies for manifestos and for governments? And how can we best mobilise the arguments and the public in support? This will be an interactive session with plenty of opportunity for discussion, sharing ideas, best practice and asking ourselves questions.
Workshop Lead
Patrick Grady, Head of Policy and Communications, SIDA
Speakers
Kirsty Smith
Chair, Bond UK; CEO, CBM UK
Kirsty Smith is Chief Executive at CBM UK and BasicNeeds and is part of the leadership of the CBM Global Disability Inclusion Federation. In addition to her strategic leadership of the organisation, Kirsty leads CBM UK’s technical advisory work, promoting broader, systemic change and supporting others to put inclusion into practice. She was recently appointed as Chair of BOND – the international development network, and is currently a member of the UK Government Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office’s External Disability Challenge Board.
Soomin Oh
Deputy Director, Development Engagement Lab
Soomin Oh’s research focuses on the political economy of development – patterns and public opinion around domestic redistribution and overseas aid. Her works link academic research with public engagement and impact, in particular with international NGOs and charities, as well as government organisations. She holds a PhD in Political Science from Duke University (2021).
Francisca Mutapi BSc DPhil FZAS FRSE FAAS
Professor of Global Health Infection and Immunity, University of Edinburgh; Deputy Director TIBA Partnership
Professor Francisca Mutapi is an award-winning global health expert empowering African scientists and policymakers to tackle infectious diseases and improve epidemic preparedness prioritising local needs and solutions. She holds a Chair in Global Health infection and Immunity at the University of Edinburgh where she is the Deputy Director of the TIBA Partnership and University of Edinburgh’s International Dean for Africa. Francisca sits on various funding, scientific, technical and strategic advisory boards including the WHO Africa Regional Director’s Advisory Board, the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Science Advisory Group and is the vice chair of the Uniting to Combat Neglected Tropical Diseases board.
Dan Paris
Director of Policy and Engagement, Scottish Environment LINK
Dan Paris works as Director of Policy and Engagement for Scottish Environment LINK, a network of over 40 environmental organisations representing a broad spectrum of environmental interests with the common goal of contributing to a more environmentally sustainable society. Previously Dan worked in the heritage sector and in political communication.
Gemma Day
Global and UK Director of Communications, WaterAid
Gemma Day is a strategic communications practitioner, with extensive experience in the charity and international development sector. She embarked on her current role as Global and UK Director of Communications at WaterAid in 2023. Prior to this position, Gemma was Head of Media, Communications and Campaigns for Plan International UK, a global children’s charity striving for an equal world. Gemma has a passion for championing positive social change and a specialism for working with partners to mutually build brand profile, through global major partnership initiatives.
Mark McAllister
Organisational Lead for Strategic Development, Public Health Scotland
Mark McAllister joined Health Scotland in 2015 as lead for Strategic Development and was seconded to Scottish Government in 2018 to lead engagement on the new Public Health Reform programme before moving to COSLA in 2020 with a focus on Public Health. Mark returned to Public Health Scotland in 2022 with responsibility for the organisation’s approach to Strategy, Engagement and Policy. Mark developed an interest in Health Inequalities while working in the East End of Glasgow. Mark managed Health Improvement programmes in North Glasgow before leading engagement on NHSGGC Acute Services Strategy, including the delivery of a community benefits programme linked to the redevelopment of the South Glasgow University Hospital and Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
Charlotte Dwyer
Director, ScotDec
Charlotte is a teacher, trainer, writer, editor, idealist, and believer in equality and social justice for all. Following a teaching career in England and Sri Lanka and a stint with VSO as a teacher trainer in Eritrea, Charlotte moved to Edinburgh where she joined Scotdec in 2005 and qualified as a ‘Global trainer’ with the University of London. Charlotte believes in the power of education as a force for positive change. As Board Chair at the International Development Education Association of Scotland, now merged with SIDA, Charlotte is an advocate for Global Citizenship Education.
Faith Bateman
Education Lead: Professional Learning, WOSDEC
Faith is an experienced Social Subjects teacher with over 16 years in education. For the past 8 years, she has worked as Subject Leader for Modern Studies, leading curriculum development. Faith was also seconded to the West Partnership as a Development Officer, contributing to regional improvement initiatives. She now works at WOSDEC as Education Lead, focusing on delivering professional learning to colleagues on anti-racism and global citizenship. Passionate about empowering students and educators, Faith is dedicated to developing a strong sense of global citizenship.
John Fitzgerald
Digital Evolution Project Manager, SCVO
As Digital Evolution Project Manager at SCVO (Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations), John helps charities of all sizes make the most of digital to enhance their effectiveness. He is the product lead for an ecoystem of digital support for Scottish charities, offering support on benchmarking, one-to-one support, specialist training, signposting, strategy shaping and supplier discovery.
Darran Gillan
Digital Inclusion Development Officer, SCVO
Darran Gillan develops youth and community programmes that focus on digital literacies and exploit opportunities to benefit youth and community groups through the use of disruptive technologies. He has developed cutting edge youth programmes that have developed an entrepreneurial mind-set through innovative approaches using youth business incubators and Makerspaces, a DIY environment where young people come to experiment and learn a wide range of digital technologies.
Patrick Grady
Head of Policy and Communications, SIDA
Patrick’s career in international development began as SCIAF’s Campaigns Officer in 2002, later returning to the organisation as Advocacy Manager between 2011-2015. Patrick lived and worked in Malawi as a World Exchange volunteer in 2004-2005, and has maintained close links with the country and its people ever since. Between 2015-2024, Patrick served as the Member of Parliament for Glasgow North, and was active on a wide range of global justice issues throughout that time, chairing the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Malawi and working with other groups focussed on Africa, WASH, NTDs and the Global Goals for Sustainable Development.
SIDA is grateful to headline sponsors StoneX and WaterAid for partnering with us for the 2025 Spring Conference.