9th June 2025
EICC Announces New Leadership for Exchange Initiative as It Enters Next Phase
The Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) has announced a new leadership team for its academic advisory board, the Exchange Initiative (EI), marking a significant step forward in its mission to elevate Edinburgh's global profile through academic collaboration and knowledge exchange.
"A huge thank you to Professor Gary Hutchison for chairing the EICC's academic advisory board, the Exchange Initiative, for the last three years. What a safe pair of hands we have been in!"
- Elaine Miller, EICC
Professor Duncan Hand, Assistant Vice Principal of Research and Impact at Heriot-Watt University, has been appointed as the new Chair of the EI. He succeeds Professor Gary Hutchison, Dean of Applied Sciences at Edinburgh Napier University, who has led the initiative since its inception in 2022. Joining Professor Hand is Professor Susan Brown, PhD, Professor and Lead for Innovation, Enterprise and Knowledge Exchange at Edinburgh Napier University, who will serve as Deputy Chair.
Launched in 2022, the Exchange Initiative is an academic advisory board established to strengthen the collaboration between the EICC and Edinburgh's academic institutions. The initiative aims to attract international association conferences to the city, showcasing the world-class research emerging from Scotland's universities and contributing to the local economy.
Under Professor Hutchison's leadership, the EI has achieved many milestones and accolades, including:
- Becoming a finalist in the AIPC Innovation Award and presenting its unique partnership model at the AIPC conference in Costa Rica.
- Winning the ABPCO Excellence Award for Best Partnership.
- Launching the EI Fellowship to support the next generation of Edinburgh researchers, to date, over 60 places have been secured for future conferences.
- Contributing to the development of the new EICC Impact Network.
Professors Hand and Brown bring a wealth of experience, and along with the wider EI team, will further enhance the initiative's interdisciplinary approach.
How to Get Involved:
For more information about the Exchange Initiative, visit EICC Exchange Initiative. For further inquiries, please contact Elaine Miller at elainem@eicc.co.uk.