Conference 2026 — In Photos
Scotland 2050 brings together everyday people, business leaders, community champions, and politicians, all in the same room, all part of the same conversation, to start building a genuine long-term vision for this country.
On 2 June 2026, hundreds of people filled the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh for a day that crackled with energy. Keynotes, packed panel debates, and the kind of honest, open conversations that remind you what can happen when the right people are in the same room. These photos tell the story of the day.
Scotland 2050 - Be Part of the Conversation
Networking break in the ballroom
Scotland 2050 Sponsors
Scotland 2050 Manifesto
Networking break in the ballroom
Barrie Cunning, Founder, Scotland 2050
Lord Jack McConnell, giving a keynote speech
Lord Jack McConnell, First Minister of Scotland 2001 to 2007
Lord Jack McConnell, First Minister of Scotland 2001 to 2007
Lord Jack McConnell, First Minister of Scotland 2001 to 2007 and Barrie Cunning, Founder, Scotland 2050
Scotland 2050 networking break
Geraint Evans, CEO, UK Major Ports and Steven Stewart, Head of Scottish Planning and Environmental team at Shoosmiths
Sarah Boyack, Former MSP for Lothian chairing the Energy and Connectivity panel
Empowering Scotland: Energy and Connectivity panel
Gordon Dewar, CEO, Edinburgh Airport
Stuart Wallace, CEO, Forth Ports and Bill Esterson MP, Chair, Energy Security and Net Zero Committee
Scotland's Future Economy panel
Lesley Smillie, Senior Partner and Government and Public Services Lead Scotland, Deloitte
Daniel Coleman, Economist and Managing Director of Forth Advisory
Charandeep Singh, CEO, Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Lesley Smillie, Senior Partner and Government and Public Services Lead Scotland, Deloitte
Professor Anton Muscatelli, President, Royal Society of Edinburgh
Andrew Foyle, Head of Dispute Resolution and Litigation team at Shoosmiths
Scotland's Future Economy Panel
Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP, leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats
Mark Diffley, Director and Founder, Diffley Partnership
Calum Kerr, SNP MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale and Patrick Harvie, Green Party MSP for Glasgow
Alistair Grant, Political Editor, The Scotsman and Calum Kerr, SNP MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale
Patrick Harvie, Green Party MSP for Glasgow
Anamika Dwivedi, Scottish Property Federation
Ivan McKee MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Reform
Navigating Change: Scotland's Place in a Global Landscape Panel
Kathryn Porter, U.S. Consul General in Edinburgh
Paul Sweeney MSP, Scottish Labour Party and Carol Mochan, Scottish Labour Party
Gary Maclean, Scotland's first National Chef
Paul Sweeney MSP, Scottish Labour Party
Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron, Depute Lord Provost of Edinburgh
Scotland 2050 Sponsors
Question from the Audience
Q & A with Barrie Cunning, Founder, Scotland 2050
Question from the Audience
Question from the Audience
Homes of Tomorrow: Sustainable Solutions for Scotland's Housing Crisis Panel
Andrew Roberts, Strategic Land Regional Director for Scotland, Taylor Wimpey
Alex Orr, Managing Director, Orbit Communications
Barry McKeown, Head of Shoosmiths Glasgow Office
Kevin Murphy, Director of Planning at Homes for Scotland and Alex Orr, Managing Director, Orbit Communications
Kevin Murphy, Director of Planning at Homes for Scotland
Closing remarks by Barrie Cunning, Founder, Scotland 2050