Scotland 2050: A Visual Journey
The inaugural Scotland 2050 conference, held at the historic Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on the 17th of June 2025, brought together leading figures from various sectors to discuss and shape the future of Scotland.
Join us on a visual journey that captures images of keynote speakers, panel discussions, networking sessions, and the overall energy of the event…
All images © Joshua Wyborn
Rt. Hon John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland making a keynote speech
Cherie Blair KC, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Gaelic and Bernard Ponsonby Chair of Scotland 2050
Anas Sarwar MSP, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party making a keynote speech
Alex Cole Hamilton MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats making a keynote speech
Barrie Cunning, Founder of Scotland 2050, being interviewed by STV's Scotland Tonight programme
Cherie Blair, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Barrie Cunning, Founder of Scotland 2050, Daniel Johnson MSP, Shadow Spokesperson on Finance, Economy and Fair Work
Andrew Roberts, Strategic Land Regional Director – Scotland, Taylor Wimpey and Chair of the Solving Scotland's Housing Crisis panel
Bernard Ponsonby, Chair of Scotland 2050 and Rt. Hon John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland
Tunnock's caramel wafer biscuits - made in Scotland!
Scotland 2050 conference guests checking in
Guests networking in the Assembly Ball room post check-in
Scotland 2050 team member speaking with Scotland 2050 Founder, Barrie Cunning
Scotland 2050 audience
Alex Cole Hamilton MSP, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Bernard Ponsonby, Chair of Scotland 2050
Jeane Freeman, Former Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport
Panel 1: Intergenerational Fairness - Boomers to Gen Z and Bernard Ponsonby, Chair of Scotland 2050
Audience member asking the panel a question
Bernard Ponsonby, Chair of Scotland 2050
Emily Hughes, Associate Director, CBRE
Panel 2: Building a resilient economy for the future
Panel 2: Building a resilient economy for the future
Audience member asking the panel a question
Scotland 2050 Founder, Barrie Cunning, being interviewed by STV news
Daniel Coleman, Economist, Deloitte
Scotland 2050 baseball cap
Scotland 2050 t-shirt
Scotland 2050 attendees networking during a break
Scotland 2050 programme signed by the conference speakers
Scotland 2050 Founder, Barrie Cunning, networking with conference attendees
Andrew Roberts, Strategic Land Regional Director – Scotland, Taylor Wimpey
Cherie Blair KC, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and Barrie Cunning, Scotland 2050 Founder
Panel 3: From Transition to Transformation: Realising Scotland's Energy Potential by 2050, Sponsored by EnBW
Audience member asking the panel a question
Audience member asking the panel a question
Bernard Ponsonby, Chair of Scotland 2050, listening to a member of the audience ask a question
Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister of Scotland, Cabinet Secretary for Economy & Gaelic and Cherie Blair KC, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women
Audience member asking the panel a question
Cherie Blair KC, Kate Forbes MSP and Bernard Ponsonby Chair of Scotland 2050 speaking on the panel session A Better Future for Women in Public Life
Member of the audience asking a question
Cherie Blair KC, Kate Forbes MSP and Bernard Ponsonby Chair of Scotland 2050, chatting with the audience
Keynote speech by Rt. Hon John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland
Audience member asking the panel a question
Bernard Ponsonby, Chair of Scotland 2050 and Rt. Hon John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland
Scotland 2050 speakers and members of the audience networking during a break
Scotland 2050 Founder, Barrie Cunning
Keynote speech by Anas Sarwar MSP, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
Bernard Ponsonby, Chair of Scotland 2050 and Anas Sarwar MSP, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party
Panel 5: Scotland's Place in a Changing World
Paul Sweeney MSP, Scottish Labour Party, Deputy Spokesperson on Mental Health and Veterans
Gary Innes, musician and BBC presenter
Panel 5: Scotland's Place in a Changing World
Panel 5: Scotland's Place in a Changing World
Member of the Scotland 2050 audience asking a question
Neil Bibby MSP, Scottish Labour, West Scotland
Paul Sweeney MSP, Scottish Labour Party, Deputy Spokesperson on Mental Health and Veterans
Bernard Ponsonby, Chair of Scotland 2050
Andrew Roberts, Strategic Land Regional Director – Scotland, Taylor Wimpey and Chair of the Solving Scotland's Housing Crisis panel
Mark Griffin MSP, Sottish Labour, Deputy Party Spokesperson on Housing and Local Government
Katherine Sangster, National Manager, Scottish Fabians
Panel 6: Solving Scotland's Housing Crisis
Andrew Roberts, Strategic Land Regional Director – Scotland, Taylor Wimpey and Chair of the Solving Scotland's Housing Crisis panel, taking questions from the audience
Member of the Scotland 2050 audience asking a question
Barry McKeown, Head of Real Estate Scotland, Shoosmiths, answering a housing question from the audience
Team Scotland 2050!