Speakers
Abbie Rose, Changing Our World
Young Person Co-Chair, Thursday 29 May 2025, Day Two
I have been a member of Changing Our World (CoW) since July of 2023 and it has been an amazing experience so far. Within CoW I attend online and in-person meetings where we discuss topics that affect young people in Scotland. Some highlights of my experience with CoW is having the opportunity to be a speaker at a CPG meeting at parliament on young people’s education and getting to interview various people within Children in Scotland. I wanted to be a co-chair for this conference as for the past few years I have been involved in the conferences planning which has allowed me meet so many amazing people and from then knew I’d love to one day be a co-chair.
The thing I am most excited about for this year’s conference is to network with people and meet so many different organisations!
Young Person Co-chair, Thursday 29 May 2025, Day Two
archie, musician, artist & producer
Keynote, Wednesday 28 May 2025, Day One | 1:20pm
archie is a 21-year-old Scottish singer-songwriter and a dedicated advocate for supporting young people, mental health and wellbeing. A talented multi-instrumentalist, he first hit the charts at age 16 when he wrote and sang the platinum-selling Drum & Bass track ‘Nicotine’ for the artist Goddard. Over 15 million streams later, archie now regularly performs across the UK, USA & Canada. archie is now a regular on BBC TV and Radio (where he’s been BBC Featured Artist of the Week), Scottish Television, and he’s a featured artist on Spotify.
archie told his mum he wanted to be a musician at the age of 2 after watching a busker in Glasgow’s Buchanan Street. He took up piano at age 5, playing 11 different instruments by the time he won a place at Scotland’s National Music School and the Royal Conservatoire. Here, he studied classical piano, singing and composition before adding in jazz voice, guitar and piano. By age 13, he was performing regularly at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall & London’s Royal Albert Hall, as well as singing with the National Youth Choir of Scotland, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus and the Royal Conservatoire Chamber Choir. At 14 years old, he started writing pop & jazz songs, posting videos of himself singing and performing little comedy skits on TikTok & Instagram. Within a year, his followers had grown from 0 to over 500K, giving him the confidence to leave school and go professional.
Keynote, Wednesday 28 May 2025, Day One | 1:20pm
Dr Vanessa Collingridge, broadcaster, writer & coach
Keynote, Wednesday 28 May 2025, Day One | 1:20pm
Vanessa is an award-winning broadcaster, best-selling author, prize-winning academic and impact coach. With over 30 years’ experience in international public engagement and executive coaching, she is proud to be a long-time collaborator with Children in Scotland. She is also archie’s mum!
After graduating from Oxford University with First Class honours in Geography, she moved into television, specialising in science, environment & history. Vanessa’s international career has taken her to all seven continents on earth, making TV & radio series for broadcasters including BBC, ITV, Channels 4 & 5, ABC, Discovery, The History Channel. A columnist, feature-writer and author, her publications include biographies on Captain Cook (2002), Boudica (2005) and The Story of Australia (2008), plus multiple chapters for Seventy Greatest Journeys in History (2006) and The Greatest Explorers in History (2010), along with a range of scholarly books and papers.
Vanessa qualified as a mediator in conflict resolution, working with public and commercial organisations and private clients. In 1999, she was selected for cosmonaut training with the Space Tourism Programme at Russia’s Star City (filmed by ITV) becoming its first-ever UK graduate. After a varied international career, Vanessa lives back home in Scotland with her partner, their four sons, two cats, a dog, an African pygmy hedgehog and an axolotl…
Keynote, Wednesday 28 May 2025, Day One | 1:20pm
Natalie Don-Innes MSP, Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise
Keynote, Thursday 29 May 2025, Day Two | 10:30am
Natalie Don-Innes was born in Paisley and grew up in Bridge of Weir. Natalie attended Gryffe High School and then went on to study History at University of Glasgow.
Before and during her time at University, Natalie worked in a variety of sales roles working her way up to Manager of a local food retailer. After graduating university, Natalie started a role as a constituency assistant and caseworker for a member of the Scottish Parliament.
She was elected as a local councillor for the Bishopton, Bridge of Weir and Langbank ward in 2017 and then member of the Scottish Parliament for Renfrewshire North and West in 2021. She was appointed as Minister for Children, Young People and Keeping the Promise in March 2023. As well as her professional roles, Natalie has spoken openly about her own experiences growing up in poverty, and highlights the benefits and importance of having people with lived experience in decision making roles.
Fiona Duncan, Independent Strategic Advisor of The Promise and Chair of the Board of Directors
Co-Chair, Thursday 29 May 2025, Day Two
Fiona Duncan is the Independent Strategic Advisor for the Promise, a role that includes chairing The Promise Scotland, the body responsible for driving the change demanded by the conclusions of the Independent Care Review, which she also chaired. Fiona has almost 30 years’ experience working in the voluntary sector, most recently she was Chief Executive of the Corra Foundation, a philanthropic organisation supporting people and communities experiencing disadvantage. Fiona regularly contributes to conferences, events and journals on a range of issues.
Juliet Harris, Director of Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights)
Keynote, Thursday 29 May 2025, Day Two | 9:55am
Juliet is Director of Together (Scottish Alliance for Children’s Rights). Over the past decade, Juliet has led work to progress the human rights of children across legislation, policy, and practice.
She is a Trustee of Families Outside, a Trustee of the Environmental Rights Centre Scotland, and a founder member of the Observatory of Children’s Human Rights Scotland. She is also the current Chair of the Rights of the Child UK Coalition and has played an active role on a number of UN Taskforces, including the UN Committee’s Day of General Discussion on Children as Human Rights Defenders.
Juliet is a guest lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, and her work on children’s rights has been published widely. When not working, Juliet spends as much time as possible exploring the outdoors, climbing, biking, running, or skiing to the most remote places she can find.
Nadine Aaisha Jassat, author and creative practitioner
Keynote, Thursday 29 May 2025, Day Two | 2:10pm
Nadine Aisha Jassat is author of acclaimed poetry collection Let Me Tell You This (‘beautifully written, immense, and full of passion’ – Nikita Gill), as well as three middle-grade verse novels. The Stories Grandma Forgot (And How I Found Them), was described by Sophie Anderson as ‘one of those books that truly makes the world a better place’, The Hidden Story of Estie Noor was nominated for a Carnegie Medal, and her latest novel, The House at The Edge of The World, releases in May 2025. As a poet and creative practitioner, Nadine has worked with young people across the UK and around the world, often exploring the links between storytelling and social justice. Prior to being an author, Nadine had a professional career in Scotland’s gender-based violence services, and often worked with young people on issues related to racism, sexism, creative activism and participation work.
Nicola Killean, Children and Young People's Commissioner Scotland
Co-chair, Wednesday 28 May 2025, Day One
Nicola Killean is the Children and Young People’s Commissioner Scotland. She and her team are responsible for protecting and promoting the human rights of everyone under 18 in Scotland, or up to the age of 21 if they have care experience.
Nicola has spent most of her career supporting children and young people from communities facing particular challenges and disadvantages. Nicola was founding Chief Executive Officer of the charity, Sistema Scotland. She oversaw the launch and growth of the charity which delivers Big Noise programmes, using music and nurturing relationships to support over 3,500 children and young people across Scotland.
Nicola was awarded an OBE in 2020 for services to music, children and community cohesion.
Fraser McKinlay, Chief Executive Officer of The Promise Scotland and sits on the Board of Directors
Keynote, Wednesday 28 May 2025, Day One | 10:15am
Biography to come
Shaun, Changing Our World
Young Person Co-Chair, Wednesday 28 May 2025, Day One
Hi, my name is Shaun (He/Him/His) and I have been a member of Changing our World (CoW), which is Children in Scotland’s children and young people’s advisory group, for more than 3 years.
Some fun facts about me are that I currently study Community Development at the University of Glasgow and I have hiked Ben Nevis (the tallest mountain in Scotland).
I am passionate about children and young people’s voices being heard and tackling issues which affect us. I have taken part in several different activities with CoW including meeting with ministers, interviewing candidates for roles within Children in Scotland and taking part in a 6-month work experience with Changing our World which was one of the best experiences ever!
I wanted to co-chair the annual conference because I enjoy every time I go to the annual conference. I even dressed up in a cow onesie for one the conferences because why not! I also wanted to try something new and go out of my comfort zone.
I am excited for the annual conference because it is a great opportunity to learn about the work currently happening with/for children and young people, meet new people and most importantly have fun.
I look forward to seeing you all there!
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