Please refer to the colour on the bottom of your badge for what room and sessions you will be in for Sessions 1,2 & 3. If you have any questions, please speak to us at the registration desk.
Conference Programme
🕒 09:00 – 09:30
Registration & Trade Exhibition Opens
🕒 09:30 – 09:45
Welcome & Introductions
Michael Golding, ASVA CEO & Richard Lochhead, Minister for Business
🕒09:45 – 10:45
Beyond the Welcome: Crafting Unforgettable Experiences
- 09:45 – 10:05: Simon Addison, COO of Roman Baths
- 10:05 – 10:25: Angie Fowler, Visitor Experience Manager at The Royal Yacht Britannia
- 10:25 – 10:45: Abbie Fox-Smith, Visitor Experience Manager at The House of Commons
🕒 10:45 – 11:15
Morning Networking Break: Sponsored by Circle Heritage
🕒 11:15 – 12:15
Session 1
Blueprints for Brilliance: Best Practice in Larger Attractions
(Gannochy Trust Auditorium – PINK)
- 11:15 – 11:35: Paul Nixon, General Manager of The Real Mary King’s Close
- 11:35 – 11:55: Amy Harbour, Head of Licensing & Commercial Partnerships at the Science Museum Group & Tom Houseman, Multi Site Retail Manager for the Science Museum Group
- 11:55 – 12:15: Alex Harvie, Head of Marketing Communications & Destination Marketing at Glasgow Life & Moira McCall, Audience Engagement Lead at Glasgow Life
The Charm of Compact: Maximising Your Small Attraction’s Potential
(Norrie Miller Studio – GREEN)
- 11:15 – 11:35: Alison Rose, Manager of Scottish Dolphin Centre
- 11:35 – 11:55: Thania M. Flores, Heritage Environment Resource Officer at The Trimontium Trust & Museum
- 11:55 – 12:15: Ross McKirdy, Museum Manager at Grampian Transport Museum
🕒 12:15 – 12:45
Scottish Attractions Inspiring People Awards Ceremony
🕒 12:45 – 13:40
Lunch Break: Sponsored by ATS
🕒 13:40 – 14:45
Session 2 (all delegates into Gannochy Trust Auditorium)
Banishing the Boring: Front of House Case Study
13:40 – 14:00: Amy Akino-Wittering, Head of Operations & Commercial at Young V&A
Together we Thrive: Better Outcomes Through Strategic Connection
(Gannochy Trust Auditorium – PINK)
- 14:00 – 14:20: Russell Fraser, Founding Director of SCOTO
- 14:20 – 14:40: Ross McMillan, Head of Destinations at Scottish Canals & Alyce Paton, Regional Manager at Complete Works
Digital Horizons: The Future of Tech & AI for Scottish Attractions
(Norrie Miller Studio – GREEN)
- 14:00 – 14:20: Stephen Preston, Deputy Head of Heritage and Culture at St Giles’ Cathedral & Louise Arnold, Business Engagement Executive
- 14:20 – 14:40: Thanos Kokkinotis, Co-Founder & CEO of Smartify CIC
🕒 14:45 – 15:45
Session 3
Inclusion Unlocked: Creating Accessible & Diverse Visitor Experiences
(Gannochy Trust Auditorium – PINK)
- 14:45 – 15:05: Kat Brogan, Managing Director at Mercat Tours
- 15:05 – 15:25: Steve Owens, Science Operations Manager at Glasgow Science Centre
- 15:25 – 15:45: Spencer Clark, Managing Director at ATS & Steve Dering, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Direct Access
Building a Sustainable Future for Visitor Attractions
(Norrie Miller Studio – GREEN)
- 14:45 – 15:05: Mike Benson, Director at The Scottish Crannog Centre
- 15:05 – 15:25: Ben Supple, Deputy CEO & Director of Engagement and Business Development at RZSS
- 15:25 – 15:45: Allison Everett, Buying & Retail Manager at Fruitmarket Gallery
🕒 15:45 – 16:15
Afternoon Networking Break: Sponsored by BVA BDRC
🕒 16:15 – 17:25
Future of Tourism: Vision to Support World Class Scottish Attractions
- 16:15 – 16:32: Josh Ryan-Saha, Director of Traveltech for Scotland
- 16:32 – 16:49 Marc Crothall MBE, CEO of Scottish Tourism Alliance
- 16:49 – 17:06: Rob Dickson, Director of Industry and Events at VisitScotland
- 17:06 – 17:21: Bernard Donoghue OBE, CEO of ALVA
🕒 17:15 – 17:30
Conference Close
🕒 18:00 – 20:00
Join us at Perth Museum for our evening drinks reception: Sponsored by Timberplay Scotland