Keynote – Paul Wheelhouse, Scottish Minister for Energy, Connectivity and the Islands

Following a 19 year career as an economic development consultant to public and private sector clients, Paul Wheelhouse was elected to serve as an MSP representing the South of Scotland in 2011, at which time Paul joined the Parliament’s Finance Committee and Standards procedures and Public Appointments Committee. A regular contributor to debates in his first year, where he was one of the most frequent speakers in debate, Paul served on a number of cross party groups and was deputy convener of the Cross Party Group on Sport.

Paul was promoted to Ministerial Office in September 2012, initially as Minister for Environment & Climate Change, where Paul was able to build his knowledge of agricultural policy, and, from November 2014, as Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs. Paul was awarded ‘Politician of the Year’ in the 2015 Nature of Scotland Awards in recognition of his contribution to conservation of Scotland’s wildlife and natural environment.