Our team

The Data-Driven Innovation initiative has helped establish - and exists to support - five data-driven innovation ‘hubs’ at the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University – creating a regional power-house for collaboration with industry partners. The hubs house expertise and facilities to help 10 industrial sectors become more innovative through data.

The DDI Team

Jarmo_©uupi_tirronen-11crop

Jarmo Eskelinen

Executive Director

Jarmo leads all aspects of the strategy, delivery, and partnerships of the DDI initiative, working with leaders of six DDI hubs, two universities and external partners to ensure DDI delivers its financial and innovation outcomes, making Edinburgh the Data Capital of Europe.

Image of John Scott

John Scott

Head of Delivery

John is responsible for co-ordinating the delivery of a range of DDI initiatives that enable all of our citizens to benefit from the data revolution. The role involves enacting diverse collaborations.

Image of Gemma Cassells public sector lead

Dr Gemma Cassells

Head of Strategy (Interim)

Gemma oversees strategic and operational planning across the DDI Programme, working with internal and external partners to plan and deliver a wide range of initiatives across the City Region.

Image of Alison Muckersie

Alison Muckersie

Programme Lead, DDI Skills Gateway

Alison is responsible for the development and delivery of the DDI Skills Gateway Programme. This multi-partner initiative aims to develop a strategic approach to increasing the data skills of people.

Image of Mark Graham

Dr Mark Graham

Lead Economist

Mark is responsible for developing the economic and related impact analysis for all DDI business cases, related funding bids and development of monitoring and evaluation framework.

silhouette photo placeholder

Jo Newman

Executive Assistant

Jo is Executive Assistant to the Director, and is responsible for diary management, travel arrangements and general support. Jo has worked for the University of Edinburgh since 2006.

Image of male head outline

Mark Baillie

Communications & PR Manager

Mark is responsible for planning and delivery of communications and engagement, working across a network that covers the DDI innovation hubs, the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University, and partners. Mark also helps co-ordinate wider communications for the City Region Deal.

Image of Stephanie Peebles

Stephanie Peebles

Communications & Engagement Executive

Stephanie supports the development of vital partner networks of the DDI initiative internally across the innovation hubs, the University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University, DDI Skills Gateway and externally through stakeholder engagement, communications and events.

Image of David Jamieson

David Jamieson

Reporting Lead

David collaborates closely with the DDI Programme Office (PO) Reporting Team and representatives from the DDI Hubs to ensure that the DDI Programme’s various internal and external reporting needs are met; in essence, this entails ensuring that the DDI PO has the data that it needs, when it needs it, in order to deliver statistics and insights which, in turn, drive strategic decision-making.

hannah

Hannah Gordon

Head of Reporting

Hannah is responsible for ensuring that all key Programme deliverables are captured accurately and shared with stakeholders. This includes reporting on KPIs as well as measuring and evidencing the long term economic and social impacts of the DDI Programme.

silhouette photo place holder

Steph Robertson-Hogg

Business Intelligence Analyst

Steph supports and enhances the use of data to enable better decision-making and record-keeping, developing new metrics and reports on a wide variety of topics.

silhouette photo place holder

Crea Barton

Programme Office Coordinator

Crea provides front-of-house, administrative and logistical support to the DDI Programme, including elements of stakeholder engagement, communications and events delivery.

Esme

Esme Page

Office Administrator

Esme provides administrative, logistical and general support to the DDI programme office, including the development and maintenance of stakeholder engagement, communications and events.