SSDA Conference 2025
Peebles Hydro
The SDDA conference was generously supported by
The 2025 line up of speakers showcased innovative ways to attract visitors year-round while respecting local landscapes and communities as well as effective storytelling of the Scottish Diaspora, with insights demonstrating a commitment to creating meaningful and high-quality visitor experiences.
The breakout sessions highlighted practical steps towards a sustainable and inclusive tourism industry, followed by a panel discussion with industry experts sharing insights to ensure long-term success for local businesses, helping them thrive while staying aligned with responsible tourism principles.
The conference concluded with the inspiring words of Timmy Mallett, whose passion for the South of Scotland embodies the very spirit of responsible tourism—celebrating place, people, and sustainable exploration.
Inspire visitors to come to the South of Scotland
Gráinne Cornally
Manager, Ireland's Hidden Heartlands - Fáilte Ireland
Exploring destination positioning to define and communicate regional identities, attracting visitors. Sharing transferable insights on building a year-round tourism experience, extending seasons, and distributing benefits.
Stuart Cordner
Managing Director - Cruise Loch Lomond LTD
The region has a strong travel trade offering, but reaching a tipping point with tour operators requires more effort. This session inspires engagement with the trade, highlighting its value and providing actionable guidance for delegates.
Keith Muir
Chair of the South of Scotland Dark Sky Network
How to engage in preserving the dark skies and supporting recognition of the designations we have, highlighting visitors don’t have to travel far to get to amazing dark skies and the opportunity to extend the season.
Fiona McClellan
Business & Operations Manager - The Scottish Dark Sky Observatory
The potential for businesses to benefit and collaborate with a national flagship visitor attraction in the South of Scotland, supporting a year-round visitor economy and opening new markets
Developing the visitor experience with a focus on quality
Stuart Cassells
Global Head of Private Client Relationship Management for The Macallan
How we inspire quality and leveraging the north American market, what are the needs of that market, how they get them into the region. What is the transferable learning and top 5 tips for quality.
Nikki Storrar
Manager and Marketing -Ardross Farm Shop
Developing high-quality food experience, showcasing great local food and drink, and selling directly from farm to fork. Getting the local supply chain right and the importance of provenance.
Rich Rowe
Project Manager for Go Tweed Valley
How a local tourism community has been successful in developing a strong year-round brand and product identity and its ambitions for the next 5 years.
Dr John Sadler
Historian, author and founder of The Time Bandits
Where are the opportunities with the Scottish diaspora and how do we tell the story of the region in a more engaging way to attract those high-spending visitors of Scottish Heritage
Act responsibly for the long-term collective benefit
Norma Lyall
Angus Tourism Cooperative and SCOTO
Highlighting the opportunities of community tourism and how all businesses, communities and enterprises can benefit by collaborating
Hazel Smith
Chair of All Roads Lead to Whithorn
The strength in community and businesses coming together to create high quality products that benefit everyone including those in the visitor economy
Scott MacLean
Managing Director - Green Business UK Ltd
The benefits in accreditation and adopting greener practices to protect and enhance our natural capital as a region and increase business. Trends in green travel
Jason Simpson
CEO - RAW Charging
How EV can open new markets, how to adopt chargers and the benefits of destination charging. Enhancing your visitor's experience when in the region
Sharon Morrison
Communications Director at West Coast Motors
Encouraging visitors and communities to make green travel choices, how to navigate timetables and actionable ideas for your business.
Jake McLaughlan,
Business Engagement Officer, Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere
Discover Low Carbon Days Out developed by the GSAB and how businesses can utilise them and adopt similar concepts for their guests. Encouraging sustainable practices in everything we do in the visitor Economy
Support business to succeed
Sally Henry
Vice President of Business Development, Key Data
How we can effectively utilise data, what might be needed but also how it can support decision making. What data do we need and how it can impact our businesses.
Frances Woodifield
Learning and Skills - Strategy and Development Manager
How multi agency collaboration can support a resilient and sustainable industry in a rural area, helping potential workforce entrants recognise that this can be a rewarding and fulfilling career
Cat Leaver
Director of Strategy and Competitive Intelligence, VisitScotland
Strategic insights for a competitive and sustainable tourism industry, how data-driven insights and competitive intelligence can help the region’s visitor economy adapt to market trends, anticipate challenges, and seize opportunities for sustainable growth, ensuring that businesses remain competitive.
Inspiring speaker, artist, cyclist and TV presenter - Timmy Mallett
Timmy Mallett
Cyclist, Artist and TV Presenter
Inspiring and entertaining with his adventures through the South of Scotland, Timmy will share how slowing down and savouring the region is key to its charm and appeal. Also the importance of storytelling and how connecting with communities delivers an authentic and unique experience to each visitor
Images of the day
The SSDA Conference was generously supported by
