Our board

Smart Works is governed by our Board of Trustees, who bring with them a wealth and depth of experience across a diverse range of industries.

We’re grateful for all the hard work and dedication of the members of our board. The work we do would not be possible without their guidance.

Chair of the Board

Yvonne Brady

Yvonne is a leading Scottish lawyer with over 35 years’ experience across top national and international law firms. For more than 20 years, she led high-performing teams advising on complex restructuring, insolvency, and recovery matters across sectors including energy, manufacturing, education, hospitality, and care. Known for her direct yet collaborative style, she excels at navigating regulated industries, resolving complex issues, and delivering strategies that ensure stakeholder alignment.

Chair of the Board

Yvonne Brady

Bronagh Power

Bronagh Power was Head of the Business School for the Open University in Scotland and Faculty Lead for the Postgraduate Business and Management programme for the Open University throughout the UK and Continental Europe. She is a passionate believer in the transformative power of education, an experienced facilitator within leadership development contexts but most of all, an advocate of empowering women to realise their dreams and potential.

Catriona Mackie

Catriona is highly experienced international HR Director, having worked in the power, telecommunications and drinks industries. She has championed inclusion and diversity with a specific focus on increasing diversity in manufacturing and supply chain and has a passion for people development and coaching, particularly in the context of women in leadership. She has been a member of Court for one of Scotland’s universities and is inspired by the role education plays in female empowerment.

Rachel Meddowes

Rachel Meddowes is a Trustee of Smart Works Scotland having joined the Board in Autumn 2022. Rachel is also a Volunteer Dresser In Edinburgh. A Freelance Consultant for Ideas, Research & Concept, Collaborations, Content, Styling Decoration & Project Managing. She has always worked in the Style, Magazine & Decoration arena & is currently the Associate Editor at Piero Publishing & previously worked at Harpers Bazaar.

Prof Christopher Moore

Professor Christopher Moore is Principal and Chief Executive of New College Lanarkshire and is Professor in Fashion and Marketing at the University of Manchester. Christopher has held senior positions at universities in York, Glasgow and Edinburgh and was Director of the British School of Fashion at Glasgow Caledonian University’s London campus. With a PhD in Marketing, he has provided research and strategic consultancy support to a range of leading fashion and consumer goods businesses.

Fiona Buchanan

Fiona is currently a Partner and leads the Banking & Finance team at Shepherd and Wedderburn LLP, a leading UK law firm. She has over 25 years of experience as a finance lawyer, acting for banks, financial institutions, sponsors and companies in relation to their funding requirements across all sectors relevant to the Scottish economy and has held various leadership positions during that time. Fiona is also a trained mentor, her passion for mentoring prompting her to establish a mentoring programme within the work-place which has enabled her to support a number of professionals through various stages of their career development. Beyond work, Fiona is a trustee of a local scouting charity, busy mum of 3 children, loves zumba and sings in a choir.

Charlene Sweeney

Communications professional Charlene Sweeney is media relations director at leading independent UK agency BIG Partnership. A former senior journalist, she worked in both print and broadcast media before joining BIG Partnership where she delivers strategic PR campaigns for a range of corporate and consumer clients. She is also highly experienced in reputation management and media training. She will bring her PR expertise to Smart Works Scotland as it seeks to grow its services across the country and help more women gain access to the world of work.

Who we are > Our board

Our board

Smart Works is governed by our Board of Trustees, who bring with them a wealth and depth of experience across a diverse range of industries.

Chair of the Board

Chair of the Board

Support our mission