Speakers

We’re not about the ordinary, we’re about the extraordinary.  You won’t find speakers at our Conference who are ‘on the circuit’.  Nor will you find speakers who you’ve already heard at many other events.

Who you hear will inspire you with unique, engaging stories far from the norm of many entrepreneurial events and SME business conferences.  They’ll talk about challenges and mistakes as well as successes, isn’t that refreshing? There will be a 5 minute Q & A afterwards to give you the opportunity to ask questions to each speaker.

You’ll also hear from the winners of our Inspiring Leader Awards during the Awards Ceremony.  In the afternoon, we’re having an ‘In Conversation’ with a very special guest who will be sharing insights and stories you won’t hear anywhere else, click HERE to find out more.

MARIE OWEN OBE

CEO & FOUNDER – LS PRODUCTIONS

2025 WeDO ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNER

Marie Owen founded LS Productions in 2006. Today, it’s the UK’s largest production service company providing expert local knowledge on commercials, film and TV, music videos, fashion and sports campaigns.  They work with a range of brands, production companies, film studios and agencies including: adam&eveDDB, Adidas, Anonymous Content, Art Partner, Bentley, Burberry, Framestore, Freenjoy, HBO, Iconoclast, MJZ, Netflix, Nintendo, Pulse Films, Rogue, Somesuch, Vogue and W+K.

Recently, LS Productions have celebrated international success with GRAMMY and MVPA nominations for their work on the Harry Styles music video, ‘Adore You’, as well as several international film projects, most notably the recently released Steven Soderbergh feature film, ‘Let Them All Talk’, starring Meryl Streep. 

“I started LS Productions at my kitchen table in 2006 with one simple idea – showing people just how amazing the UK can be as a backdrop for incredible content, and I’m proud to have seen LS grow to become the UK’s biggest service production company with a world-class team producing world-class work.”

As CEO, Marie is a true champion of growth and innovation with a passionate belief in building a values-led brand. She strongly believes in treating people on and off camera with fairness and breaking down industry barriers. Marie has infused LS with a pioneering spirit, and evident in every aspect of the business is the dynamic and progressive internal culture, bold and fresh communication style, commitment to championing underrepresented industry talent, and authenticity as a truly female-led business.

Marie was awarded an extremely well deserved OBE in HM The King’s 2026 New Year’s Honours list for services to the creative industries.  Beyond LS Productions, Marie chairs the Advertising Association Scotland, mentor through the Creative Mentor Network and sits on the boards of the Leith Chamber of Commerce and CWH Soho House. She is also an Honorary Fellow of the Marketing Society Scotland.

TONY QUINN 

CEO & FOUNDER – SILVERCLOUD

DIRECTOR & FOUNDER – ACUMEN

Tony Quinn is a highly successful Scottish entrepreneur and technology leader, best known as the founder of SilverCloud and Acumen Cyber, two businesses operating at the forefront of technology and cybersecurity.

Having left school at the age of 16 with no clear idea of what he wanted to do, he has built his career in the technology sector, he founded SilverCloud with a clear ambition to create a business that combined technical expertise with exceptional service.  Under his leadership, the company has grown significantly, establishing itself as a respected technology partner and building a strong reputation for its people, culture and approach to doing business.

His entrepreneurial achievements have also earned significant recognition.  Tony was named Young Business Person of the Year at the 2019 Glasgow Business Awards, the same year that SilverCloud won Best Performing Small-Medium Business. He went on to be named Entrepreneur of the Year at the Glasgow Business Awards in 2022, recognising his continued success in building and growing the business.

Never one to stand still, Tony subsequently launched Acumen Cyber, bringing together some of the UK’s most experienced cybersecurity professionals to help organisations defend themselves against an increasingly sophisticated threat landscape. The business has grown rapidly, establishing itself as an important player in the UK cybersecurity sector.  That success has already attracted considerable recognition. Acumen Cyber was named Cybersecurity Company of the Year at the 2026 Scottish Cyber Awards and was also recognised in The Sunday Times Scotland Fast 50, celebrating some of Scotland’s fastest-growing privately owned businesses.

Meanwhile, SilverCloud continues to earn recognition not only for its commercial success, but for the culture Tony and his team have created, winning the Wellbeing & Workforce Award at The Herald Scottish Impact Awards in 2026.

Tony’s story is about much more than building successful technology companies. It’s about recognising opportunity, backing people, creating strong cultures and having the confidence to build again.  He will be sharing the realities behind that journey – from growing SilverCloud and navigating the challenges that come with scale, to launching Acumen Cyber into one of the world’s fastest-moving industries.

“Both businesses have grown organically and basically every penny we’ve made, we’ve reinvested back into the business to get that scale.  We’re also creating real opportunities for young people who might never have had a route into tech, developing them into senior technical professionals working with major organisations like Edinburgh Airport,”

Beyond his businesses, Tony is an active supporter of the Scottish business community, regularly contributing to entrepreneurial discussions and mentoring programmes, including his involvement with Scale Up Scotland and with us at WeDO. His focus remains firmly on building a proactive, people-first technology partner that enables fearless growth for growing businesses.

DR POONAM GUPTA OBE

FOUNDER & CEO PG PAPER

Dr Poonam Gupta OBE launched her first business PG Paper Company Ltd in 2003 from her kitchen table in the West of Scotland.  The Head Office remains in Greenock with offices in the USA, China and Turkey. 

PG Paper initially specialised in salvaging and reusing products that were often destined for landfill.   It is a now global, award-winning company, creating markets and customising solutions to enable trade for paper and packaging products across the globe.  It imports and exports goods from over 60 countries around the world and is one of the fastest growing paper companies in the UK.  Turnover for the business to 31st March 2025 was £64.5M.

Poonam is also involved in several other business ventures including PG World, SAPP Holdings, SAPP International, SAPP Property, EnVisage Dental Health and Punav.

She’s been recognised as one of the ‘100 Most Influential in UK-India Relations’ by India Inc. Group and was awarded an OBE in the late HM The Queen’s New Year’s Honours list in 2016 for services to business and charity.

The recipient of more Awards than anyone else we know, to name but a few, Poonam won the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2019.  She won the Global Entrepreneur of the Year Award for the Scotland and Northern Ireland region at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards in 2024 and in 2025, won the “90-Year Honour: Legacy in International Trade” Award at the International Trade Awards which recognises outstanding leaders whose sustained efforts over the years have impacted world trade.

Poonam is the Vice President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, Chair of the Manufacturing Sector Committee of the FICCI UK Council and serves as a Lay Member of Court at the University of Stirling.

She believes that with success comes a responsibility to give back, and charitable work is a thread woven throughout her life and career.  Poonam led PG Paper’s India Covid Appeal providing much-needed oxygen concentrators throughout India during the country’s deadly second Covid wave, helping an estimated 10,000 hospital patients across the country.  She and her team sourced over 3,000 oxygen concentrators, delivering and distributing them to NGOs, hospitals, and COVID centres around India in a concerted effort to meet the country’s urgent need for oxygen.

On her frequent business visits to India, Poonam always takes time to visit humanitarian projects, particularly the schools and orphanages she and her husband Puneet support.  She is a benefactor of many local, national and international charities; with a particular focus on woman-centric issues, disadvantaged children, gender equality and animal conservation.

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