Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
The SOSE Senior Leadership Team come from a wide range of sectors and backgrounds. Find out about who they are, and the diverse skills, expertise and experience they bring to their roles.
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Jane is the Chief Executive of South of Scotland Enterprise.
SOSE is the first of Scotland’s public agencies whose legislation promotes a wider view on the economy and how it impacts all we do, with a focus on the wellbeing of communities, the economy, and the environment across the South.
Previously, Jane was the CEO of ScotlandIS, the industry body and cluster management organisation for the digital and technology industries in Scotland.
She worked on Connecting Scotland (the Scottish Government-led digital inclusion programme), and the Digital Nation Challenge in partnership with the Scottish Government's Digital Directorate and was awarded Digital Leaders National and Regional Champion 2020.
Prior to this, Jane was CEO of Taigh Cearsabhagh in North Uist.
After a long career as a Strategy and Transformation Consultant with Capgemini, she took on the role of Business Development Director Capgemini Scotland.
She is a highly experienced consulting industry executive, a former strategy and transformation specialist with 25 years’ experience working across the public and private sector.
She holds board and advisory positions with a number of organisations.
She is a Fellow of the RSA, sits on the CivTech Strategic Advisory Board, the Economic Growth Board, and the Scottish Energy Advisory Board, and is the Chair of Culture & Business Scotland and a Lay Governor of Glasgow School of Art.
Jane brings skills in strategy, transformation, commercial development, innovation, digital and business start-up and growth.
She brings creativity thinking to economic development and has experience working across both traditional and emerging industries.
She is passionate about economic development, and the power it has to improve people’s lives, support innovation, and develop both traditional and new industries.This includes developing the ecosystem we need to enable real transformation and growth, understanding what we need to have in place to do this - such as housing, transport and education - and how all of these parts work together.
Jane lives in Sanquhar with her husband and three boys.She is a keen horsewoman, and a dedicated wild swimmer in any suitable loch, river or coastal location in the South of Scotland.
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Karen leads for SOSE on strategy development to contribute to the successful future of our region. Through effective partnership and relationship building, Karen advocates for the region. She is also responsible for our Communications and Insights teams.
Karen’s background is in public service, having joined SOSE after a long career in the civil service. After a variety of posts in policy areas as diverse as agriculture, drugs, community planning and creative industries, Karen focused on economic development. She led the team developing the proposition for SOSE, and the legislation and practical work required to establish the new agency.
Karen brings a broad range of skills and experiences to her role in SOSE, including a depth of understanding of the policy landscape, wide experience of working with diverse stakeholders, and a good understanding of issues impacting on rural economies.
The South of Scotland is one of the most beautiful regions of the country, with massive opportunities ahead, and Karen is committed to helping unlock them.
With a husband, two teenage sons and a springer spaniel, Karen’s free time is diverse. She particularly enjoys the opportunity to travel widely across the region.
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Martin joined SOSE in July 2021 as Director of Net Zero, and is leading the economic and community development agency’s efforts to help the region's just transition to a NetZero economy.
Martin worked for SEPA for 17 years, where he held a number of senior positions. He played an instrumental role in setting up Scotland’s 2020 Climate Group, and co-created the award-winning 2050 Young Leaders Climate Group. In 2018, he created the Vacant and Derelict Land taskforce to transform how Scotland deals with its post-industrial legacy, to make more use of land for commerce and communities. His most recent role was a secondment at Scottish Enterprise as Head of Climate Enterprise and strategic lead for COP26.
Martin is an award-winning sustainability practitioner and serial disruptor, with extensive experience of strategic business engagement and innovation. For over 30 years, he has worked in a variety of senior management roles, shaping and delivering inclusive growth initiatives and directing major collaborative projects. He has successfully delivered high-profile projects for the Scottish Government on climate change and sustainability.
He is passionate about helping to build a strong alliance to tackle the climate crisis, and maximise the economic opportunities from the transition to Net Zero.
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Donna Marshall joined South of Scotland Enterprise in 2022 and is Interim Director of Investment, Business and Entrepreneurship. In this role, Donna leads strategic initiatives to drive inclusive economic growth, foster innovation, and strengthen the region’s business ecosystem. She works closely with partners and stakeholders to deliver investment priorities that support entrepreneurship, sustainability, and place-based development.
Donna has a proven track record in driving strategic investment, delivering complex programmes, and advancing Scotland’s transition to a low-carbon economy. Her career includes senior leadership roles at Changeworks and the South Lanarkshire Council-led Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership, where she directed pioneering low-carbon programmes, energy efficiency projects, and landscape-scale initiatives that delivered measurable environmental and economic benefits.
Before joining SOSE, Donna built a diverse career spanning management consultancy, marketing, and fundraising. She advised organisations on strategic planning, operational improvement, and sustainable growth, while also leading successful marketing and fundraising initiatives. Donna has twice served as Director of her own businesses, giving her first-hand insight into the challenges and opportunities facing entrepreneurs and SMEs.
Passionate about collaboration and impact, Donna champions projects that unlock opportunities for businesses and communities, aligning with Scotland’s Net Zero ambitions and regional economic strategies.
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Allan joined South of Scotland Enterprise in 2021 and currently works as Director of the Business Enablement team. The team is dedicated to ensuring that SOSE Corporate functions are as good as they can be and that they provide support , enhance collaboration, and enable SOSE to thrive.
With over 25 years of experience in Corporate Leadership, Allan has extensive experience in Finance, Procurement, and Commercial management, having delivered transformation programmes that improved efficiency, governance, and service delivery.
Prior to this current role, Allan was Interim Director of Finance & Corporate Resources and previously headed up SOSE's Property & Procurement function.
Allans career is characterised by senior leadership positions within Scottish Local Government and other public sector organisations.
Throughout this time, Allan has played a pivotal role in delivering infrastructure programmes, achieving cost savings, implementing robust compliance frameworks, and fostering innovation in service delivery.
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