ScotlandIS, the membership and cluster management organisation for Scotland’s digital technologies industry, has appointed Sheryl Newman, owner of Appetite for Business, to join the board following a comprehensive recruitment process which began in July. Sheryl will formally take up the role at the organisation’s flagship technology conference ScotSoft on the 26th of September in Edinburgh.
With more than two decades of experience in the tech industry, Sheryl has been passionate about supporting the tech sector, particularly in encouraging more diversity into this space and helping to close the digital skills gap. Sheryl was one of the founding members of Girl Geek Scotland, a hugely successful community for women working and studying in tech in Scotland; and was also an original member of Tech UK women in IT Group in London.
Before founding Appetite for Business in 2016, Sheryl worked with SME businesses and Enterprise organisations on understanding the benefits of new technology or to realise the benefits of existing technology with learning strategies and associated process and change improvements.
Speaking on her appointment, Sheryl said:
“Appetite for Business has been a member of ScotlandIS for a number of years. The support the team provide to their members is exemplary and very member focused. I wanted to be able to contribute my experience in an industry I am hugely passionate about. When I heard that ScotlandIS were looking for new board members, I saw it as an opportunity to make a difference as part of a team who are making a real positive impact on the tech sector. With a changing political landscape and emerging technologies, it’s more important than ever for Scotland to have a strong technology industry capable of competing on a global stage and take advantage of the opportunities that lie ahead.”
ScotlandIS CEO, Karen Meechan, said:
“When we started looking at ways to expand our board, we wanted to ensure we were bringing in experience and expertise that would deliver genuine value for our members, Sheryl’s background supporting start-ups and SMEs will deliver just that. It’s an exciting time for ScotlandIS and I look forward to working closely with Sheryl, alongside our other board members and newly appointed chair, to promote, support and further develop the Scottish tech sector.”
The board will be chaired by new chair Andrew Williams, a long serving member of the organisation’s board and CEO of app technologies pioneer, Fyne Labs.
For further information on ScotlandIS please contact www.scotlandis.com.
