ScotlandIS Data

The S.E.L.F group provides a forum for software engineering leaders, CIO’s and CTO’s across the Scottish tech sector to share ideas and explore common challenges. The meetups also provide opportunities for informal mentoring and potential opportunities for joint working.

Speaker: Colin Fraser, i-confidential.

This conversation will cover the key questions which might be asked by the C-Suite and the answers that are needed to give comfort.

Although some of those questions may seem naïve, we shouldn’t underestimate the techniques an accomplished Non-Executive Director or CEO will use to uncover some uncomfortable truths.

Colin will only use whatever public domain information is available at the time of the meeting, to challenge the audience to think about whether they are in a good place or not.

The majority of crimes today have a digital footprint and technology both enables crimes to occur and for law enforcement to work, creating an ever changing and more complex relationship between the two in a race for one to always be at least two steps ahead of the other.  

Fast moving digital technology has helped create a new genre of criminals who are educated, tech savvy and can sell their skills for nefarious purposes. The ever-growing issue of serious and organised crime depends on sophisticated technology linking a variety of criminal activities, including child sexual abuse and exploitation, people trafficking, and drug smuggling, making the perpetrators harder to trace. 

The increasing use of AI by criminal gangs makes detection ever harder and as a criminal tool, AI can be used for purposes like intimation, humiliation, and harassment. Criminals will use AI tools like ChatGPT for writing assistance, allowing inexperienced writers to craft effective marketing messages that lure in potential victims of so-called romance fraud and can also be responsible for encouraging murderous acts and radicalisation.  

For the law enforcers too, AI can become a powerful tool in predictive policing and assist in forensic data analysis and testing the parameters of privacy and data protection.  

The borderless nature of technology-driven crime also creates new practical and legislative obstacles for those tasked with law enforcement and how they collaborate in the name of justice.  

This annual Holyrood ‘Law Enforcement in a Digital Age’ event builds on what we learnt from the inaugural event shaped around last year’s INTERPOL General Assembly and will explore the main issues that digital technology brings to both enabling crime and fighting it. 

Join leading voices from government, enterprise, and energy as we explore how blockchain is transforming financial services, public sector infrastructure, and green energy in Scotland.

The Scottish Blockchain Summit brings together thought leaders, policymakers, and innovators for a high-impact, one-day experience. This complimentary event will explore how blockchain is reshaping finance, enabling transparent public services, and accelerating Scotland’s green transition.

Backed by the Scotland Blockchain & Digital Trust Taskforce (SBDTT) and produced by the team behind the London Blockchain Conference, this summit shines a spotlight on local success stories and global breakthroughs — all with Scotland’s innovation agenda in mind.

Head Resourcing is launching a brand new webinar series that brings you inside stories of how real organisations are using AI and data to solve real problems, not just talk theory.

For years, we’ve crafted digital products that transform industries and delight users. Yet, despite their sophistication, these creations have lacked true intelligence, operating strictly within the rules we predefined as analysts, designers, and engineers. Now, with advances in artificial intelligence, we can design software that behaves more like a human—it appears to empathise, problem-solve, and adapt dynamically to user needs.

To create these intelligent experiences, we must evolve our mindset, practices, and processes. It’s time to rethink conventional wisdom and embrace a new adaptive, real-time digital intelligence paradigm.

Speaker: Gary Crawford, Founder of Owendale Advisory.

Join our series of events, ScotlandIS Tech Tidbits, on the first Tuesday of every month!

These 30 minute webinars will be short, informative sessions on a variety of topics, from exporting to cybersecurity, cloud computing to procurement, and many more.

Each event will feature a ScotlandIS member offering their expert insights and advice on the topic in hand, however you do not need to be a member to attend these talks.

For our July event, we’ll be joined by Stuart Gilbertson, Managing Director of Consider IT.

Stuart will take us on a deep dive into Microsoft Business Premium and the surrounding benefits to your business of implementing this tool, covering cyber security, productivity and collaboration, compliance, data loss prevention, and more.

Do you have expertise in cybersecurity or space domain awareness (SDA)?

Apply to participate in the CySpace Connected Capability Network (CCN) cyber and SDA capability mapping workshop in Scotland, in which you can contribute to increasing UK space resilience.

Each workshop will identify key cyber and SDA capabilities, and map them to the Requirement Catalogue.

The Capability Mapping workshops will hold up to 100 attendees and last around 10:00-16:00.

Find out more and express interest to apply via the ‘Learn More’ link below.

Join us at Holyrood Connect’s AI & Cloud Innovation Summit – exploring the future of digital public services on 11 September 2025 at Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh. 

As AI reshapes the way government operates, and cloud technologies drive efficiency and security, this summit will bring together experts, policymakers, and public sector technology professionals to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and strategies for harnessing AI and cloud technology. 

Why Attend?

Unlock AI’s Potential – Discover how AI can enhance public sector efficiency, from automating routine tasks to improving decision-making processes. 

Cloud Infrastructure – Learn about scalable and secure cloud solutions tailored for public sector needs, ensuring data integrity and accessibility. 

Navigate the AI & Cloud Landscape – Understand policy, governance, and ethical considerations shaping the future of AI and cloud adoption. 

Engage with Experts – Hear from leading voices in Scottish Government, technology, and industry, with keynote speakers, panel discussions, and interactive sessions. 

Shape the Future – Be part of discussions on the next phase of digital transformation in the public sector. 

Who Should Attend?

This event is designed for public sector professionals involved in technology, digital transformation, IT infrastructure, data management, and AI implementation. Whether you’re a CIO, cloud specialist, policy advisor, or technology leader, this summit offers the insights and connections you need to drive innovation in your organisation. 

Public and third-sector employees attend for free. Private sector delegates can contact us at sales@holyrood.com for sponsorship and commercial opportunities. 

Don’t miss your chance to be at the forefront of AI and cloud innovation in Scotland’s public sector.  

A full-day event for technical professionals and leaders in the sector. As one of Scotland’s biggest software conferences for over 25 years, ScotSoft allows you to connect, learn, and innovate while meeting new talent at the Young Software Engineer of the Year Awards.

This year, the event offers an unparalleled opportunity to gain invaluable insights from industry leaders, collaborate with peers, and explore the latest industry trends.

Stay tuned as more speakers and our evening’s entertainment act are revealed!

Click the ‘Learn More’ link below for more details.

ScotlandIS Turns 25

Join our series of events, ScotlandIS Tech Tidbits, on the first Tuesday of every month!

These 30 minute webinars will be short, informative sessions on a variety of topics, from exporting to cybersecurity, cloud computing to procurement, and many more.

Each event will feature a ScotlandIS member offering their expert insights and advice on the topic in hand, however you do not need to be a member to attend these talks.

To recognise Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, we’re holding one Tidbit each week on a cyber-related topic.

For Week Four, we’ll be joined by guest speakers from Burness Paull, to discuss understanding around legal privilege involved in managing a cyber incident.

They’ll cover in more detail how privilege is relevant to cyber incident, an overview of different forms of privilege, how to preserve privilege and how not to waive it, concluding with a summary of the key Do’s and Don’ts.

Imperative for organisations looking to inform themselves of the legal implications surrounding a cyber attack – book your place to join us in October to ensure you’re prepared.

As cybersecurity professionals, we operate in a high-stakes environment where evolving threats and the responsibility of protecting critical systems demand constant vigilance. This relentless pressure, coupled with the weight of potential consequences, significantly erodes performance and compromises cyber resilience.

The 24/7 nature of our work, driven by the fear of missing a critical threat or experiencing a major breach, creates an overwhelming workload. This sustained stress directly impacts cognitive function, which can lead to critical errors in judgment, missed security indicators, and an ongoing struggle to maintain focus and vigilance. Ultimately, this diminishes individual and team effectiveness, making us more vulnerable to cyberattacks.

This workshop will address these critical challenges, emphasising why managing mental wellbeing is fundamental to our overall cyber resilience — at individual, team, and organisational levels.

Event Objectives:

• Raise Awareness: Highlight the scale of mental health challenges in the industry and the psychosocial hazards which commonly cause stress at work.

• Promote Self-Care: Equip participants with practical self-care strategies to enhance individual mental well-being and, by extension, performance.

• Foster Team Support: Provide leaders with strategies to support team well?being, strengthening collective resilience.

• Reduce Stigma: Foster safe spaces for open discussion on mental health to reduce the stigma surrounding seeking help.

• Industry Focus: Update on the work of the Mental Health in Cyber Security Foundation (MHinCS Foundation) and its Charter.