Nordic-Baltic Summit: Speakers
The programme for the Nordic-Baltic Summit is currently being finalised, which will include keynote speakers and talks from the nations participating in the event. We will update this section in the lead up to the event.
James Russell
Senior Director of Transformation, Skills Development Scotland and Interim Co-chair of the Career Services Collaborative
James was appointed as Director of CIAG Operations at Skills Development Scotland (SDS) in November 2017 following his previous role as Head of CMS Development and Delivery since 2015 and became Interim Senior Director of Transformation in December 2023.
James’s portfolio supports the design, development and implementation of our transformation as an organisation so that we can provide the best possible services for our customers in a financially sustainable way.
James was the Senior Responsible Officer for the Career Services Collaborative before taking up the post as Co-Chair in June 2025.
James’s career includes roles as Director of Training and Development at Microcom Training and Director of Quality and Performance at Street League, the sport for employment charity.
Jaana Kettunen
President for the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG); Professor (Lifelong Guidance) and Vice director at Finnish Institute for Educational Research, University of Jyväskylä
Dr. Jaana Kettunen is an internationally recognized Professor of Guidance and Vice-director at the Finnish Institute for Educational Research (FIER), at the University of Jyväskylä. She is the current President of the International Association for Educational and Vocational Guidance (IAEVG). Her research has a strong international orientation and revolves around career guidance practices, practitioner training, quality, strategic leadership and public policy development, with a special interest in the design and use of information and communication technology in career guidance.
Dr. Kettunen’s influence extends well beyond academia, as she collaborates with international organizations, including the European Commission, Cedefop, the European Training Foundation, OECD, ILO, and UNESCO. Her work bridges research and practical application. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field, Dr Kettunen has received several prestigious honours, including the IAEVG-APCDA Academic Excellence Award and the NCDA International Practitioner Award.
https://ktl.jyu.fi/en/staff/kettunen-jaana
Jenni Parker
Founder & Director, Humanly
Jenni is a designer, social innovator and systems thinker. She is passionate about the power of human-centred design to develop solutions to some of the world's most pressing problems, and to transform the organisations that are at the front line of addressing these challenges.
Jenni has led design and innovation projects with organisations in the third, public and private sectors in the UK and internationally, and has carried out user research, co-creation and prototyping activities in 16 countries in 4 continents.
Ali Fawkes
Head of Social Innovation, Humanly
Ali is a creative professional with a wide range of experience, spanning fine art; special education and human-centred design. She is an expert communicator who specialises in designing creative and inclusive approaches to research, co-creation and prototyping.
During Ali’s diverse career she has worked as a teacher in specialist schools; at the national charity VoiceAbility and as Asperger's Syndrome Project Officer at the University of Cambridge.
Lynne Robson
Head of Evaluation and Impact, Skills Development Scotland
Lynne Robson is Interim Head of Data, Insights and Impact at Skills Development Scotland (SDS).
Lynne leads SDS’s work to strengthen the evidence base helping to inform skills investment, workforce planning and policy development across Scotland. Lynne has extensive experience in labour market intelligence, economic analysis and evaluation, and has led a wide range of national, regional and sectoral evidence programmes in partnership with government, employers, education providers and industry bodies.
Her current work focuses on understanding how major economic and societal trends, including, artificial intelligence, demographic change and the transition to net zero, are shaping future workforce needs. Before joining SDS, Lynne held research and analytical roles across local government, academia and the public sector.
Nordic-Baltic Summit
Scotland will host the Nordic-Baltic Summit for Digital Careers Services 2026, having previously attended as a guest nation.
Summit Programme
Explore the evolving conference programme
Registration
Book your place at this invitation only event.