Longview Networks Investing in Scotland Roundtable & Dinner

Niall is Head of Investment Strategy in the Investment Proposition team at Aegon UK and is responsible for building a strategy and development roadmap, and implementation of investment solutions to drive growth in Aegon’s Workplace and Adviser channels to deliver the best possible investment outcomes for Aegon’s customers.  Niall has been with Aegon for 4 years having spent 16 years with Royal London in a variety of pension and investment roles ending his time there as a senior investment actuary. 

Joanne is Head of Manager Selection at Future Growth Capital, responsible for external manager investments and leading the manager selection team. Joanne’s background is in principal investing, with experience across public and private markets gained at the Wellcome Trust, a leading global endowment.

Joanne has previously served in a range of non-executive roles, including Trustee Director of the Wellcome Trust Pension plan and Trustee and Chair of the Investment Committee of the Varrier-Jones Foundation. Joanne chairs the Investment Advisory Committee at Hertford College, University of Oxford and is a member of the City Guild of Investment Managers. Joanne holds a PhD in life sciences from University College London and a Masters of Biochemistry from the University of Oxford. She is a CFA charter holder and holds the Private Markets and Alternative Investments Certificate from the CFA Institute.

Mark Munro joined the Scottish National Investment Bank in August 2021 as Executive Director for Net Zero and was subsequently appointed Interim Head of Investment Origination in June 2022 and CIO in June 2023

Mark has over 20 years capital raising experience in Corporate & Investment Banking, credit risk & reporting, business banking and project management.

Starting his career with Deutsche Bank and then Bank of Scotland, Mark specialised in energy finance for over 15 years primarily to independent oil and gas companies in the North Sea with Lloyds Bank, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and DNB Bank. Mark spent 2012-2013 in Houston, Texas focused on US energy clients.

Eddie is the Scotland representative of the National Wealth Fund and is based in Edinburgh.  His role covers NWF’s activities across both the public and private sectors.

Prior to joining NWF, Eddie was an Executive Director at the Scottish National Investment Bank, and Head of Corporate Finance at Edinburgh-based merchant bank Noble & Co.  Earlier in his career, he established Clydesdale Bank’s first renewable energy team and its project finance product offering.

Laura has worked in public sector finance for 35 years having started as YTS in Kirkcaldy District Council.  Over the years she has worked in various roles in Local Government finance including having responsibility for corporate processes such as annual accounts, budgets, capital, investment and treasury.  Laura has recently been appointed to the role of Pensions Service Manager in Fife Pension Fund overseeing administration, investment and governance. 

Gareth joined BW in 2024, having previously led Investment Proposition Development at Standard Life. Before that, he was an Associate Partner at a large consultancy, focusing on DC investment advice.

Alongside advising large complex DC clients, Gareth advises platform providers and asset managers on the design, development, and launch of bespoke investment solutions for both institutional and retail customers.

Gareth is also actively involved in industry consultation, and is a regular speaker at major pensions events, including Pensions UK conferences.

Piers Lowson has more than 35 years’ experience across asset management, investment banking and investment consultancy.

He is currently an independent adviser to LPPI and GLIL Infrastructure LLP, a member of the Investors for Purpose Advisory Group, and a Non-Executive Director of British Business Bank Investment Services, the Bank’s regulated advisory and asset management business.

Until 2025, Piers was a Director at Baillie Gifford, one of the UK’s leading growth equity managers. During more than 15 years with the firm, he led UK institutional business development, raising capital across a range of UK and global investment strategies.

Prior to joining Baillie Gifford, he managed the Solutions Advisory Group at fintech specialist Barrie & Hibbert, which was subsequently acquired by Goldman Sachs and later Moody’s Analytics.

Piers began his career in investment banking and held senior leadership roles at Deutsche Bank, Bankers Trust International and NatWest Markets, ultimately serving as a Director at each organisation.

He holds a BSc in Chemistry from the University of Essex and an MBA from the University of Edinburgh, and has been an elected member of the Expert Witness Institute for more than 20 years.

Brian Barbour is a professional trustee with over 18 years experience as a trustee in large and small DB, DC, hybrid and unfunded schemes.   As a former Chief Information Security Officer he has a great insight and interest  in Cyber Risks facing members, schemes and corporate sponsors, and in oversight of third parties, administration and security controls. 

Brian was also Chair of the NHS (Scotland) Pension Scheme and a Board Member and Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee of the Scottish Police Authority.   His background is IT, Risk, and Data Privacy with significant periods leading Customer Service Improvement teams.