Get to know us
Who we are
Our saltire internship program mirrors that of our UK partners, designed to match talent with companies across the US. To support that work we have a dedicated board of directors here in the US.
The role of the US board is to support the continued growth of the program by:
– helping to identify host companies and build connections,
– raise funds from outside sources and provide direct financial support
– promote the program across networks
As part of our expansion in the US, the Board is supported by Regional Advisory Boards (RAB) strategically designed to harness the potential growth opportunities that exist in key geographies across the US. Each advisory board is made up of a group of Ambassadors who support our program as hosts, advocates, mentors and alumni of the program.
We are delighted to introduce our team below.
David Young
Chairman
David Young is a Board member of GenesisCare Cayman Holdings and GenesisCare UK Ltd, Biocartis Holdings Inc., and Evergreen Nephrology LLC. Previously David was CEO of GenesisCare, President & CEO of Physicians Endoscopy, Inc., Chief Operating Officer of Privia Health, Inc., and served in senior roles at Smile Brands, Inc., McKesson Specialty Health, and US Oncology, Inc.
David is originally from Scotland, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting (Hons) and received his MBA from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, Certified Public Accountant, Chartered Accountant and Corporate Treasurer.
David and his wife live in Alexandria VA.
Mark Bamforth
Mark Bamforth is a serial entrepreneur, having founded, built and sold three companies. He is currently a general partner in an antimicrobial resistance (“AMR”) fund and is mentoring and investing in Scottish and US-based life science entrepreneurs.
Bamforth founded Arranta Bio to build an advanced therapeutics contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) in May 2019 with a focus on the microbiome, plasmid and mRNA vaccines. Arranta was sold to Recipharm in April 2022.
Previously, Bamforth founded Brammer Bio, a best-in-class viral vector CDMO for cell and gene therapies that supporter leading innovators. Brammer’s team grew from 110 in 2016 to over 600 at the time of its acquisition by Thermo Fisher Scientific in April 2019.
In 2010, Bamforth founded a biologics CDMO, Gallus BioPharmaceuticals, and acquired a world-class facility and team with a commercial supply agreement with Janssen. Gallus tripled through organic growth and merging with Laureate Biopharma. Gallus was sold to DPx Holdings (aka Patheon) in 2014.
Bamforth spent 22 years in the UK and USA at Genzyme; as a corporate officer for 9 years while leading the 12-site global manufacturing operation and a pharmaceutical CMO unit. He began his career as a petroleum engineer exploring for North Sea oil with Britoil, then as a chemical engineer in the whisky industry with Whitbread.
Bamforth serves on the boards of Continuus Pharma, Pneumagen, Enterobiotix, Kincell Bio, and Entrepreneurial Scotland. He has a BS in Chemical Engineering from Strathclyde University and an MBA from Henley Management College. Mark currently lives in Boston, MA with his wife, where they raised their two children.
Mike Smith
Mike Smith is a Senior Vice President with Wilmington Trust based in Boston and Washington, DC. Mike held similar roles with PNC Private Bank and JP Morgan Private Bank following his return to the United States in 2013. He works with Family Offices, Founders and Venture Capitalists, with specific focus on the Life Sciences and Defense Technology Government Contracting sectors.
Mike spent the majority of his career based in Edinburgh and London UK working for major European Private Banking operations, Société Générale Private Bank and Dresdner Kleinwort Benson. He founded both the Kleinwort and SG Hambros Office in the Scottish Capital where they previously had no presence, and developed the business North of the Border and in Northern Ireland, recruiting teams and establishing relationships with the Scottish Business Community and Professional Intermediary Sector. Mike is a member of the GlobalScot Network and the British American Business Association. Mike lives in Portland, Maine but spends significant time in Boston and Washington DC.
Derek Blackwood OBE
IEng FIMechE ICD.D
Derek Blackwood, worked in the energy industry for over 40 years prior to his retirement in 2015.
During his career he worked for Wood Group, Vepica, Marathon Oil, APG/Salamis, John Brown Engineering and BP.
He is a Founder and Hall of Fame member of the Globalscot network, a former President of the BABC in Houston, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in the UK and a Director of the Institute of Corporate Directors in Canada.
Derek is a Founder Funder of Entrepreneurial Scotland, (ES), and a Trustee of the ES Saltire Foundation USA. He is actively involved in the Saltire Scholars (interns) programme and the Scottish Space School at NASA.
Derek lives in Houston with his wife Jean. They have a daughter, Heather in Houston, a son, Stuart in Aberdeen and three grandsons.
Forbes Alexander
Forbes Alexander is a retired Chief Financial Officer and EVP, following a 27-year career with Jabil Inc, a S&P 500 and Fortune 500 global electronic manufacturing services provider headquartered in Florida. He joined Jabil as Controller of Scottish manufacturing Operations, previously holding financial positions with numerous high-profile companies, such as Hewlett Packard and is a Founding Partner of Steadfast Partners.
Forbes holds Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Abertay University and is Fellow Chartered Management Accountant (FCMA), he previously served on the Board of Directors for CB&I and McDermott International and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Fabrinet a leading provider of advanced optical packaging and precision optical manufacturing services.
Rory Hedderly
Head of Business Development (USA)
Rory Hedderly serves as the Head of Business Development (USA). Rory joins the Entrepreneurial Scotland team after 15 years of public service on behalf of the Scottish Government. Most recently, Rory held the position of Deputy Head of the Scottish Government USA (2018-2023). In that time, Rory worked to grow Scotland’s reputation in the US by showcasing Scotland as the best place to Live, Work, Study, Visit and do Business. A vital part of that success was his ability to build networks across business, political and wider interest groups will the sole purpose raising awareness of what modern Scotland has to offer the world.
Prior to his move to the USA, Rory spent over 10 years working in Private Office as Deputy Private Secretary to the First Minister of Scotland as well as several other Cabinet members.
Rory also volunteers in support of the Washington Tattoo, a charitable organization modelled on the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, that focuses on cultural exchange, support for veterans and education of the arts. Rory resides in the Washington, DC area with his wife and goldendoodle where he enjoys golf and travelling.
Regional Advisory Board - Boston
Regional Advisory Board - New York
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Regional Advisory Board - Washington DC
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Investing in
Future talent
Every year we partner with incredible businesses across the US providing exceptional talent to support their ambitions – check out our partners below.
