GrowBiz Board
Our Board is made up of a team of volunteers who care passionately about local enterprises, communities and sustainable development. Find out more about each member by clicking their name below.
We are currently recruiting for the GrowBiz Board
We are looking for individuals who would like to get involved and support our work. If you are interested in joining GrowBiz as a board member please contact us.
Derek Sangster, Chair
The son of a sole trader from rural Aberdeenshire, Derek pursued a life long career in the international Oil and Gas industry, including positions in London, Aberdeen, Great Yarmouth and Singapore.
In 1996, he and his young family left their home in Scotland for ‘a two year assignment’ in the USA. 25 years later the family has returned to their native Scotland. Over this 25 years period Derek has held management positions in Accounting and Administration, Finance, Health and Safety, Management Systems and Human Resources. For the last 10 years of his career, Derek had executive responsibility for various national business development projects and international partnerships within the world’s largest offshore drilling company.
Having lived and worked in many different countries and understanding and interacting with many different nationalities, Derek is always surprised that while nations are very different around the world; at a family level, everyones wants the same things for the children and their broader family.
Andrew Pollard
Andrew specialises in helping organisations to shape, then implement, effective strategies. His experience includes start-up, scale-up and sale, as MD of a BioTech, founding a Wealth Management Company and being a Director in both FinTech and banking. He uses his knowledge and experience to help leaders achieve their most important goals through setting the right strategy and delivering real-world change.
When not delivering step change for clients, he can be found enjoying food and drink or exploring new places in his beloved campervan.
Emma Sedgwick
Founder of the purpose led, Rural Communications, Emma is a Rural Leader, Advocate for Regenerative Development and Mentor. With a legal background she is involved in regenerative development, communications, technology, digital connectivity, policy and strategy. She is also engaged in supporting the Circular Economy, achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and a Just Transition to Net-Zero. Emma is passionate about supporting the businesses and organisations which are contributing to the Scottish rural economy.
Jennifer Ericson
Jennifer Ericson grew up outside Glasgow and started her finance career in Scotland following graduation from Edinburgh University. She emigrated to the United States early on where she and her husband raised three children who now work on three separate continents. She worked in commercial banking and investment funds in the US and the UK before joining her current Community Development Financial Institution in Minneapolis to help bridge the gap in access to capital for small businesses in underserved communities around the United States.
She has been a member of Scottish Enterprise’s GlobalScot network since its inception and is passionate about helping the Scottish economy prosper by supporting Scottish entrepreneurship and utilising her contacts in the US and elsewhere in this goal.
Jennifer joined the Board of GrowBiz in 2024 and is excited to be part of this inspiring team which drives significant impact in rural Scotland through its outstanding business support services. She especially appreciates this opportunity devote her time and energy to Scotland’s future.
Sarah Brown
Sarah Brown is a charity law expert and the founder of Sarah Brown Charity Law WS, a Scottish law firm dedicated to serving charities and voluntary organisations. Sarah is one of only eight solicitors in Scotland accredited as a specialist in charity law by the Law Society of Scotland.
Prior to establishing her own firm, Sarah was a partner at J & H Mitchell WS, where she led the Charities and Communities Team. Sarah has built a significant portfolio of charity clients across various sectors and has extensive experience in charity governance.
Beyond her legal practice, Sarah is actively involved in the charity sector. She frequently delivers training sessions for charity trustees, speaks at industry events, leads webinars and contributes to working parties on charity law issues.