Scottish elections 2026: How Scotland can get change right | In person

As Scotland approaches the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, public confidence in politics is declining, all while Scotland faces persistent low productivity, health inequalities, pressures on public services, misinformation and lack of transparency about immigration, a housing emergency, and accelerating climate and biodiversity crises.

In response, the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) has brought together its multidisciplinary expertise to examine the issues voters identify as most pressing - the economy; health and social care; immigration and asylum; housing; education and skills; and the environment - to consider how Scotland can move from policy to practice.

This event marks the launch of the RSE’s Scottish election publication, which sets out an evidence-based framework to strengthen governance, close the implementation gap, and rebuild trust in democratic institutions. The discussion will explore how political leaders can prioritise delivery, make transparent trade-offs, and ensure that policy results in tangible improvements in people’s lives.

Join us for a timely discussion around how Scotland can get politics right by doing policy differently to deliver meaningful change.

Format

• Panel discussion with questions from audience

Journalist and author, BBC

Sally Magnusson is a journalist, novelist and broadcaster. After starting her career on The Scotsman and the Sunday Standard newspapers, she presented a host of TV and radio programmes, including Sixty Minutes, BBC Breakfast, Songs of Praise, Daily Politics and most recently Reporting Scotland, which she anchored until 2025. She has written a variety of non-fiction books including Where Memories Go, a Sunday Times best-selling account of her mother’s dementia, which has been credited with improving understanding of this widespread brain disease, and four novels, The Sealwoman’s Gift, The Ninth Child, Music in the Dark and The Shapeshifter’s Daughter. In 2013 she founded the music and dementia charity Playlist for Life, which advocates personally meaningful music as a means of bringing joy and connection to people with dementia. She has an MA in English Language and Literature from the University of Edinburgh, and honorary degrees from the universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, Glasgow Caledonian, as well as the Open University. She received an MBE in 2023 for services to people with dementia and their carers.

President, Prosper

Shonaig Macpherson practiced as a solicitor in England and in Scotland, advising companies whose core asset is intellectual property and culminated in her appointment as Senior Partner of McGrigors. Shonaig has undertaken several non-executive roles including as Chairman of the National Trust for Scotland, The Princes Trust, The Robertson Trust, The Royal Lyceum Theatre and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Shonaig has served on the governing bodies of the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, the Open University, Heriot Watt University and Edinburgh Business School. The first ever non-executive appointee to the Management and Strategic Boards of Scottish Government, she became the first lay person to chair its Audit Committee. She was Lead Non-Executive Member of the Management Board of the Office of Secretary of State for Scotland . She was a member of the UK Government and Scottish Parliament’s Commission on Scottish Devolution, the Scottish Executive’s Culture Commission and its Knowledge Economy Task Force.

Regius Professor of Zoology, University of Glasgow

Pat Monaghan is an ecologist whose research focuses on ecology, animal life histories and conservation. Her multi-disciplinary work examines the ways in which environmental conditions can influence animals at the individual and population levels. She has worked mainly with birds, including species of conservation concern in Scotland. Pat was recently one of the co-authors of an RSE inquiry into public financial support for tree planting and forestry, and has served on Boards, Councils and Committees of several governmental and non-governmental conservation bodies.

RSE Vice President, Economy and Enterprise

Dr Poonam Malik is an entrepreneurial academic business strategy leader and an investor in Innovation. She has extensive experience of working in research, innovation, enterprise, governance, health and business sectors globally. Dr Malik is Chair, Co-Founder of Microplate Dx Ltd. A GlobalScot, a Climate Champion for Scottish Enterprise Board and Skills Development Scotland Board Member – Dr Malik has held leadership roles across public, private, higher education and social enterprise sectors. Formerly the Head of Investments at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow- Dr Malik led on University’s enhanced Investment function from entrepreneurial and commercialisation activities focused on startups, spinouts and spinin companies.

Important points to note

• This event is suitable for age 16+
• Please note that any personal data that is submitted to the RSE will be stored and processed in accordance with the RSE’s Privacy Policy. We will only use mobile numbers provided to contact you in the event of a cancellation.
• Livestreaming and photography may take place at this event. Please let a member of the RSE team know if you do not want to be photographed. Recorded events will be made available on the RSE YouTube channel.
• Covid-19: If you would like to wear a face mask, please feel comfortable to do so at our events. Please be mindful of other participants and stay at home if you have Covid symptoms or have tested positive for Covid-19.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Royal Society Of Edinburgh, 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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