Heather Jones
Chief Executive Officer
Heather Jones has over thirty years’ experience working directly with governments, industry and research institutions in a scientific capacity. She was formerly the Head of International Division in the Scottish Government and a Deputy Director in Marine Scotland. She has experience as a CEO; operating strategically at board level for 14 years. Heather established SAIC – the UK’s first industry-led aquaculture innovation body – with 360+ organisations now in membership. She is also founder of the WiSA (Women in Scottish Aquaculture) network.
Her range of advisory roles includes the UK Seafood Innovation Fund, the Aquaculture Research Collaboration Hub, and Scotland’s Aquaculture Leadership Group. Heather is a Member of the Advisory Board to the Roslin Institute, a Member of the Seafish Board, a grant panel assessor of the UKRI Transforming Food Production call, and a UK Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment advisor on innovation in aquaculture.
Heather’s role as SAIC CEO involves developing the organisation’s strategic vision, leading the executive team, ensuring a focus on delivery and outcomes, representing the organisation at national and international level, and maintaining an extensive network of relationships in aquaculture around the globe.