Team

Executive Team

Dougal Perman, Executive Chair

Dougal is the Managing Director of Inner Ear, the digital media production and promotion company he co-founded back in 2000. An expert in podcasting, internet radio, streamed media and social media strategies, Dougal has been an SMIA director for seven years.

Having become Chair in April 2016, Dougal has been a guiding light in the organisation’s development. Following the SMIA’s success in gaining Regular Funding from Creative Scotland, Dougal’s has taken on the new role of Executive Chair, responsible for activating the SMIA’s new development arm where the organisation will deliver a pioneering innovation-led development programme, designed to help nurture business talent and build infrastructure in the Scottish music industry.

Robert Kilpatrick, General Manager

As General Manager, Robert is responsible for the day-to-day management of all SMIA services, projects and events. Following the SMIA joining Creative Scotland’s Regular Funding Network 2018-2021, Robert’s role includes overseeing the development of the SMIA; both as an association working on behalf of its members, as well as an innovation agency providing key training and support to music businesses and practitioners across Scotland.

Robert studied BA Commercial Music at the University of the West of Scotland and graduated with a First Class Honours Degree. He has previously worked as Events and Marketing Executive at music licensing organisation PPL, as well as previously undertook the role of Projects and Operations Manager at the SMIA, which included project managing the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award and delivering Capital XTRA’s Music Potential project in Glasgow. Robert has also worked at festivals throughout the UK in a variety of freelance roles, including The Great Escape, Bestival, The Beat-herder and XpoNorth.

Blue Kirkhope, Projects and Programmes Coordinator

Over the past 5 years Blue has primarily been working with well-known independent record labels based out of their London offices, including the Beggars Group affiliated Matador Records as Label Coordinator before her PR & Marketing Manager role at Erased Tapes Records where she worked with a range of established artists worldwide during her time south of the border. Originally a Glasgow native, she has first-hand experience within Scotland’s music scene helping to nurture and publicise local talent. She has since returned to home soil with a wealth of experience to help Scotland’s music industry excel.

Project Staff

Hilary Goodfellow, Campaign Producer, Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award

As Campaign Producer, Hilary is responsible for the operational delivery of the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, Scotland’s national music prize.

Board of Directors

Alex Smith

Alex Smith has over ten years diverse experience across the music industry and wider creative industries. He is the current Industry Network Manager for XpoNorth (previously goNORTH), Scotland’s largest conference and showcase festival for the creative industries. The conference has attracted some of the most influential UK and international industry representatives, produced cooperations with a cross-reach of major national and international music industry associations and organisations and showcased some of the most exciting acts to have emerged from the Scottish and wider national and international music scene in recent years. He also project manages XpoNorth Music as part of Ironworks Group, a dynamic support structure for music businesses based in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Along with the project’s business development remit, XpoNorth Music also produce stages at major Scottish festivals and have developed export opportunities with a broad range of leading global trade events.

Blake Hutchinson

Blake is a Portfolio Manager with the High Growth Start Up Unit at Scottish Enterprise supporting early stage, high potential Digital Media companies focusing on providing intensive support to evaluate the business opportunity, develop the team and raise investment. Blake also has over 10 years experience helping creative companies (including music/digital convergence companies) to develop and deliver their international market entry strategies.

Gillian Henderson

As Business Development Director – North for Ticketmaster, Gillian’s role is looking after and developing Ticketmaster’s wide-ranging client base in Scotland and the North of England. Gillian’s background is in venue management, having spent over 10 years working in live music and club venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Liverpool with roles ranging from box office to venue management. During her career Gillian’s also worked on a number of outdoor events and festivals in Scotland including T in the Park and Belladrum, as well as one-off events including Radio 1’s Big Weekend, BBC at the Quay, One Direction at Murrayfield Stadium and The Ryder Cup 2014.

Greg Kane

One half of music duo Hue And Cry, a musician, composer, arranger, audio engineer, producer, videographer and digital content creator / manager with over 30 years experience working in the creative industries.

Michael Lambert

Michael Lambert is the co-owner of A Modern Way Management & Recordings which looks after acts including Fatherson, Idlewild and Stanley Odd. Michael is also a director of music industry event organisation Born To Be Wide which stages regular music business events, as well as organising the Wide Days convention and showcase. In addition to these roles, Michael works as a freelance A&R scout for German digital distribution company finetunes and has previously worked as a concert promoter and event manager.