The SMIA Summit 2024: An International Music Strategy – Building a Sustainable Global Presence


Session Speakers + Panellists

Laura-Beth Salter- Keynote Speaker

Freelance Musician

Speaker Biography

A well kent face on the Glasgow Folk and Roots scene, mandolinist, tutor, singer and composer Laura-Beth is a founding member of award winning folk bands The Shee, Kinnaris Quintet and From The Ground. She was nominated for the MG Alba Composer of the year award in 2013 after the success of her Celtic Connections commission and debut album ‘Breathe.’ She is an active tutor of mandolin and youth projects all over the UK as well as programming The Late Night Sessions at Celtic Connections and being an active board member of Hands Up for Trad and Showcase Scotland Expo.

Aja Garrod-Prance – Moderator

Scottish Music Industry Association

Speaker Biography

Aja joined the SMIA in 2024 as General Manager. Their role involves the day-to-day management of the SMIA’s business operations, including overseeing the successful delivery of our annual programme of services, projects and events; supporting the work of the wider executive team. They also work with our partners across SMIA projects and programmes, building effective relationships to support the SMIA’s strategic objectives.


Originally from the South of England, Aja has worked in a number of roles across the creative industries including operations, event programming and production, and funding. For the last four years, their career has focussed on talent development, funding support for grassroots music organisations and emerging music creators through roles at the PRS Foundation and Youth Music. They relocated from London to Glasgow in 2023.

Lisa Whytock

Active Events / Showcase Scotland Expo / Showcase Scotland at Celtic Connections.

Speaker Biography

Lisa has been the CEO and lead agent for Active Events for over 30 years and during that time has managed the international live careers of artists ranging from Bob Geldof to Elephant Sessions. She also manages Showcase Scotland at Celtic Connections, an international industry showcase embedded within the festival. Since 2012 Lisa has been The Executive Producer of Showcase Scotland Expo, the export office for folk and roots music and in partnership with Creative Scotland, the Scottish Government and the Prs Foundation has overseen the production of large scale events in Australia, France, Denmark, Scandanavia and England.

Olaf Furniss

Wide Days / Music Tourist

Speaker Biography

Olaf Furniss is a journalist and founder of Wide Events, an organisation which hosts music business seminars and Scotland’s music industry convention and showcase Wide Days. He reports for a wide variety of media including the BBC, The Scotsman, MusikWoche and IQ, and has written for Billboard, Music Week, Audience and Fono Forum.

Olaf has worked as a consultant for music industry conferences including Sonic Visions, by:Larm, Reeperbahn Festival, GoNorth, Berlin Music Week and Canadian Music Week, organising and/or moderating over 200 panels in the past five years. His interest in music tourism formed the basis of a Masters in Music: Innovation & Entrepreneurship and he has given guest lectures at universities in the UK, Norway and Germany.

SMIA Summit 2025

The SMIA Summit returns later this year – bringing together Scotland’s music industry for two days of meaningful discussion, sector development and shared action.

Building on the themes explored throughout the 2024 Summit, this year’s programme will continue to address the challenges and opportunities facing artists, organisations, and professionals across the country – with a renewed focus on innovation, equity and sustainability.

Whether you’re working in music, supporting the wider creative economy, or shaping policy and infrastructure, the SMIA Summit offers a space to connect, reflect and help shape the future of Scotland’s music industry.

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