The Local Organising Committee are responsible for all elements of the 2026 conference and will work with the association to deliver an exciting and engaging conference. 

Prof Nicola Holden
SRUC

Nicola's work is driven by the major challenges facing our food production and public health. Solutions are in exploring the utility and function of microbes, how food is produced, and technological innovations.

Prof Karen Scott
University of Aberdeen

Professor Karen Scott is a researcher in Gut Microbiology at the Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen. Her research team investigates interactions between resident obligately anaerobic gut bacteria, incoming pathogens, the diet and human host, and their role in transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes

James Connolly Newcastle University

James is an MRC funded research fellow and group leader within the Newcastle University Biosciences Institute. His lab’s research is focused on gene regulatory mechanisms and host-pathogen interactions related to E. coli pathotypes, including VTEC. 

Janet Nale
SRUC

Janet is a lecturer in microbiology at Scotland’s Rural College, Inverness campus. Her research focuses on pre-clinical therapeutic development of bacteriophages, and to decipher their role in the diversity and pathogenicity of zoonotic bacteria. 

Lesley Allison, SERL, Public sector agency: NHS-Scotland reference labs 

Lesley is the Principal Clinical Scientist at the Scottish E. coli O157/STEC Reference Laboratory (SERL), a post she has held since the laboratory opened in Edinburgh in April 2000. In 2004, she became Deputy Director of the service. She is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen (BSc Hons, PhD). She leads a small team providing a comprehensive STEC detection and typing service, playing a pivotal role in the molecular epidemiology and national surveillance of STEC infections in Scotland.  

Marianne James, FSS, Public Sector Agency: Food Standards

Marianne is Head of Risk Assessment at Food Standards Scotland – the public body responsible for food safety in Scotland.  She has a particular interest in STEC and the microbiological safety of food, and has led several projects to help reduce contamination risks in key commodities.  

Sally Johnson, NHS Newcastle, Clinical area: Paediatric Nephrology

Lesley Larkin, PHS, Public sector agency: epidemiology 

Nikki Pearce, University of Aberdeen, Event Management

Nikki heads up CPD and Event Services, a team that supports the development and delivery of professional development and conferences.  The team also support those at other HEIs and external organisations.

Jess Hippey, University of Aberdeen, Event Management

Jess provides event support as part of the CPD and Event Services Team.  She is likely to be the first port of call for most attendees!