In 2017, Edel Harris became the first woman to be named EY Scotland Entrepreneur of the Year. What arguably made that an even greater achievement was that she is CEO of a third sector organisation – the Aberdeen-based health and social care charity Cornerstone.
Edel is a strong and charismatic leader, but also down-to-earth, which helps her carry people through times of significant change. She began her career as a police officer, left to start a family and then worked her way up to CEO status after returning to work at admin level and gaining a first-class honours degree through the Open University. From an Irish background but brought up in England, she has since been adopted by Scotland, is a director of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, and is big fan of Aberdeen Football Club.
Edel was interviewed in front of a live Scottish Business Network audience, at the London HQ of Bristows LLP, by Fraser Allen.