Braemar Summit

The Braemar Summit is an invitation only gathering of scientists, tech entrepreneurs and policy makers. Its purpose is what Lord Rees once called “the cathedral of the mind.” How can science and technology solve the great challenges of our time? The two day event this year covers medicine and public health, A1, society, space, bio diversity, the green industrial revolution, Cop and leadership. The speakers include Nobel prize winners, economists, politicians, writers and engineers. The idea for the Braemar summit, already being dubbed McDavos, came out of two conversations. One was between the former editor of the Today programme, Sarah Sands, now a board director at Hawthorn, and the science director of the Science Museum, Roger Highfield. Roger observed that science was entering a period of new Enlightenment, with fundamental advances. Sarah noted that the creation of the vaccine had taken science, business and government to join forces. We needed a venue and a moment to reflect on lessons learned and possibilities revealed. Ewan Venters, global chief executive of Hauser and Worth provided the setting. The hugely desirable Fife Arms hotel in the remote, picture perfect village of Braemar. So McDavos came to be launched in the village hall of Braemar. The Braemar summit committee was formed; John Evans, CEO of Hawthorn Advisors, Sarah Sands, Roger Highfield, Sam Gyimah, former universities minister and board director of Oxford University Innovation, Lord Vaizey, Ewan Venters, Rohan Silva, co founder of Second Home, Caroline Flint, former shadow secretary of state for energy and climate and Ruth Kennedy, the luxury branding and marketing consultant. Scottish roots deepened when Strathclyde University came on board as a partner. And the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation offered a prize to the best doctorate level thesis on public health, called the Alexander Fleming Prize. Science is celebrated at its birth as well as its realisation.