Meet the team

Adrian Watson

Adrian spent 30 years in the police service, the last seven as Commander for Aberdeen City. He had a varied career in the service, which included lengthy spells in criminal investigation and Intelligence. He was also seconded to government and other agencies, both nationally and abroad. Towards the end of his service he led the policing organisation in the north-east of Scotland through the transition from a regional entity to Police Scotland.

In July 2016, Adrian was appointed CEO at Aberdeen Inspired. In this role, he has led on significant events in the City, including the globally acclaimed Nuart (Aberdeen) Street Art Festival and introduced the first Evening & Night-time Economy Manager of its kind in the UK. He is also a key strategic partner in driving Aberdeen City Centre’s Masterplan forward.

He continues to extol the partnership approach, and which led to Aberdeen Inspired winning many local, national and international awards, including the coveted European BID of the year in July 2017 and the International Downtown Association (IDA) Global Achievement Award for Excellence in Placemaking in October 2018.

Adrian holds a BSc (Hons), MSc and an MBA from Aberdeen Business School, Robert Gordon University. He currently sits as a member on the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce (AGCC) Council and is also the National Chair for Scotland for the Association of Town & City Management (ATCM).

Innes Walker

Innes Walker was born, raised and educated in Aberdeen, obtaining a BA in Applied Social Studies and the Certificate of Qualification in Social Work from Robert Gordons before practicing in Aberdeen, Renfrewshire and Edinburgh. In 1988, he joined Grampian Police and later Police Scotland where he served as Deputy Commander in Aberdeen City Division and later North East Division, comprising the City, Aberdeenshire and Moray. He is married with four adult children and lives in Aberdeen with a keen interest in sport, cinema and music. He is Aberdeen Inspired City Centre Manager with responsibility for ensuring the BID is a vibrant and attractive place for people to enjoy and business to thrive.

Nicola Johnston

Appointed by Aberdeen City Council & Aberdeen Inspired in spring 2017, Nicola Marie Johnston is Scotland’s first Evening and Night Time Economy Manager. Since being appointed she has become critical to Aberdeen City Centre’s evening and night time economy with her visionary approach acting as a bridge between city growth and development, Aberdeen City Centre Masterplan, local licensing and the business community.

Nicola is the voice of Aberdeen’s evening and night time economy focusing on strategic issues of national importance where legislation itself can be influenced to support the industry. Over the course of the year, Nicola has launched Scotland’s first night-time economy conference inviting speakers from across the UK to discuss challenges faced by the industry, developed a city-wide integrated strategy to support and enhance Aberdeen night time industry and promoted the city through a collection of city-wide events. Nicola also leads on the city’s Purple Flag accreditation which saw Aberdeen cited as best practise due to the extensive collaboratively with local authorities and the trade to create a safe and vibrant evening economy. Nicola is now working with Harvard University for a research study on the Night Time Economy, collaborating with night managers across Europe to enhance strategies and city development, is a board member for the NTIA representing Scotland’s night-time economy and working with London’s Mayor Office to promote Women’s Night Safety Charter.

Originally from Glasgow, she has worked in senior roles within the event & hospitality industries across Scotland and France. Moving to Aberdeen for the role, her ideas and collaborate approach are enhancing, strengthening and supporting the night-time industry as the city as it undertakes a significant cultural and economic transformation.

Ross Grant

Ross has been with Aberdeen Inspired since 2013 having graduated from the University of Aberdeen with an MA in Politics and International Relations. Ross has held various roles within the organisation, initially as a street ambassador and project manager, and now as a senior project manager and has played an instrumental part in bringing the Painted Doors project and Nuart Aberdeen festival to the granite city as well as overseeing a wide range of other projects including ensuring the delivery of city centre wayshowing, earlier purple flag accreditations and creative lighting projects.

Ross provides advice and assistance to the Chief Executive in respect of developing and nurturing key partnerships and strategies of importance to the BID. Ross is also an elected member for Tillydrone, Seaton and Old Aberdeen since 2012 and has served as Convenor of Appeals, and latterly as Vice Convenor of Operational Delivery with responsibility for Transport and Regeneration. Outside of these responsibilities, Ross dedicates his time to family and home and is a proud dad to five children.

Shona Byrne

Shona joined the team in summer 2017 after nearly 6 years living and working in Pittsburgh, PA. With a post graduate qualification in marketing , she is an accomplished strategic thinker and has enjoyed a successful career in various roles spanning 30 years.

She has a passion for her home city and is proud to be part of the team that is committed to delivering positive transformation in the City Centre. Since joining the BID Shona has been responsible for the delivery of two key festivals ; Nuart Aberdeen and Aberdeen International Comedy Festival and has supported the Chief Executive with strategic business and marketing planning. Outside of work she enjoys exploring Scotland’s great outdoors with her family and dog, traveling and food.

Angela Joss

I’m a mum of four, currently working part-time. My original degree’s in Communication Studies, and I DO love to communicate. Been over five years with the organisation; I enjoy my job because it allows me a professional focus for two of the things that I’m very passionate about – building communities and enhancing the environment, both locally and globally. I work across various Civic Pride projects, with businesses, schools and voluntary groups; supporting litter-picking, planting and generally working hard to improve the BID. Current Work Passion? Alongside ADA service users, I lead the Urban Bee Project, promoting biodiversity and sustainable food. In my “spare time”, I’m a performance poet and stand up feminist.

Brian Morrice

Brian has over 20 years experience in Management Accounting, Internal Audit and Financial Administration in the private, public and third sector both in the UK and abroad.

Brian is also a keen golfer and amateur astronomer.

Louise Kendal

Jessica Murphy

A passionate communicator, Jessica has extensive experience of breaking news stories from both a public relations and journalistic viewpoint. A former reporter at the Press and Journal, Jessica then moved into public relations, gaining valuable PR agency experience in Aberdeen over the course of five years. She worked her way from senior PR account executive to PR account manager, spearheading award-winning campaigns and leading accounts in the arts, third sector, oil and gas and hospitality.

Educated at Aberdeen University and Robert Gordon University, she graduated with a First Class Honours degree in English, and Masters of Science in Journalism. Jessica’s primary role is to generate positive media relations and coverage, further strengthening the organisation’s reputation with the media, levy payers and other key partners and stakeholders to promote Aberdeen city centre.

When she isn’t putting that experience to use for Aberdeen Inspired, Jessica is also a busy bee out of hours. She can often be found exercising in all-weathers, at her spiritual home Murrayfield during the rugby season, adding to her book collection or keeping up with all the latest Formula 1 action.