SCOTLAND BOARD MEMBERS
PAUL TOGNERI – CHAIR SCOTLAND
Senior Policy Manager – SBPA
Paul Togneri is the Senior Policy Manager for the Scottish Beer & Pub Association based in Edinburgh. Prior to joining the trade in 2016, Paul worked with politicians across Holyrood, Westminster & Brussels on policy and communications.
An avid pub-goer and football supporter, Paul studied Political Science at the University of Edinburgh and George Washington University.
NATALIE WICKHAM – ENGLAND & WALES and SCOTLAND
PGB Administrator
Natalie is the Administrator for the PGB, including the PIRRS and PICA-Service.
Natalie is Head of Partnerships for the BII (British Institute of Innkeeping), including heading up the both the Membership and Partnerships Teams. The BII is the leading professional body representing individuals working across the licensed hospitality industry.
She also assists Mike Clist with the BII Landlord and Pubco Relationship helpline.
MIKE CLIST – ENGLAND & WALES and SCOTLAND
BII Non-Executive Director & Licensed Trade Charity Trustee
Mike Clist is a Non Executive Director of the BII having been the Chief Executive Officer for the British Institute of Innkeeping from April 2016 until April 2020. The BII is the leading professional body representing individuals working across the licensed hospitality industry. As well as supporting the Chief Executive of the BII Mike runs their Landlord and Pubco Relationship helpline.
Mike has over 45 years’ experience in the pub industry the majority of which has been spent in the Tenanted and Leased sectors. Before joining the BII he was the Operations Director for the Tenanted Division of Fuller, Smith & Turner, an independent, vertically integrated family brewer and pub retailer.
Mike is a Board Member of Best Bar None and a Trustee of the Licensed Trade Charity.
PAUL WATERSON – SCOTLAND
Chief Executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA)
Paul Waterson has worked in his family’s long established licensed trade business for over 50 years. During that time he ran the family’s Pub and Hotel Estate as well as Nightclubs and a Wholesale Wine, Spirits and Beer Company. He has been a member of The Scottish Licensed Trade Association for more than 40 years. He was elected National President of The S.L.T.A. in 1996.
He is a Past President of the Strathclyde Licensed Trade Association and a Past Chairman of the United Kingdom and Ireland L.T.A. In 2002 Paul Waterson became the first Chief Executive of The Scottish Licensed Trade Association in its 138 year history. He stood down in 2018 but continues to be The SLTA’s media spokesman.
He is a Past President of the Benevolent Society of the Licensed Trade of Scotland; Past Visitor (Chairman) of the Incorporation of Maltmen in Glasgow; he is a past Director and Executive Committee Member of Alcohol Focus Scotland, Scotland’s National Alcohol Charity. Paul has sat on a number of committees at the Scottish Parliament looking at licensed trade issues including, The Scottish Government Alcohol Industry Partnership, The Ministerial Tobacco Control Committee and The Age Restricted Products Group; Paul was a member of the Expert Reference Group which looked into the White Paper on Licensing Reform before the new Licensing Act in 2005.
More recently Paul has been invited by the Government to sit on panels looking at reviewing the Personal License Holder qualification and the level of Liquor Licensing fees in Scotland.
He is on the Executive Committee and Board of the Best Bar None Scheme and in 2014 was asked to sit on the Visit Scotland Thistle Awards Industry Panel.
PAUL WISHART – SCOTLAND
Greene King National Operations Manager- Scotland
Paul started in the licensed trade in 1994 having worked for a combination of independent, medium sized and large hospitality businesses. He spent five years as a general and area manager for Belhaven Pubs followed by almost eight years at Iona Pub Partnerships. Since 2015 he has worked for Greene King Pub Partners in Scotland, initially as a Business Development Manager and now running the leased and tenanted business.
In 2016 Paull won the ALMR Business Development Manager of the year award and in 2017 received a post graduate diploma in multi-unit leadership and strategy. Currently sitting on SBPA, UKH Scotland and BII Scotland trade organisations.
JO GRAHAM – SCOTLAND
Jo has a wealth of experience within the Licensed Trade and Hospitality sector, helping businesses to enhance performance and profitability by effective people and business management. She has owned and operated licensed premises so has a number of years hands-on experience in the trade.
Jo is also an experienced trainer, delivering practical, effective solutions using her experience to ensure her training is credible and relevant.
Jo is Managing Director of The Whisky Ambassador and is passionate about all things whisky and the contribution this can make to business success. Jo is the Chair for BII in Scotland and spends her spare time, what there is of it, sitting on the Children’s Panel, being a leader within the Scout Organisation and with family and friends. She enjoys travelling and keeps fit by walking the dog, horse riding and swimming.
LEON THOMPSON – SCOTLAND
UK Hospitality- Executive Director
Leon joined UKHospitality Scotland in 2021 as Executive Director. UKHospitality Scotland is the leading voice for over 100 member businesses operating in Scotland, covering all aspects of hospitality including hotels, pubs and bars, nightclubs, restaurants, coffee shops and indoor leisure.
Prior to joining UK Hospitality, Leon worked as Government and Parliamentary Affairs Manager at VisitScotland, Communications Manager at EventScotland and at the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations.
ANDY TIGHE – ENGLAND & WALES and SCOTLAND
BBPA- Policy Director
Andy joined the BBPA as an economist/statistician in 1998 and moved into a senior policy role in the Brewing Department in 2004 before further promotions to Director of Brewing in 2010. Following an organisational restructure he was promoted, becoming the BBPA’s first Policy Director in December 2012.
Key Responsibilities include – overall lead on beer and pub policy matters, tax campaign development and support, industry statistics and economic research, oversight of Expert groups, industry guidance and best practice.
