Irene Oldfather
Chair and Patient Representative of EUPATI ScotlandIrene is currently Director at the ALLIANCE leading on Strategic Partnerships and Engagement.
As a Member of the Scottish Parliament (1999-2011), Irene set up and chaired the Cross Party Group on Alzheimer’s and Dementia which drafted and agreed the Charter of Rights for People with Dementia and their Carers and chaired the European and External Relations Committee for most of her 12-year term.
She actively campaigns on the rights of older people and was the first ever Member of the Scottish Parliament to be nominated and shortlisted for Dod’s 2009 UK Parliamentary Award for Services to Older People.
Educated at Strathclyde University and obtained an Honors degree in Politics and a post graduate MSc by Research.
Alison Culpan
Industry Representative for EUPATI ScotlandAlison Culpan is the Director of ABPI Scotland and is responsible for leading government affairs activity for the regional office.
Alison has worked in a number of capacities in the pharmaceutical industry in the UK including sales and marketing, project management, communication and external affairs. She has also gained global experience through her roles in GSK as the Director for Global Issues working with WHO, IFPMA and as Government Affairs Director for China.
Alison sits on the CBI Scotland Council and the Court of Strathclyde University.
John Paton
EUPATI Fellow and Patient Representative of EUPATI ScotlandJohn is a Fellow of the European Patients Academy in Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI). A patient activist in Scotland for the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society (NRAS) he has made patient group submissions to the Scottish Medicines Consortium, and is a Patient Partner of the Rheumatoid Arthritis Center of Excellence (RACE) at the University of Glasgow. He is a member of the Scottish Parliament Cross Party Group on Arthritis and MSK conditions.
His background is in Civil Engineering, Law, Mediation, and policy development and implementation in the third sector in Scotland and England. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, he is a keen if occasional sailor, sings with Summerhall Singers community choir in Edinburgh and attempts Tai Chi.
Laura Miller
Administrative OfficerLaura is Administrator for the EUPATI Scotland Program and PA to the Chair, Irene Oldfather.
Responsible for supporting the program; events, campaigns, engagement, coordinating diaries and communications.
Laura has a BA (Hons) in Business and Management from Glasgow Caledonian University and has worked with Irene and the ALLIANCE for 10 years. Previously working for organizations such as Devro Scotland, UPS and Hilton Worldwide.
Professor Margaret (Mags) Watson
Academic Representative of EUPATI ScotlandMags is a health services researcher and registered pharmacist. She is Professor of Health Services Research (HSR) and Pharmacy Practice (0.5wte) in the Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University Of Strathclyde, Scotland. Her research addresses real-world challenges and focuses on the safe and effective use of medicines and effective professional practice.
Her current research activities include:
- Developing evidence-based solutions to support the safe and effective use of medicines by older people with sensory impairment (visual and/or hearing)
- Inter-disciplinary and multi-stakeholder involvement in research
Mags is a Fellow of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
She also provides consultancy on research and personal development through Watson Research and Training Limited ( https://watsonresearchandtraining.co.uk/ ).
