Caroline Parkinson leads strategy for the engagement with the Creative Industries at the Edinburgh Futures Institute. She initiates and maintains industry relationships across the creative and cultural sector with trade associations, creative networks, creative companies and practitioners. Engagement dialogue ascertains the needs and challenges of the sector regarding data-driven innovation which inform skills support, instigating academic collaboration, supporting entrepreneurship and seeking research and innovation funding to address these challenges. She works closely with colleagues and teams across the University to support the Edinburgh Futures Institute’s interdisciplinary and collaborative approach. She has developed various skills programmes and most recently founded the CreativeTech Scotland Gathering.

After spending her early life as a ballet dancer, rhythmic gymnast, making clothes and developing her interest in photography, Caroline studied business to support a portfolio career. She has over 30 years’ experience working in the creative sector both as a creative practitioner (fashion design, music and photography), and within public agencies as an advocate for creatives’ support in skills, funding and innovation.