Navigating the Climate Emergency: Fiona MacKinnon’s passion for making the world a better place for our young people

I have been so fortunate to enjoy a varied and exciting career within the tourism and business events industries. I have experienced the transformational change these industries continue to facilitate in bettering our country, made life-long friends with other like-minded people, and continue to be part of the change that is helping to create a more sustainable world for us all.

Since declaring a Climate Emergency in 2019, Scotland has borne witness to the forceful effects of climate change, with recording-breaking summer heatwaves and bitter winters to name a few. Although we are working towards the 2045 Net-Zero goals, we need to prioritise adapting to the rapidly changing environment within our industries. But why is this so important to me?

Having two adult children who have grown up in a world where there have been so many extraordinary challenges that directly affect their futures has been an eye-opening experience. Their future and the future of many young people is what motivates me to do more work to support our industry, making the changes needed to protect our planet.

Figuring out where to begin can feel very overwhelming but I have found that focusing on what I can do within my work to make our industry more sustainable has been very rewarding. Within the Business Events team at VisitScotland, I have interviewed many interesting individuals and organisations who are working towards Net-Zero as part of our Journey to Change campaign. We reach out to thought leaders within academia, cutting-edge technology companies and charitable organisations, to name a few, who are all working collaboratively to build a more sustainable society.

For the past three years, I have worked in collaboration with Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, to deliver talks and lectures to events students. As an industry expert, I have offered my experiences of working with clients and shared my knowledge of the industry, educating students on the endless opportunities there are within our industry. Mentoring young event professionals is such a rewarding experience and this next generation entering the workforce are capable, resilient and brimming with potential.

Understanding what is happening to our planet during this Climate Emergency is also a huge step in working to develop more sustainable solutions to the problems we’re facing. I am currently undergoing Carbon Literacy training to become a point of contact for our stakeholders and clients, maximising the positive impact of events when they come to Scotland.

Young people are resilient, enthusiastic, and driven to make a difference whilst prioritising our planet’s health. My son Finlay is undergoing training with the Merchant Navy, where his studies have focused on maritime renewable energy solutions and environmentally friendly ships. He is part of the industry's invaluable progress, and I am proud of his perseverance. My daughter Morven, a Fine Art student, aims to pursue a career in Horticulture. She has amassed a collection of plants and aspires to work on climate change challenges, designing gardens and adapting plants for a changing ecological environment. I hope she finds meaningful work in her field and continues to make a positive impact on our planet.

As a planet, we are in the midst of a Climate Emergency that will be catastrophic unless we adapt and make changes. Promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth is within our power and everyone’s individual actions can contribute to the sustained development of their industry, allowing for opportunities of decent work for all. We can work collaboratively to maximise the positive benefits of our industries, whether that be business events or horticulture, and keep our industry sustainable for us and for our children.

Learn more about the UN SDGs and Goal 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth. 

This team-focused blog series shines a light on members of the VisitScotland Business Events team, offering personal insights on the work they do within the business events industry. We hope to learn from one another through these blogs and showcase some of the amazing work being done by our people and celebrate their achievements.