Meet the Team

Professor Adam Dixon is responsible for developing and leading academic research at Panmure House on sustainable capitalism, focusing inter alia on the role of the global finance industry, the role of the state, and the role of corporations. Trained as an economic geographer and political economist, Adam brings an interdisciplinary perspective to this work.

Previously, Adam worked at the University of Bristol and Maastricht University in the Netherlands, where he led a large European Research Council project on sovereign wealth funds.

He holds a D.Phil. in economic geography from the University of Oxford, a Diplôme (Master) de l’Institut d’Etudes Politiques de Paris, and a BA in international affairs and Spanish literature from The George Washington University in Washington, DC.

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Professor Håvard Halland is responsible for developing and leading Panmure House’s activities in sustainable finance, focusing mainly on emerging and developing economies. He was formerly a senior economist at the World Bank and at the OECD, and a visiting scholar at Stanford University. His research and publications lie at the intersection of public and private finance, economics, energy, climate or environmental issues, geopolitics, and fiscal policy. While at the World Bank, he advised governments on the establishment and operations of sovereign wealth funds.

He is a lead or joint author of several books, two of which have been published in several languages, and of a number of research papers. He regularly contributes op-eds to media outlets including the Financial Times, Project Syndicate, Le Monde, and Foreign Affairs, as well as to leading Norwegian newspapers.

Professor Halland PhD’s from the University of Cambridge focused on fiscal policy in oil and mineral-rich developing countries. He holds Master’s degrees in economics and development economics from the University of Nottingham and the School of Oriental and African Studies, an M.Sc. in Architecture from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and a B.A. in Humanities from the University of Bergen.

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Caroline is responsible for directing all Panmure’s public engagement programmes, leading the Panmure House team in their mission to steward and apply Adam Smith's insights for a 21st-century society.

Like Smith 200 years before her, Caroline attended the University of Glasgow before undertaking postgraduate study at Balliol College, Oxford under the Snell Scholarship. She later wrote her PhD on the work of Robert Louis Stevenson, and taught English Literature at the University of St Andrews.

Dedicated to educational advancement in all its forms, Caroline is experienced not only in research and teaching, but in development. Across the past decade she has worked on several multi-million-pound educational development projects across the school and university sectors, and now brings that experience to bear in delivering the Panmure House vision.

Caroline hails originally from the Isle of Mull, and off-duty is most likely to be found walking the hills of her beloved homeland.

As Programme Executive for Panmure's community engagement strands, Blair is primarily focused on delivering the Fringe Festival at Panmure, the Lights of Caledonia lecture series, articles for Panmure House Perspectives, and Society of Panmure House stewardship.

Raised in North Norfolk, Blair studied Politics, Philosophy and Sociology at the University of East Anglia before embarking on a career in events and event management. The founder and director of his own events company for over seven years, he then returned to academia to read the MSc in International and Festival Management at Edinburgh Napier University. He has since held several roles within Edinburgh Festival organisations and charities across venue management, staff management and project delivery, and holds professional project management qualifications.

Blair has happily called Edinburgh home for over 12 years and can be found in his spare time out for walks with the family dog at Portobello beach, listening to podcasts or reading.

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Laura is responsible for Panmure's scholarly external engagement strands including the Panmure House Prize, the Adam Smith Lecture Series, and our educational outreach programme - the Smith Schools' Seminars.

Laura studied Human Genetics at the University of Nottingham and started her career in youth work before moving into Learning Development and Programme Management. She holds APM Project Management membership and has led successful corporate partnerships at a national level, held several roles in training programme management and was Head of a Careers and Outreach department at a regulatory body. Widening access to education, support and services has always been significant to her, and her roles in mental health, youth work, international development and gender equality reflect this.

In her quiet time Laura will usually be found at the coffee shops in Edinburgh, nose buried in a book or planning her next adventure.

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Sarah is responsible for coordinating the day-to-day running of Panmure House, maintaining our unique venue to a high standard and supporting the planning and delivery of our wide-ranging programme of events.

Sarah studied Festival and Events Management at Edinburgh Napier whilst working in hospitality before a short career stint at The University of Edinburgh's Festivals Office. She soon moved into a Head of Events role for one of Edinburgh's much loved private arts venues. In 2019 she changed career paths to join Scotland's national dementia charity in a fundraising position, leading on stakeholder engagement and project managing a series of annual fundraising campaigns.

Now returning to an events role, Sarah continues to advocate for charitable causes close to her and outside of work she enjoys discovering the city's best restaurants and planning her next overseas trip.

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Ellie is responsible for shaping and delivering Panmure House’s digital strategy. Her role focuses on strengthening online communities, enhancing engagement, and building the profile of this historic institution.

Originally from Western Australia, Ellie now calls Edinburgh home. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in marketing, communications and media and brings over four years of experience working in public relations, marketing and advertising agencies.

Outside of work, Ellie enjoys teaching Pilates, baking, and exploring Edinburgh’s best coffee spots.

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