ZAG - The Non-Conformist Conference

Michael Timmons is Executive Director of Playlist for Life: an award-winning UK music and dementia charity. Michael has a background in Psychology from the University of Glasgow and over 10 years' experience in the voluntary and health and social care sector working to drive change in communities. Michael is currently Chair of the Patients Advocacy Service at The State Hospital, a service providing advocacy to people detained under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. Michael is also a musician and has toured around the UK and Europe.

Dr. Elaine Cook was appointed as Depute Chief Executive in August 2015. From 2011 until 2015 she was Head of Education in West Lothian with responsibility for secondary, additional support needs, professional learning and infrastructure. From 2005 until 2011, she was Head Teacher at two secondary schools in West Lothian – West Calder High School and Deans Community High School. Elaine’s career in education began in 1991 in England where she taught for 6 years before moving to Scotland. Prior to that she worked in Actuarial Finance in both Glasgow and London.

Daryl's career spans four decades in charities, major corporates, media and advertising agencies, where the most frequently used term about her is "refreshing". She is now a portfolio NED and charity Trustee and consults on brand and marketing. Her last full time corporate roles were Managing Directorships at Vodafone UK and Mondelez Eu, responsible for brand strategy and marketing and she recently stepped down as CEO of The Marketing Academy Foundation, which she and Sherilyn Shackell founded 8 years ago to join the Board of Trustees. Her current portfolio also includes Chair of First Give and board roles at The Association of Chartered and Certified Accountants and the Academy of Ancient Music. She has just concluded six years as a Trustee of The British Heart Foundation. In 2022, her definitive guide to brands, The Brand Book, was published and in 2023 she featured in Channel 4’s documentary, Madwomen. This celebrated women who shaped the advertising industry and featured her leadership of Dove's "Campaign for Real Beauty". She is chuffed to bits that this has landed her in The Museum of Brands. Her other notable career high was working on New Labour's 1997 general election campaign – especially as Tony won. Being a keynote speaker, coaching and mentoring young people gives her great fulfilment - as does baking a nifty line in royal-themed cakes.

Ben is an internationally recognised environmental artist, best known for his miniature paintings on discarded chewing gum. He paints these using a technique perfected over twenty years. Lying on the ground, Ben takes the thoughtless act of littering and transforms it into art. His work is informed by place, and each day offers infinite possibilities. Ben is excited by the people he encounters, often painting requests, and has found the act of interacting and celebrating with communities hugely fulfilling. He is interested in connecting us to our environment and finding a space where art can happen in a spontaneous way.