Chief Executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC), Liz Cameron, has been recognised with an Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.) for her services to Business and Commerce in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List 2015.
With a career spanning three decades and recognised as one of the top 10 ‘Women of Influence’ in Scotland, Liz has been head of the leading business organisation for 10 years since she was appointed CEO of Scottish Chambers in 2004. Prior to that she was CEO at Renfrewshire Chamber of Commerce, a post she took over in 1996, where she merged three companies to form a new Chamber for the area.
Throughout her career, Liz has represented and promoted the needs of business and she has successfully spearheaded a number of ground-breaking initiatives in this area. She established COMPACT, one of the first business-led public/private partnerships between business and education – an initiative to adopt sustainable and socially responsible policies, which guaranteed securing jobs in disadvantaged areas. She led Scotland’s business community establishing the early Enterprise Trust Networks in the 1990’s, focusing on encouraging the next generation of entrepreneurs through providing advice, support and ideas to help them plan and run their own business ventures in regenerated areas across Scotland. She was also responsible for developing and establishing the first pilot of a Finance Loan Fund to help young people aged 16-25 set up their own business.
More recently, as part of SCC, Liz has overseen the delivery of the highly successful Business Mentoring Programme which has seen over 8,000 businesses benefit from business advice and support services, driving significant economic growth in the SME sector in Scotland. She has also been closely involved with the Scottish Government review of the public procurement process to ensure easier access for small and medium sized businesses in particular.
As part of SCC’s international trade programme, Liz has been instrumental in setting up new trading partnerships with overseas organisations in countries such as China, Mongolia and Turkey.
Liz was recently recognised as a finalist in the Scottish Business Female Entrepreneur of the Year. She is also the Vice Chair of the Scottish National Lottery Fund.
SCC Chair Nora Senior commented “Liz is one of the most highly respected and influential voices in the business community in Scotland and has been a trailblazer throughout her career. She has worked tirelessly to promote the interests of business, both nationally and internationally at the highest levels of Government. Her vision and innovation continue to foster stronger links between education and business, with a particular passion for getting young people into the world of work. She is a most deserving recipient of this prestigious award.”
Liz Cameron commented “I have had the honour and privilege of supporting and helping businesses across Scotland throughout my career. Working with the Chamber Network has provided me with many opportunities, enabling me to meet and engage with so many exciting and inspirational people in business, education and the public sector. To be personally recognised in this way is truly wonderful. I owe so much to so many others who have helped me throughout my career, and am so grateful.”
Liz lives in Gourock and is married to husband Sam. She has two children, Lloyd and Rebecca.