Mike and Pat, Scottish Region Delegates

Mike Kirby and Pat Rowland are Scotland's delegates to Conference, elected by the Scottish Council of branches earlier this year. They are an essential source of information and fulfil a key organisational role.

They can help you liaise with other branches and regions throughout the week. They are very approachable and will keep you right if you need any advice. They will know how debates are being organised, who to speak to and, more importantly, how to get to speak. They will advise on Scottish policy and will speak for the Region in debates.

Matt Smith, Scottish Secretary

Matt Smith is Scotland's top full time official, leading the union in Scotland in partnership with Mike Kirby, the elected lay convenor. Matt has a long and distinguished history in the trade union movement in Scotland. He is treasurer of the Scottish Trade Union Congress and is a past president of the STUC.

Malcolm Cantello, National President

Malcolm Cantello is a long-standing union activist. He joined NALGO, one of UNISON's three partner unions, in 1960 and has been a member of UNISON since its creation in 1993. He chaired the union's smallest service group, Transport, for many years, and was previously vice-president of UNISON, prior to taking up his current position as president. He is currently an Internal Auditor for West Midlands Special Needs Transport, a charity providing a door-to-door service funded in large part by Centro.

Dave Prentis, General Secretary

Dave Prentis was elected general secretary of UNISON in 2000, took up the post on 1 January, 2001 and was re-elected last year. Dave was born and brought up in Leeds and went to the University of London where he took a BA in history. This was followed by an MA in industrial relations at the University of Warwick. He is a member of the TUC General Council, the TUC Executive and the Trade Union Labour Party Liaison Committee.

Robin Hunter, Standing Orders Committee

Rep Robin Hunter is Scotland's rep on the Standing Orders Committee which sets out the business for the week. He is the source of information on what's going on and whether your motion has any chance!

John Stevenson

Jane Aitchison

Kate Ramsden

The Scottish Communications and Campaigns Committee, along with the Regional delegates, will issue daily briefings during Conference week.

It is not a ‘News' service after the event (after all you were there), it is for briefing delegates before the event. However, we will issue some special reports as a basis for branch magazine reports back home.

We will also be updating the website with most of what goes out in print so you can get easy access. The service is also there to be used by branches to promote motions within Scottish policy.

It is especially useful when changes emerge during the week and unforseen issues arise.

The team will also produce the sheets for branches to prioritise motions for Friday afternoon.

In special circumstances we can also help with typing and communications with branches, press etc back home.

Your contact is SiU editor John Stevenson who leads the team with Jane Aitchison and Kate Ramsden, with other committee members helping out too.

You will find the team in the Newsheet area but please do not visit in numbers, it is very busy.