Join the team at Iriss to explore the theme of coproduction and collaboration. Iriss will focus on what coproduction actually means for leadership, questioning what it takes for leaders to embrace principles and practices of coproduction. Using experiences from their own work with marginalised communities and care-experienced young people, they will question what coproduction with people requires, focusing on elements of trust, power and true reciprocity in how we include people in influencing change. Co-production is often treated as a practitioner skill; we want to ask what changes when leaders own it as their responsibility, and what conditions they need to create trust for real collaboration to happen.
Why attend? To gain fresh insights into building trust, navigating uncertainty and leading change in ways that people genuinely believe in. Join the team at Iriss to explore the theme of coproduction and collaboration. Iriss will focus on what coproduction actually means for leadership, questioning what it takes for leaders to embrace principles and practices of coproduction. Using experiences from their own work with marginalised communities and care-experienced young people, they will question what coproduction with people requires, focusing on elements of trust, power and true reciprocity in how we include people in influencing change. Co-production is often treated as a practitioner skill; we want to ask what changes when leaders own it as their responsibility, and what conditions they need to create trust for real collaboration to happen.
Can coproduction principles lead us to fundamental cultural change in our systems of care?
Can leaders sit with complete change and discomfort in a coproduction process?
How do we build trust in conditions where there isn’t any, or where it has been broken before?
What relationship-building happens before co-design even starts?
What happens for a community or partner after the project ends?
The session is open to leaders at all levels and stages across health, social work, social care in Scotland.
Iriss is an organisation that works with people, practitioners and organisations to help create the conditions for the social work and social care sector to flourish. We aim to help our partners to innovate, to help teams practice effectively, and change social work and social care processes for the better.
Dr Stuart Muirhead
Role:
CEO, Iriss
Stuart is the CEO of Iriss, leading the organisation to make a positive difference in social work and care in Scotland. Back in 2014, and with a background in human geography, Stuart started within the evidence-informed practice team at Iriss, finding his way into knowing this sector alongside knowledgeable and experienced colleagues. In 2019, he stepped into the role of Head of Delivery, overseeing project work and implementation across the organisation, with that turning into the Head of Programmes role in 2021, and then CEO in 2025.
Stuart has a wide range of interests around collaborative methods of working, and is exploring how Iriss can meaningfully use evidence and innovation to implement change in complex environments.
Stuart completed his PhD at the University of Dundee in 2011, examining the relationship between mental health well-being and environmental volunteering. Following that he worked in research within the Scottish Government and the University of Sheffield before joining Iriss.
Dr Emily Whyte
Role:
Development Lead, Iriss
Emily completed her PhD at the intersection of social work and psychology, where her research worked alongside care-experienced children and young people. Her research approach is voice-led and participatory, ensuring that the perspectives and strengths of children and young people are at the forefront of the work.
Emily is passionate about leveraging creative arts and interdisciplinary methodologies to address complex social issues. Emily’s work philosophy centres on empowerment, collaboration, innovation and equity, always striving to amplify the voices of those with lived experiences and to co-create meaningful and sustainable change.
Prior to her work with Iriss, Emily worked extensively in the third sector, focusing on social research, community development, domestic violence prevention, youth homelessness, and widening participation.
Davie Donaldson
Role:
Development Lead, Iriss
Davie has over a decade of experience in equity and anti-oppressive practice, supporting decision-makers at a local, national and international level to make policy and practice more inclusive.
His practice is grounded in building creative ways to engage with lived experience and enhance accessibility, particularly with marginalised communities. He specialises in building “relational soil”, especially where there has been conflict or a breakdown in relationships. Davie holds an MA in Anthropology and International Relations from the University of Aberdeen and is qualified in restorative practice.
Before joining Iriss in 2026, he worked extensively across the third sector and internationally, designing training programmes with charities, national organisations and multi-agency partnerships. His interests sit in reflexive practice, anti-racism, trauma-informed approaches and Gypsy/Traveller inclusion.
