Our People
We have built a strong professional team that combines technical skills and professional experience in economic and social development with sound judgement, honesty and clear thinking.
Our consultants have backgrounds in academia, economic development agencies, community organisations and the private sector, bringing a range of different perspectives to our work.
Sara Friel, Senior Consultant
Sara works mainly within our Enterprise and Innovation Unit. She has particular technical skills in evaluation and the assessment of economic and social impacts, as well as detailed knowledge of the creative and cultural industries. Sara works on all of EKOS’ creative and cultural industries projects and has built up in-depth understanding across the full range of the creative economy – from highly commercial digital media industries to arts and culture. She has also led numerous studies on business start-up and growth programmes and is a highly experienced project manager.
Before she joined EKOS in 2002, Sara worked for Scottish Enterprise's Business Mentoring Scotland Project as a Junior Executive following completion of her undergraduate honours degree in Economics and Marketing at Strathclyde University. She has also completed a Postgraduate Diploma (Distinction) in Local Economic Development from Glasgow University.