MBE recognises significant contribution to the economy of North East Scotland – Aberdeen Business News

Jennifer Craw, an innovator and leader in economic development, has been recognised in the King’s 2025 New Year Honours list for her significant and ongoing contribution to the economy

Ms Craw, the co-founder and chief executive of private sector-led economic development catalyst Opportunity North East (ONE), will be awarded an MBE.

Her 30-year career in economic development has been marked by her passion for entrepreneurship and innovation, her support of business growth and industry development, and her commitment to the long-term sustainability of the economy of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and its contribution to the transition from oil and gas to green energy at the Scottish and UK levels.

ONE was established in 2015 by leading businessman and philanthropist Sir Ian Wood KT GBE and Ms Craw to strengthen and diversify the region’s economy with a £64 million funding commitment from the Wood Foundation. The not-for-profit has given the private sector a unique role in shaping and driving action and investment in the region’s key sectors of digital technology, food, drink and agriculture, green energy, life sciences and tourism.

Working with Sir Ian, the members of the ONE main and sector boards, and regional and national partners, Jennifer has put entrepreneurship and innovation at the heart of economic diversification in the region, recognising the critical role business founders and leaders play in driving growth. She has built a 30-strong team of economic development and sector specialists within ONE and established the ONE Tech Hub, ONE BioHub, and ONE SeedPod innovation hubs to build a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem that will support the creation and growth of innovation-driven enterprises and create high-skill jobs for the future.

ONE is recognised nationally as a model for private sector engagement, partnership working and delivery. The £150 million investment in growth sectors secured by ONE with partners since 2016 is making a significant impact. The digital tech cluster has doubled in five years and boasts more than 300 companies. The region’s food and drink sector is the fastest growing in Scotland, and entrepreneurial life sciences businesses are transforming ground-breaking research into market-ready products. The visitor economy is worth more than £1 billion a year, and adventure tourism in the north east has established an international reputation.

Ms Craw said: “I do something that I love and am very grateful for this recognition. One is about action—taking a hands-on approach to supporting entrepreneurs, founders and business leaders as they navigate the challenges of customer discovery, innovation, investment, acceleration, and scaling. Our new partnership with MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in the region has transformed our approach. It is a great privilege to work with extraordinary entrepreneurs and innovators across the region with talented people across our boards, teams, and partners and to see the impact of our work as we transition the mix of the region’s economy for the future.”

Sir Ian Wood said: “Jennifer is a creative thinker, can turn ideas into action and delivery at pace, and is a committed and passionate champion for the region’s economy, key sectors and business community. She is recognised as a leader in the field of economic development. The projects and programmes she has initiated and led over the past three decades, first at Scottish Enterprise and then at Opportunity North East, have significantly impacted business growth and jobs.

“We formed ONE to focus on action and delivery to make a difference to the region’s economic future, and there were enough senior businesspeople in the area and partners who shared that ambition. Under Jennifer’s leadership, that idea and ambition became a reality, and she has created and driven projects and secured investments to make the most of strengths, develop new opportunities, and overcome challenges. Most importantly, ONE provides practical support to the people leading high-growth businesses and future leaders to enable them to realise their full potential and create the high-skill jobs we need for the future.

“Her enthusiasm is undimmed. She values partnership working and is always focused on achieving the best outcome, which can often be hard to do. This recognition is thoroughly deserved, and I have every confidence that Jennifer has a great deal more to contribute to the successful diversification of the economy in the years ahead,” said Sir Ian.

Jennifer was chief executive of Scottish Enterprise Grampian from 2002 to 2008. She joined the company in 1994 and held posts including head of food and director of competitive business.

Following a spell in the energy sector, Ms Craw formed a consultancy. She worked on philanthropic projects and a renewable energy start-up and supported the Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce.

In her early career, she worked as a nutritionist before moving into marketing roles and senior management roles in the food and drink industry.

Ms Craw has longstanding ties with Robert Gordon University, having first graduated from Robert Gordon Institute of Technology (RGIT) with a degree in nutrition and dietetics followed by a postgraduate diploma in dietetics and a further postgraduate diploma in management studies five years later. She was chair of the RGU Board of Governors for three years, from January 2014 to December 2016, making her the first woman to chair a university governing body in Scotland. Before this, she was a member of the board for five years. In 2018, she received an honorary Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) from RGU for her leadership in economic development and higher education.

Ms Craw is a board member of Opportunity North East Ltd, BioAberdeen Ltd, ETZ Ltd, Food Hub (NES) Ltd, and VisitAberdeenshire. She has previously served on the boards of James Hutton Ltd, Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Forum and Nestrans, and is a Burgess of the City of Aberdeen.

Outside of work, Ms Craw is a keen supporter of the arts, enjoys skiing and travel, and walks her two dogs. She is married with two grown children, a daughter and a son.