Meet Isabel Bruce – CEO Dundee Science Centre

26 May 2022

We were delighted to talk to Dr Isabel Bruce, CEO of Dundee Science Centre, recently. Isabel is passionate about encouraging organisational progression with integrated diversity. She has extensive experience of delivering nationally and internationally with strong public, higher education and charity sector experience at Executive and Non-Executive levels.

Isabel is currently Chair of the David Livingstone Trust. Previously she has been a Board member of the National Museums of Scotland and of Scotland Malawi Partnership; Chair and Vice-Chair of Higher Education Institutions; and a Board member of the Enterprise Development Company in her home town of Hamilton.

Isabel was awarded an OBE in the 2009 New Year Honours List for services to Higher Education in Scotland and Malawi. And awarded Woman of Inspiration 2019, Association of Scottish Businesswomen, for her leadership of the David Livingstone Trust.

Tell us about your organisation and your role.

I’m CEO of Dundee Science Centre, an engaging and entertaining visitor attraction providing lifelong science learning to everyone – Early Years, Special Needs, Primary and Secondary pupils and works to improve lives in our community.

I so enjoy working with the team to deliver to our broad range of customers in news ways – having fun with science on-line; having breast feeding mums enjoy our Cafe Create; having folks of all ages engage with our new exhibitions; and ensuring youngsters in our STEM Clubs have a great time.

Why do you think the real Living Wage is more important than ever?

As we’ve come out of COVID lockdowns, struggled to get back into a balanced life-working regime, and are experiencing increases in prices, we need the real Living Wage to give our staff the chance to meet their very real expectations of life.

Why do you think committing to the real Living Wage is important to Dundee City

Dundee is a City committed to offering the ‘feel’ of a big city with a high quality of life – green, healthy and engaged. The real Living Wage gives our citizens a good starting point to a fulfilled life and encourages businesses to be ambitious together for economic growth.

What do you think are the barriers that must be overcome to see more workers paid the real Living Wage?

The real barrier to businesses paying the real Living Wage is affordability – and by working together and in new ways we can stimulate economic growth which helps businesses grow their income and in turn are then able to pay the real Living Wage.

Dundee Science Centre won the Living Wage Scotland Resilience Award last year for the fantastic way you supported your team and your community. How did winning the Award make you feel?

Winning the Award gave me and my team the confidence to step out and secure new opportunities to help us reach more people and keep our business vibrant. It was truly a great boost for DSC and recognition of the hard work, effort and dedication of the whole team.

What’s the best thing about your job?

The best thing is delivering STEM fun and learning opportunities for all our communities and have them feedback that ’We had great fun, the staff at the Centre are wonderful and we will be back!! ‘

What’s been getting you through the pandemic?

Continually changing DSC in response to emerging needs, my family and my cocker spaniels!

What are you hoping for in the next year?

As we all begin to return to a more normal life, I am hoping that the Centre goes from strength to strength by expanding our offer in the Centre and delivering more in community settings.

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