New appointments and promotions

The Sustainable Aquaculture Innovation Centre (SAIC) has appointed Jillian Couto-Phoenix as its new head of skills and talent, and Janina Costa to the role of aquaculture innovation officer.

Firstly, Jillian comes from the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS). There, she was a program manager for the National Transition Training Fund (NTTF) focusing on upskilling and training to meet the industry’s digital transformation, net zero, and sustainability skills requirements.

In addition, since 2019, she has been an innovation consultant, helping academics bridge the gap between research and innovation. As well as delivering workshops for MSc and Ph.D. researchers.

Therefore, Jillian will oversee the innovation center’s training, leadership, and sector engagement programs. She will work closely with aquaculture professionals, colleges, and universities on skills initiatives. Also, on the development of SAIC’s support for internships, graduates, and master’s students.

On the other hand, Janina Costa specializes in fish health, immunology, and vaccine development. She has more than 20 years of experience as a scientist and consultant. Besides, she comes from the Aquaculture Research Group (ARG) at the Moredun Research Institute.

Regarding her appointment, Jillian said: “I’m excited to join SAIC and apply my experience to the innovation center’s training and skills programs. With sustainability becoming ever more important to the aquaculture sector, I’m keen to share my knowledge and help develop and deliver support for the current aquaculture workforce. As well as the next generation of talent coming through.”

Further, CEO of SAIC, Heather Jones, added: “Jillian is an excellent addition to our team, bringing a wealth of experience in terms of sustainable skills development. This role is crucial to matching the needs of the sector with new talent starting careers in aquaculture. Jillian’s knowledge will be particularly invaluable in meeting the needs of both the sector and our academic institutions. She will also hold an important role in supporting integration of skills across projects and knowledge exchange activities within SAIC.”

Finally, these new appointments follow the recent promotion of Daniel Carcajona and Lynsey Muir to senior aquaculture innovation officer and aquaculture innovation officer, respectively.