Calendar An icon of a desk calendar. Cancel An icon of a circle with a diagonal line across. Caret An icon of a block arrow pointing to the right. Email An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of the Facebook "f" mark. Google An icon of the Google "G" mark. Linked In An icon of the Linked In "in" mark. Logout An icon representing logout. Profile An icon that resembles human head and shoulders. Telephone An icon of a traditional telephone receiver. Tick An icon of a tick mark. Is Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes. Is Not Public An icon of a human eye and eyelashes with a diagonal line through it. Pause Icon A two-lined pause icon for stopping interactions. Quote Mark A opening quote mark. Quote Mark A closing quote mark. Arrow An icon of an arrow. Folder An icon of a paper folder. Breaking An icon of an exclamation mark on a circular background. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Caret An icon of a caret arrow. Clock An icon of a clock face. Close An icon of the an X shape. Close Icon An icon used to represent where to interact to collapse or dismiss a component Comment An icon of a speech bubble. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Comments An icon of a speech bubble, denoting user comments. Ellipsis An icon of 3 horizontal dots. Envelope An icon of a paper envelope. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Camera An icon of a digital camera. Home An icon of a house. Instagram An icon of the Instagram logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. Magnifying Glass An icon of a magnifying glass. Search Icon A magnifying glass icon that is used to represent the function of searching. Menu An icon of 3 horizontal lines. Hamburger Menu Icon An icon used to represent a collapsed menu. Next An icon of an arrow pointing to the right. Notice An explanation mark centred inside a circle. Previous An icon of an arrow pointing to the left. Rating An icon of a star. Tag An icon of a tag. Twitter An icon of the Twitter logo. Video Camera An icon of a video camera shape. Speech Bubble Icon A icon displaying a speech bubble WhatsApp An icon of the WhatsApp logo. Information An icon of an information logo. Plus A mathematical 'plus' symbol. Duration An icon indicating Time. Success Tick An icon of a green tick. Success Tick Timeout An icon of a greyed out success tick. Loading Spinner An icon of a loading spinner. Facebook Messenger An icon of the facebook messenger app logo. Facebook An icon of a facebook f logo. Facebook Messenger An icon of the Twitter app logo. LinkedIn An icon of the LinkedIn logo. WhatsApp Messenger An icon of the Whatsapp messenger app logo. Email An icon of an mail envelope. Copy link A decentered black square over a white square.

‘Resilience is a consequence of difficulties you go through’: photojournalist landmine survivor inspires north-east businesses

Inspirational speaker Giles Duley said: "Each one of us has the power to create change using the skills we have". Image: Michal Wachucik/ Abermedia.
Inspirational speaker Giles Duley said: "Each one of us has the power to create change using the skills we have". Image: Michal Wachucik/ Abermedia.

Fresh from a 42-hour journey from Donbas, Ukraine, Giles Duley launched his keynote speech in Aberdeen with a “funny story about getting blown up in Afghanistan”.

Although the incident where he stepped on a landmine nearly cost him his life, as well as an arm and both legs, the photojournalist, author, speaker and chef described how he returned to the war zone the next year to continue his work, while telling a range of anecdotes about his career that were in turns funny, tragic and insightful.

Duley was speaking at the Transform Business Festival at Aberdeen Science Centre, aimed at giving new and existing businesses insight into how they can start, grow, and build their own enterprise.

Legacy of War Foundation chief executive and photojournalist Giles Duley speaks at the Transform Business Festival at Aberdeen Science Centre. Image:  Michal Wachucik / Abermedia

Recounting how he first came to terms with photographing the results of war on innocent men, women and children, he admits he still “struggles sometimes”.

“Each one of us has the power to create change using the skills we have,” he said.

“I wish I was a politician or I had finance or I was a doctor who can save a life directly  – I’m none of those things.

“I have one gift, that is to tell stories. And each one of us in this room has the power to create change in our environment by using the skills we have.”

He was joined at the breakfast session kicking off the day-long event by Dr Fiona McIntyre, who is well known in Aberdeen for being the founder and managing director of the popular visitor attraction, Greyhope Bay.

A graduate of the business support group Elevator’s accelerator program, McIntyre raced through the history of the project at Torry Battery from its early visionary concept to its current incarnation as a cafe, community and education space which offers visitors a panoramic view of the dolphins and other marine life at the mouth of Port of Aberdeen.

She added that she is currently looking at a second phase of the project.

She said her vision for the scheme – currently a temporary “off-grid” eco-facility built out of converted shipping containers – had shifted from a “big building” in its early inception more than ten years ago, but that this was the key to the projects’ future.

“The big building might be presented as a vision but ultimately it was a concept.

“Actually what I believe we have done is delivered on a vision which is to do the things I originally wanted the thing to do – it has an education program, it has a space for people to observe the marine environment, it has space where people can experience joy when the dolphins jump and it is a space where the community comes together.

“Steps are important in terms of getting you to the end goal.”

Greyhope Bay founder and managing director Dr Fiona McIntyre speaks at the Transform Business Festival at Aberdeen Science Centre. Image: Michal Wachucik / Abermedia

Professor Gary McEwan, the chief executive of Elevator which organised the event, joined Duley and McIntyre for a question and answer session.

He summed up the session.

“I agree with a lot with what Giles has said – resilience comes as a consequence of adversity you go through,” he said.

“Now I reflect on some of those worst moments of my life actually now I would say they were the best moments of my life.

“That helps me get through tribulation.”

Also see a gallery of pictures and reaction from attendees from the event, which was also supported by Business Gateway Aberdeen City & Shire in partnership with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Councils.

Left, Elevator chief executive Professor Gary McEwan and right Giles Duley. Aberdeen. Image Michal Wachucik / Abermedia

Conversation