Advancing Sustainable Growth
About Us
When Gavin's not wild swimming, Ray's not at a music gig or Joe's not on his bike conquering a mountain, their passion is helping create a brighter future. They do this by helping leaders and organisations to meet their sustainable business growth ambitions. Using their creative skills in innovation, networking, communications, sustainability, social impact and experiences gained as founders, CEOs, revenue leaders and raisers of Investment in the private and public sector. Alex is bringing valuable research and next generation thinking as we expand our reach to support business and workforces of all generations.
Gavin Tweedie
Gavin founded Think Partnership in January 2021, the year Cop26 came to Glasgow. The company specialises in helping businesses to advance their sustainable growth ambitions by integrating sustainability principles into their core operations for greater resilience and success. This follows a career in startup-ups, mergers and acquisitions dating back to 1995. Gavin helped launch seven international and UK startups, some later acquired by IBM, HP, and Sun Microsystems. His career was largely spent with F500 companies across North America, Europe, and Australasia, focused on creating shareholder wealth. Over time, Gavin recognised the need for a greater emphasis on people and planet alongside profit. He pivoted to purpose-led business in 2020, during the pandemic outbreak.
This realisation led him to establish a purpose-led company called Think Partnership, applying his invaluable experiences to support companies become more sustainable and successful—without compromising people or the planet.
The 2024 Net Zero Heroes award winner also co-founded the Scottish Net Zero Community, leading 80 SMEs to COP26, and Net Zero Nation, a non-profit enabling 150 SMEs to achieve Net Zero goals, gain competitive advantage and win awards. This is where Gavin and Ray first worked together in building a movement of SMEs determined to build and integrate Net Zero practices and efficiencies into their business. Today, Gavin, Ray, Joe and affiliates guide companies to future-proof their businesses, attract talent and investment, and turn sustainable growth ambitions into reality.
Ray
Black
Ray has operated across sectors in sales and management at country level with international businesses for over three decades.
Alongside Think Partnership, he also provides latest thinking in sales training and business development with 1000-Steps, who are based in Singapore with a global client base. He has experience in the 3rd sector, bringing an invaluable breadth of knowledge and energy to every project.
The photo below is Ray presenting at one of our partners, Dumfries and Galloway College Net Zero Skills Centre.
Joe
Arciero
Joe Arciero joined us in January 2025. He has enjoyed a 35-year career spanning roles from Research Scientist in the Nuclear Industry to Director of Sourcing with Chivas Brothers (Pernod-Ricard), later becoming Global Procurement Category Director. Today he works as a business mentor and Procurement Specialist with Think Partnership drawing on his deep experience in driving procurement and supply chain efficiencies, sustainability and quality outcomes.
Joe spent 12 years at General Electric (GE). At GE, he gained exposure to diverse cultures and industries, benefiting greatly from the renowned GE Management Education program, which he describes as the most transformative learning experience of his life.
In 1999 he joined Chivas Brothers (Pernod-Ricard), where he served as Director of Sourcing, New Product Development, and Quality, later becoming Global Procurement Category Director. He also contributed to the industry through roles such as Chair of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) Scientific Committee and Chair of the 2021 Worldwide Distilled Spirits Conference, while maintaining academic ties by lecturing on whisky production science.
Joe recently led a panel event on sustainability in the supply chains at Scotlands Trade Fair Spring at the SEC, Glasgow on 20th January. There he shared some of his own experiences as a senior procurement leader and the blog can be read here.
Joe’s proudest achievements include a reactor rebuild at GE’s Grangemouth site, securing jobs for a decade, launching iconic Chivas products, and watching his team members flourish in their careers. Now, his focus is on mentoring and supporting businesses committed to building sustainable ESG foundations, driven by a passion for sharing his extensive knowledge and experience.
Alex
Tweedie
Alex provides us with research and client engagement. Supporting us with things day to day including events, social media and documenting impact stories. Alex is currently completing her 4th year at Edinburgh University studying environmental geoscience. She has been focusing on measuring and analysing the effects of human created hydrogen in the atmosphere and potential impact on greenhouse gases, something that is important for us to know as we embrace Hydrogen as a cleaner energy source. You can read her cited published work here. Alex demonstrates her passion for sustainability in everything she does.
Below is Alex pictured with Sam Mackilligin. Leader of the Power to X Group at Hydrogen Scotland at the 2024 Hydrogen Scotland Christmas market in Edinburgh.
Her work in Hydrogen research has led to her attending the Atmospheric Chemistry Special Interest Groupn in-person meeting at the Møller Institute, Churchill College, Cambridge, dedicated to exploring hydrogen’s chemistry and its effects on atmospheric composition and climate. This event marks the conclusion of the UK Hydrogen Environmental Impacts Programme, funded by NERC and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero. A second day, led by the programme, will focus on additional aspects related to the environmental impacts of hydrogen energy, including global and UK scenarios of hydrogen use, fugitive hydrogen emissions and the uptake of atmospheric hydrogen by soils - a key factor regulating atmospheric hydrogen levels.