CANCELLED - Aberdeen, Highlands and Inverness Section - Creating opportunities: Mentorship, mindset and making your own luck

What to expect

Join us for a social evening at The Atholl Hotel, Aberdeen, on Friday 25 September 2026.

Enjoy a complimentary welcome drink on arrival, before hearing an inspiring talk from Callum Youngson MBE on how embracing new and unexpected opportunities can lead to both personal and professional growth. Discover how to recognise potential opportunities, build valuable networks and mentoring relationships, and develop the confidence and mindset needed to make the most of every opportunity that comes their way.

Through discussion and real-life insights, Callum will examine the benefits of being open to the unexpected, the important role mentorship plays in career development, and how individuals can position themselves to seize opportunities when they arise. It will also explore the balance between luck and hard work in creating a successful and fulfilling career.

Following the talk, the evening will provide an opportunity to socialise, network, and catch up with friends and colleagues over a buffet meal and raffle draw.

We look forward to welcoming you for an enjoyable evening of good food, great company, and networking!

Timings

18:30 Registration and welcome drinks
19:00 What? You! President!! Really?? with Callum Youngson MBE
19:30 Buffet meal
21:30 Raffle draw
22:00 End

The evening will be an opportunity to network and catch up with friends and colleagues over drinks and a buffet meal.

Learning objectives

• Recognise the importance of mentorship in personal and professional development

• Identify how to be in a good position to embrace opportunities

• Discuss the role of 'luck' versus 'work' in a having a successful career.

Development outcomes

B and D

Meet the speaker

Callum qualified from Dundee in 1982 and moved to Leeds where he eventually became Hon Consultant/Senior Lecturer in Restorative Dentistry and Head of Conservative Dentistry.

He was appointed as Professor of Restorative Dentistry at Liverpool in 2004, where he was Dean from 2008 – 2018 before becoming the Associate ProVice Chancellor for Education in the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.

Callum retired from clinical practice in 2021 after having had long term interests in failing restorative treatment, tooth wear, and complex oro-facial pain (and sometimes all of these together).

He has previously chaired Dental Schools Council and the Board of Dental Protection Ltd and was awarded an MBE in 2025 for services to Dental Education.

Callum became President of the BDA in May 2026.