Meet the Team
Our team are qualified professionals with a wealth of experience across Education, Healthcare, Third Sector / Charity, Business, Executive Leadership and Entrepreneurial Development.
Dr Shannon Babbie
Andrew McLaughlin
James Finnie
Founder
Managing Director
Dr Babbie is a veteran educator with over 25 years of experience. He has held nearly every role in the sector—from teacher and headteacher to school superintendent and HR Director.
His university research and teaching focuses on the intersection of autism & neurodiversity, education, policy, and inclusive practice. Dr Babbie is dedicated to creating inclusive environments where innovative connections flourish between students, faculty, employers, and the wider community.
Technology Director
Andy leads the effort to future-proof the Belonging Quotient™ platform by integrating emerging technologies and ensuring the platform can scale to support a growing global network of accredited organisations. He also ensures data integrity and security protocols to protect client information and proprietary research, ensuring that our work is backed by a secure, professional infrastructure.
Andy is a lecturer in Education at the University of Aberdeen. Following 8 years working in the IT sector, Andy spent 15 years in secondary schools, as a teacher and, latterly, as a council-wide leader with a focus on closing attainment gaps through intentional and deliberate interventions. Andy's teaching and scholarship focus on how we lead and shape human-centred learning experiences in the post-digital age. Andy is also an Advisory Board member for Impact School Improvement Ltd.
Business Development
With over 25 years experience in social enterprise development, James is a respected leader in his field. He has worked for the largest largest social enterprise development agency in the UK and also headed up the International Social Enterprise Observatory (ISEO), which supports the growth of Scottish social enterprises internationally and supports international social enterprises looking to do business in Scotland.
Our Story & Mission
OMNI Cognitive Labs was founded to address gaps in traditional accessibility by focusing on sensory challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals. Rooted in University of Aberdeen research, we developed the Belonging Quotient to transform environments through data-driven, eight-domain audits that ensure compliance and foster genuine belonging in education and workplaces.
Vicky Simpson
Associate Assessor
Vicky is a lecturer in Education and Early Childhood Care at the University of Aberdeen. Her work is driven by a deep passion for play, play spaces and inclusive practice within early years and primary education.
Vicky's research is focussed on playfulness in the Scottish Primary Context, exploring how playful pedagogies can support inclusive learning environments and meaningful engagement for all children.
Dr Barbara Gorgoni
TECH TRANSFER EXEC.
Barbara’s role at the University of Aberdeen is to support the commercialisation of research across a wide range of activities, including IP protection, licensing, spinout formation, market exploration and industry collaboration. She helps researchers progress innovative ideas from concept to application, facilitating access to development programmes, relevant funding and other support.
Barbara supports the University’s spinout pipeline, guiding ventures through to company creation. More recently she has taken an interest in the development of social enterprises in diverse disciplines.