Analytical Symposium 2026

Anne Coxon is Professor of Practice in Forensic Science and the Deputy Director of the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science (LRCFS) at the University of Dundee. Before coming to LRCFS in April 2023, Anne spent eight years at Forensic Science SA in Adelaide, Australia where, latterly, she was the Assistant Director Operations responsible for the delivery of forensic science and medico-legal services to the State of South Australia.  

She has twenty years’ experience as a technical expert and science leader within the fields of illicit drug analysis and clandestine drug laboratory investigation gained whilst working for the Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd in New Zealand. During this time, Anne extensively used analytical chemistry techniques both in the laboratory and out in the field.

Jane Officer is the Forensic Lead for Criminal Toxicology at Scottish Police Authority Forensic Services. Her career in forensic science began in 2002 as a drug scientist in Edinburgh, soon after crossing to Toxicology gaining experience in a variety of analytical techniques such as TLC, Headspace GC-FID, GCMS, LCMS and LCMS/MS, High Resolution LCMS and solid phase and supported liquid extraction techniques.  

Jane has provided toxicology reports for a wide variety of case types including: postmortem, road traffic alcohol (section 5), road traffic drugs (Section 4 and 5A), sexual offences and alcohol technical defence (back calculations), regularly providing expert testimony in court. 

Areas of specific interest are drugs trends within toxicology casework, drugs and driving and alcohol technical defence calculations. Jane is also responsible for ensuring the quality of work within toxicology meets the required standards including the planning and implementation of new equipment and methods.

Kotryna Baronaite completed her BSc (Hons) in Forensic Science in Ireland before moving to Aberdeen to study for an MSc in Drug Analysis and Toxicology at Robert Gordon University in 2016. She then remained in Aberdeen to undertake a PhD in Medicinal Science, completed in 2021, in collaboration with TauRx Pharmaceuticals, where her research focused on the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a chemical tracer for Alzheimer’s disease research.

Originally from Lithuania, Kotryna has built her career across both academia and the pharmaceutical industry and is currently a Development Scientist in Analytical Development & Systems. She is excited to return to RGU to share her career journey, discuss the transition from university to industry, and show students how the skills gained through analytical and forensic science can open doors to a wide range of careers.

Lorna Dawson BSc (Hons) Geography, Edinburgh University, PhD in Soil Science, Aberdeen University, is Head of the Centre for Forensic Soil Science at James Hutton Institute, Honorary Professor at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, and Professora CESPU, Portugal. She is a Chartered Scientist, Fellow of the Institute of British Soil Scientists, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Fellow of the Royal Institute of Biology and Fellow of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. She is a registered expert with the National Crime Agency, a trained Expert Witness, holding diplomas in civil and criminal law (Cardiff, 2011, 2012, 2017 and in Scots Law, Aberdeen, 2021) and has worked on over 200 cases with police forces, agencies, lawyers and forensic science service providers such as Eurofins, Access and Apex, across the UK and overseas.  She regularly presents evidence in court, for the prosecution and defence, including WA v Rayney, Perth, Australia, 2012; R v Davies, North Wales, 2013; HMA v Sinclair, Livingstone, 2014; R v Halliwell, Bristol, 2016; HMA v Willox, Glasgow, 2020, HMA v MacDowell, Inverness, 2022; R v Southwood, Newport, 2023; HMA v Barnes, Edinburgh, 2023; HMA v McKellar, Glasgow 2023; HMA v Packer, Glasgow, 2024; HMA v Campbell, Glasgow, 2025; R v Cowie, Jackson and Welsh, Newcastle, 2026; and the Sheku Bayoh Public Inquiry, Edinburgh, 2022.

She has published over 150 scientific papers mainly on soil analysis, characterisation and evaluation, specialising in the use of soil organic biomarkers for trace evidence comparison. She is treasurer of the IUGS Initiative on Forensic Geology, Vice Chair of the Geological Society Forensic Geology Group and an affiliate member of the Organisation of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science, USA, and on the steering committee of the ENFSI Animal Plant Soil Trace working group.

She is currently on the UK Forensic Science Regulator’s Non-Human Biology Specialist Group and the ENFSI Opinion and Interpretation Working Group. She was awarded a DBE in the Kings New Year honours list 2026 for services to innovation in soil and forensic science, a CBE from the late Queen Elizabeth’s Birthday list in June 2018, the RSE James Hutton medal for excellence in Earth and Environmental sciences in 2023, the Proteomass Scientific Society Award, 2024, and the Fletcher of Saltoun Award, 2024, from the Scotland Saltire Society for excellence in science. She is a professional science communicator and has appeared in print, radio and TV (e.g. University Challenge, Countryfile, the Ri, Expert Witness, Murder Case, Murder Case, Netflix ‘Should I marry a Murderer’) as well as advising Crime authors and dramas (Silent Witness) and appearing in festivals (e.g. Shetland Noir, Bloody Scotland).