The University Court is the governing body of the University. Its powers are set out in the University's constitutional document, which is 'The University of Abertay Dundee (Scotland) Order of Council 1994'.
Court comprises a maximum of 25 members including independent members, ex-officio members and staff and student members. Independent members remain an absolute majority. Court meets at least five times each year.
The primary responsibilities of the Court as the governing body of the University are set out in the Statement of Primary Responsibilities.
The current members of Court are:
Chair of Court/Independent Member (Retired Solicitor)
Murray Shaw is a retired solicitor and is a graduate of the University of Dundee. Qualified in 1982, Murray was a solicitor for over 30 years. He joined Biggart Baillie in 1982, becoming Senior Partner and Chairman in 2009, a position he held until the firm merged with DWF. He left DWF and joined Gillespie MacAndrew in 2014 and, having become Chairman there, he retired in 2017.
While his original workload included a broad range of disputes including commercial disputes, his experience in recent years has concentrated on planning and construction matters including judicial review and statutory challenges.
Murray was a member of the ICAS Discipline Board and Chairman of the ICAS Appeal Committee.
He is married with two sons and lives in Glasgow. His interests include golf, theatre-going and American history.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
None
Directorships etc.
None
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
None
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
None
Nazhat currently works as a Development Officer within the Fundraising team of the External and Corporate Relations Directorate. She began her Higher Education Fundraising and Admin Support career over 15 years ago starting at Abertay University, and then working in other institutions such as Strathclyde University, Glasgow Caledonian University, and Brighton University. Then returning to Abertay University in 2014 to her current role. She has also had a career in the Arts sector working for organisations such as Scottish Youth Theatre, Dance Base and WASPS Artists’ Studios.
Nazhat has a degree in MA (Hons) English Literature from Dundee University, and a Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) Diploma in Marketing.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Abertay University
Directorships etc.
None
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
None
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
None
Significant Pecuniary Interests
None
Vice-Principal (Academic)/ex officio member
Professor Liz Bacon joined Abertay University as Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) in 2018.
A former President of BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT, Professor Bacon is also current President of EQANIE (European Quality Assurance Network for Informatics Education) and a past Chair of the BCS Academy of Computing and the CPHC (Council of Professors and Heads of Computing) national committee.
She is also a Trustee of Bletchley Park Trust.
A Professor of Computer Science at Abertay, Professor Bacon’s research interests include computing policy, smart systems, security and technology enhanced learning.
She is passionate about the development of her discipline and is keen to inspire more people to choose computing as a career, with a particular commitment to supporting women in entering, and progressing in, the profession.
Director – Customer Services, Business & Public Sector / Independent Member
As Director for BT Business customer service, Andrew is responsible for managing the customer experience including new contracts implementation and faults and repairs for BT’s Corporate & Small/Medium Enterprise (SME) business customers together with Billing in the UK.
Andrew joined BT in 2011 having previously held a number of senior management and leadership positions at Sky Plc and Royal Bank of Scotland Plc.
Andrew has vast experience of customer service & large scale people operations together with programme & delivery management roles in the UK and Internationally.
He holds an MBA from Edinburgh Napier University Business School & resides in Perthshire.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
BT Group PLC
Directorships etc.
BT Scotland Board.
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
BT Group PLC
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
N/a
Significant Pecuniary Interests
N/a
Business Consultant/Independent Member
John was born in Angus and studied Law at Dundee University and Economics at St Andrews University.
He has 20 years’ experience in international corporate banking and project finance in the City of London, covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Upon returning to Scotland, he has worked in charity management and for a leading ethical bank providing advice and affordable loans to organisations in the charity, social enterprise and community sectors.
He has served on various boards and committees in the voluntary sector including social housing and recycling. For 8 years he was a member of the University of Dundee Audit Committee. He has served on several public policy commissions and is a founder member of the independent Commission on School Reform.
Married with two children, he lives in St Andrews where he enjoys driving the safety for the sailing club.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Director of Vanellus Consulting Ltd
Directorships etc.
Trustee of Fife Law Centre - unremunerated
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
Nil
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
Nil
Significant Pecuniary Interests
Nil
Alison Duffy is an experienced researcher, working at Abertay since 2000 in integrated water asset management focusing on multiple stakeholder collaborations in both the public and private sector on a national and international basis – ensuring a transition towards cost effective multi-purpose blue / green infrastructure that are fit for purpose and provide multiple benefits for local communities. Alison also regularly undertakes outreach with local communities and schools to promote awareness and uptake of blue / green infrastructure specifically and STEM subjects in general.
Born in a small fishing village in North Yorkshire, now residing in the Angus Glens, Alison is a twice graduate from Abertay University (MSc, BSc). She began her career as an analytical chemist for Scottish Water. Outside work she is a judge for British and Scottish Gymnastics and a committee member of the local gymnastics club.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Abertay University
Directorships etc.
N/A
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
N/A
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
Unite TU Representative
Significant Pecuniary Interests
N/A
Heather was the first in her family to enter higher education and is passionate about the difference education plays in transforming lives.
Heather has 20 years’ experience in senior leadership roles across the public and private sectors. She retired as Principal and Chief Executive of Ayrshire College in 2019. Heather also has experience of large scale capital projects and during her time in Ayrshire led the development of a £54m campus.
Heather has held a number of board positions in the public and charitable sectors, most recently Chairing the Education Committee of the Prince’s Foundation. In 2015, Heather was awarded an OBE for services to further and higher education.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Nil
Directorships etc.
Nil
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
Nil
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
Nil
Program Manager at NCR Corporation/Independent Member
Gameelah Ghafoor heads NCR's Financial Software Security Portfolio. Gameelah has over twenty years experience within the software industry leading various technology driven solutions. In this capacity, she has worked with a range of industry, academic and public sector partners throughout her career. Gameelah is passionate about continuous learning.
Since graduating from Abertay University in 1994, Gameelah has owned her own retail business and has had numerous patents filed with the US Patent Office.
Gameelah is married with one daughter. She enjoys running having completed various 10K, half-marathons and a full marathon. Gameelah has also competed in the Royal National Mod with the Dundee Gaelic Choir.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Programme Manager, NCR FSG Ltd
Directorships etc.
None
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
None
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
None
Lynne worked throughout her career in public service including senior leadership and Board roles in the civil service and the NHS. She served as Director of Finance of Welsh Government, Chief Finance Officer of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service of England & Wales and Executive Director of Finance at Swansea Bay University Health Board. Lynne is a member of the Charted Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy.
She has over 30 years public service experience in a career spanning research; strategy and policy development and implementation; change management; system improvement; and strategic and operational financial leadership and governance.
Lynne is passionate about diversity, organisational and personal development and believes that great people make great organisations.
She is a Trustee of Chwarae Teg, Wales’s leading equality charity and a Trustee of Cardiff and Vale Citizens Advice. Lynne is also an Independent Member of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable for Dyfed Powys Joint Audit Committee and a Senior Independent Panel Member for Welsh Government Public Appointments.
She is married to a fellow Scot, has two sons and a small granddaughter.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
None
Directorships etc.
Fair Play (Workforce) Ltd (known as Chwarae Teg)
Cardiff and Vale Citizens Advice Bureau Ltd
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
None
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
None
Significant Pecuniary Interests
None
Independent Member
Annie Ingram has recently retired from NHS Scotland, following a 30+ year career in which she was the Director of Workforce for NHS Grampian and NHS Orkney and the North Regional Lead for Workforce. Annie worked in the NHS most of her working life, starting in Greater London at Mount Vernon Hospital, before returning to Scotland, where she worked for NHS Lothian, NHS Tayside and NHS Grampian. A fellow of CIPD, Annie has worked as both an HR professional, at all levels including as a Board Director. She has managed clinical services, led healthcare planning at a regional level for the North of Scotland and was also the National Programme Director for Remote and Rural Healthcare, developing and supporting the implementation of Scottish Government Policy to sustain remote and rural services.
Annie has an interest in European employment law and its impact on the NHS, with a research LLM which looked at the impact of the Acquired Rights Directive and TUPE on commercial tendering in the NHS and a PhD in the impact of Working Time on the NHS.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Director of Workforce, NHS Grampian
Directorships etc.
As above.
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
The NHS has significant links with the University, but this is more likely to be with the local NHS Board, than NHS Grampian.
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
Nil
Significant Pecuniary Interests
Nil
Director of cofink ltd. / Independent Member
His work brings collaborative design thinking to the complex challenges faced by universities, public sector organisations and businesses.
He was Director of the Glasgow School of Art from 2013 to 2018. Under his leadership the Art School opened two new academic schools, developed its campuses in Singapore and the Highlands and moved from 20th to 8th position in the QS World rankings for Art & Design education. During the period GSA became one of Scotland's leading Institutions for widening access for disadvantaged students. Previously Tom was Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design and Director of Research for Art, Science and Engineering at the University of Dundee. Between 2005 and 2010 he was Director of the AHRC/EPSRC Designing for the 21st Century Research Programme. Tom studied Engineering at the University of Bristol and Design at the Royal College of Art, his PhD explored how design develops the innovation capability of business.
Tom is passionate about the role Higher Education plays in transforming lives and the contribution made by universities to local communities and global knowledge.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
cofink Ltd
Directorships etc.
cofink Ltd
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
Visiting Professor, University of Strathclyde
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
Chair of Arts & Humanities Research Council Design Theme Advisory Group
Member of Scottish Funding Council Research & Knowledge Exchange Committee
Significant Pecuniary Interests
None
Academic Registrar at Birkbeck, University of London / Independent Member
Fraser Keir was the first in his family to enter Higher Education. After completing an Access to Degree Studies Certificate at Moray College in Elgin he graduated with an MA (Honours) in History from the University of Aberdeen. He then went on to study at Dundee College for his Professional Diploma in Marketing and subsequently became a Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (MCIM). Fraser was awarded an MBA from the Open University in 2012.
Having grown up in a number of towns across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland Fraser now resides in Hertfordshire and works in central London at Birkbeck, University of London where he is a member of the senior management team.
Outside of work he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, playing golf and keeping up with politics and current affairs.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Academic Registrar, Birkbeck, University of London
Directorships etc.
None
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
None
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
N/A – Although I am a Trustee of Christchurch, Harpenden
Significant Pecuniary Interests
None
Vice Principal, Perth College UHI/Independent Member
Veronica has 30 years’ experience in leadership roles gained across local, regional and national government organisations in the areas of business development, marketing and international development. She is currently Vice Principal at Perth College UHI. Veronica was formerly a member of the Board of Governors at West Lothian College and currently sits on the board of Caledonia Housing Association. Veronica chairs the Business Development Directors Network of Scotland’s Colleges.
Veronica is a graduate of Abertay University and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing. She is a qualified practising clinical solution focussed hypnotherapist and psychotherapist.
Register of Interests
Paid employment
Perth College UHI, Vice Principal, External Engagement
Directorships etc.
Perth College UHI
Caledonia Group
Vital Life Solutions Hypnotherapy Ltd
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
Perth College UHI
Head of Operations, Skills Development Scotland/Independent Member
Gordon has over 20 years’ progressive experience in managing complex public sector organisations. As Head of Operations for Tayside, Fife and Forth Valley, he is responsible for all Skills Development Activity in North East Scotland.
Born in Dundee, Gordon read history at St Andrews University before going on to further study at Napier, Dundee College and Abertay.
He is a Justice of the Peace for the Sherrifdom of Dundee, Central and Fife, sitting mainly in the Dundee Court and a trustee of the Dundee Heritage Environment Trust.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Head of Operations (North East Region), Skills Development, Scotland
Directorships etc.
Director/Trustee of Dundee Historic Environment Trust, Director of WorkNet International Ltd, Justice of the Peace - Sheriffdom of Tayside, Central and Fife
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
Skills Development Scotland
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
None
School Head of Teaching Quality and Learning Enhancement / Member nominated by Senate
Biography and Register of Interests to follow.
Digital Capability & Transformation Manager, Heineken / Independent Member
Biography and Register of Interests to be added
Chief Executive of 20/20 Business Group, Business Sector / Independent Member.
As Chief Executive of 20/20 Business Group, Tony is responsible for leading a Group of companies in the UK and US that provide project management training and consultancy services to leading organisations in the oil & gas, engineering & construction, aerospace & defence, utilities, nuclear, transport & logistic sectors.
Tony is a Fellow of The Association for Project Management, The Chartered Management Institute and of The Institute of Leadership & Management. He was the author of ‘2020 Project Management’ published by Kogan Page, and also wrote the Standard for Capital Projects Management for NHS Scotland. He is currently co-authoring a ‘Handbook of Project Controls’.
Tony previously founded and led a collaborative learning research company called BusinessLab ®, was a Director of Worldwide Learning (a division of Times Supplements), a Director of two software companies, and spent 10 years in project management with British Telecom. He has also been a Charity Trustee, served on the Scottish Enterprise Regional Advisory Board for Tayside and supported The Tay Cities Deal.
He resides in Broughty Ferry, Dundee and works throughout the UK.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
20/20 Business Insight Ltd
Directorships etc.
20/20 Business Group Ltd
20/20 Business Insight Ltd
20/20 Intellectual Property Ltd
20/20 Project Management Ltd (non-trading)
20/20 Business Group Inc. (U.S.)
Also Trustee of The 20/20 Employee Ownership Trust
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
None
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
None
Significant Pecuniary Interests
Married to Alison Marks, Senior Solicitor, Thorntons LLP (provider of legal services to Abertay University)
Former Director of Finance, NHS Tayside/Independent Member
Ian McDonald has had nearly 40 years’ experience within the National Health Service and was the Director of Finance for NHS Tayside between 2009 and June 2015.
Ian began his career in the NHS in 1975, gained an SHNC in Accounting from Perth College of Further Education in 1980 and is a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Professional Financial Accountants.
For the last five and a half years, Ian was a co-opted external member of the Audit Committee prior to joining the lay membership of Court of 1 January 2015.
Married with 2 children (both Abertay graduates) and living in Dundee, Ian is a self-confessed keep fit fanatic as well as an avid follower of St Johnstone Football Club now that his playing days are over.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
None
Directorships etc.
None
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
None
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
None
Head of Communities & Cultural Engagement, Perth & Kinross Council / Independent Member
Fiona Robertson began her career as a curator at Tate before moving into a range of culture and heritage management roles in Cumbria, London and South East England. She returned to Scotland in the early 2000s and shortly afterwards joined Scottish Government where she worked on policy areas including culture, housing, tackling poverty, and community empowerment. She joined Perth and Kinross Council in 20182 where she is responsible for arts and culture, sport and physical activity, adult and community learning, Gaelic development and Community Planning. She was Vice-Chair of the National Library of Scotland and Chair of the Governance Sub-Committee from 2014- 2019. She has a postgraduate degree in Modern Scottish Writing.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Chief Officer, Perth and Kinross Council
Directorships etc.
Board member, National Library of Scotland February 2014-present
Chair, Governance Committee, National Library of Scotland February 2014-present
Vice-Chair, National Library of Scotland June 2014-present
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
None
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
None
Significant Pecuniary Interests
None
Lecturer / Member nominated by Abertay UCU academic staff union
Biography and Register of Interests to follow.
Principal and Vice-Chancellor/Ex officio Member
Nigel Seaton joined Abertay University as Principal and Vice-Chancellor in 2012.
Professor Seaton began his academic career at the University of Edinburgh, where he gained a BSc (Honours) in Chemical Engineering in 1982. He went on to do an MSE and a PhD in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. After completing his PhD in 1986, he worked as a research engineer with Atkins Research and Development and with BP.
From 1989 to 1997, he was Lecturer in Chemical Engineering at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Clare College. He was a visiting professor at Cornell University in 1996-97. In 1997, he returned to the University of Edinburgh as Professor of Interfacial Engineering. Between 1998 and 2007, he was successively Head of the School of Chemical Engineering, Head of the Division of Engineering, Head of the Institute for Materials and Processes, and Dean of Undergraduate Studies in the College of Science and Engineering. He then became Assistant Principal (Taught Programme Development) and later Vice-Principal (Academic). In 2008 he moved to the University of Surrey, firstly as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development) and then as Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Professor Seaton is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Principal, Abertay University
Directorships etc:
Director, Equality Challenge Unit
Unit Director, JISC
Director, GuildHE
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
Trustee, Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
None
Head of Division of Mental Health Nursing and Counselling/Member elected by academic staff
Born in the UK, Kate has lived in Spain, Germany, Israel, and the US. After gaining an MA in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University, she came to Scotland to carry out a research PhD at St Andrews University. She stayed here to raise her two sons and undertook training to become a Counsellor. She joined Abertay in 2012 as a teaching fellow and currently leads the Division of Mental Health Nursing and Counselling. Her research interests include the process and mechanisms of change in therapy and the development of Pluralistic Counselling.
Outside of her family and work interests, Kate enjoys gardening, watching rugby and walking her dog.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Abertay University
Directorships etc.
None
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
None
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
None
Significant Pecuniary Interests
None
Vice-Principal and Pro-Vice Chancellor (Strategy and Planning)
Caroline took up the role of Vice-Principal (Strategy and Planning) in February 2020, having been Director of Strategic Planning at Abertay since October 2013. Caroline is responsible for leading the University’s strategic and operational planning and for ensuring that appropriate systems are in place to monitor progress against our objectives. Caroline’s team also manage the University’s Outcome Agreement with the Scottish Funding Council.
Caroline has over 20 years’ experience within the higher education sector having worked in a range of roles in several institutions including Glasgow Caledonian University and the Scottish Funding Council.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Abertay University
Directorships etc.
None
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
None
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
None
Significant Pecuniary Interests
None
On appointment, new members of Court are sent the following Template Letters of Appointment from the Chair and the Secretary.
In accordance with the Scottish Code of Good HE Governance, the Secretary to Court and the Finance Director - as senior officers closely associated with the work of the governing body – have submitted details of any interests to the University register of interests - see below.
University Secretary
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
Abertay University
Directorships etc.
None
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
Non-Executive Director, APUC
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
None
Director of Finance, Infrastructure and Corporate Services
Gordon has responsibility for strategy and operations in areas covering finance, estates, information technology, campus facilities, business development, commercial contracts and services, residences, procurement, administration and project support and business continuity planning.
Gordon joined the University from the Care Inspectorate where he was the Executive Director of Corporate and Customer Services. Prior to that, he was Assistant Principal (Finance and Resources) at Adam Smith College and held a joint post as Assistant Principal of Fife College and Glenrothes College. Before moving to the college sector he held posts as Head of Corporate Services at Tayside Fire Brigade and Principal Accountant at Tayside Regional Council.
Gordon is a member of the CIPFA Scotland Executive Committee, having been Chair of CIFPA Scotland in 2018-19 and is a former chair of the Central Government Procurement Shared Services Steering Board.
Gordon is a graduate of the University of Dundee, a Fellow Chartered Public Finance Accountant and a Chartered Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.
Register of Interests
Paid Employment
None outwith Abertay University employment
Directorships etc.
Member (former Chair) of the CIPFA Scotland Executive Committee
Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business
Nil return
Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University
Nil return
Vacancies in the independent membership of Court arise from time to time and are advertised widely, including on the University website and through alumni. If you are interested in becoming an independent member of Court, please email the Secretary to Court at s.stewart@abertay.ac.uk to express your interest and further information will be provided to you.