Members of Court

Chair of Court

Biography 

 A graduate of Heriot-Watt and Strathclyde Universities, David has an extensive public sector and governance background.  Following postgraduate studies at the European University Institute, he worked as an official of the EU Commission.  Prior to devolution, he held a number of different positions as a Senior Civil Servant in the Scottish Office and the UK Cabinet Secretariat.  After serving as Chief Executive of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland in the early 2000s he returned to the Scottish Government, advising Ministers on a range of policy issues, including culture and the creative industries. 

A former president of Heriot-Watt University’s Students’ Association, David became a Graduates’ Association representative on the University’s Court and later served as a lay governor of Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen.  Following his retirement from the Scottish Government, he was appointed to the Boards of MG ALBA (the Gaelic Media Service) and Creative Scotland, chairing both their Audit Committees.  He convened Fitness to Teach Panels for the General Teaching Council for Scotland and was an advisor to the UK’s Financial Reporting Council. 

David lives with his partner in Edinburgh.  His interests include languages, music and film.

Reason for joining Court 

I have a lifelong commitment to higher education in Scotland and long experience of the challenges faced by different institutions.  I aim to bring to Abertay the knowledge and experience I have developed over my career to help the University to develop and prosper. 

Register of Interests

Paid Employment

None

Directorships etc.

Member of Creative Scotland (to 31 July 2023) 

Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business

See below

Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University

None

Vice-Chair of Court/ Independent Member

Reason for joining Court

I have a passion for lifelong learning and was drawn to the ethos Abertay University has regarding access and inclusion.  I believe that everyone should have a chance to develop their talents and Abertay provides those opportunities.   

Biography

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 led the successful merger of three Colleges in Ayrshire in 2013 and was Principal and CEO of Ayrshire College until stepping down to pursue other interests in 2019. 

Heather has experience of large-scale capital projects and led the development of a sector leading £54m campus in Kilmarnock.  She has extensive governance experience as a non-executive director in the public and charity sectors. 

Heather was recognised by the Association of Scottish Businesswomen with an Outstanding Leadership Award for her work in Ayrshire and in 2014, Heather was awarded an OBE for services to further and higher education. 

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

Principal and Vice-Chancellor

As the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University I have a strong working relationship with Court and work with them closely to deliver the University Strategy. 

Biography

Professor Liz Bacon joined Abertay University in 2018 as Deputy Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, becoming Principal and Vice-Chancellor in May 2022. 

She is a former President of both the BCS – The Chartered Institute for IT, and EQANIE (European Quality Assurance Network for Informatics Education), as well as a past Chair of the BCS Academy of Computing and CPHC (Council of Professors and Heads of Computing), and in 2015 she was voted the 35th Most Influential Woman in UK IT. She is a current Trustee of Bletchley Park Trust and a Board member of V&A Dundee. 

A Professor of Computer Science at Abertay, Professor Bacon’s main research interests have focused on technology-enhanced, and immersive, learning. She is a regular worldwide speaker on a range of topics, including preparing staff and students for the fourth industrial revolution’s impact on teaching, learning and work, and improving diversity and participation in STEM, particularly among women and people from disadvantaged backgrounds.  

Throughout her career, she has worked to improve quality and standards in higher education, including a focus on degree accreditation standards in computer science both in the UK and internationally.  

Register of Interests

Paid Employment

Abertay University

Directorships etc.

Trustee and Director of Bletchley Park Trust  

Executive Member of EQANIE (European Quality Assurance Network for Informatics Education) 

Member of the V&A Dundee Board. 

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

Biography

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

Independent Member 

Reason for joining Court

I joined the Court to offer my skills and experiences in finance, business, education, and charity governance to a distinctive modern University where I currently chair the Audit and Risk Committee. 

Biography

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 involved in  social housing, unmet legal need, internationalism and furniture 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 long distance cycling and driving the safety boat for the sailing club.

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

Significant Pecuniary Interests 

None

Independent Member

Reason for joining Court

I am committed to supporting higher and further education, to helping others succeed – and wish to offer my oversight and governance experience for the benefit of the university. 

As a proud Dundonian, I’m hugely impressed by Abertay’s global and growing reputation as a centre of excellence for computing and gaming, as well as its commitment to inclusion.

Biography

A graduate of Dundee University, Liz’s roles with blue chip financial services organisations and two of the “Big 4” accountants over the past 35 years have given her extensive experience of financial reporting, external audit, review and challenge, risk and control assessments, driving Risk Culture activities, Operational and ESE risk, and exposure to Board Risk Committees.  She has a passion for, and track record of, information gathering, sharing insights, building collaborative relationships and helping businesses and individuals develop and succeed.

Liz has been a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) since 2005. She was elected to ACCAs Governance Council in November 2017 – and has served on their Resource Oversight Committee, Remuneration Committee, Nominating & Governance Committee, Scotland Committee, Standards Board and Regulatory Board.  She was awarded ACCA UKs Advocate of the Year in 2016.

Liz chairs ACCAs Accountants for Business Global Forum, a group of 25-30 CFOs from around the world which discusses a wide range of topics. Output from the Forum informs ACCAs Professional Insights (PI) research, and as such Liz has worked with the PI team and contributed to several PI reports.

Liz has a further volunteer role with the Edinburgh based Asia Scotland Institute as their Regional Coordinator, working with colleagues in Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo.

Register of Interests

Paid Employment 

Finance Controls Manager – Lloyds Banking Group

Directorships etc. 

None

Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business 

ACCA (Abertay's BA in Accounting and Finance is ACCA accredited, with graduates eligible for exemption from some exams)

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 

Senate Nominated Member of Court

Biography

Originally from Edinburgh, but living in Dundee since 1998 when he undertook PhD studies in Antimicrobial resistance at the University of Dundee after undergraduate studies at the University of Edinburgh. Scott was then a post-doctoral research assistant and Senior research fellow in the School of Life Sciences at Dundee undertaking research into novel targets for anti-infectives to help treat both bacterial and protozoal infections.

Scott joined Abertay in 2012 as a supply lecturer, becoming a teaching fellow in Biomedical Sciences in 2014 followed by promotion to lecturer. Scott was interim Head of the Division of Science in 2019 and took up his current post as Head of Teaching Quality and Learning Enhancement for the School of Life Sciences in 2019.

Scott was elected to Senate in 2019, and again in 2023.

Scott is passionate about higher education as an enabler and believes strongly in Abertay’s mission at inclusion and opportunities for all who could benefit from the Abertay experience- students, staff and the wider community.

Register of Interests

Paid Employment

Abertay University

Directorships etc.

None

Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business

Coventry University as External Examiner.

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

Reason for joining Court

I was keen to reengage with the Abertay community and bring my experience to Court. 

I’m looking forward to finding out more about the experience of staff and students at Abertay and being part of shaping the University for the future. 

Biography

Robyn Donoghue is a communications specialist working in the third sector who is also a sociology graduate of Abertay University and a former President of the Students’ Association. 

Robyn currently works with Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland to create content and share stories of people with chest, heart and stroke conditions.  The organisation works to help people live life to the full. 

Robyn has previously worked with Dundee Volunteer and Voluntary Action, and other third sector organisations, supporting charities and community groups by connecting opportunities and distributing grant funding.  

Register of Interests

Paid Employment

Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland  

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

Biography

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 nature based solutions that are fit for purpose. Alison also regularly undertakes outreach with local communities and schools to promote awareness and uptake of nature based solutions 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

Academic Staff Member Elected by Academic Staff

Reason for joining Court

Biography

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 

Significant Pecuniary Interests 

None 

Support Staff Member Elected by Support Staff

Reason for joining Court

I stood for election as I believe in the importance of representation and amplifying voices that might not otherwise be heard. I also believe that checks and balances are essential and so definitely champion the work that the Court does. I also have to admit I love a good policy paper and the constructive discussion that usually follows.

Biography

Kerith joined Abertay University in March 2021 as a Learner Development Advisor and now manages the team.

Kerith has 21 years' experience of working in Higher Education both in South Korea and the UK, having previously worked in Romania as a secondary school teacher. 

Her key interests in terms of education are in building best practice in inclusivity, accessibility, and equity.

She has also been an early adopter of Generative AI, and is researching how this will develop in terms of assistive technologies for those with Specific Learning Difficulties.

Register of Interests

Paid Employment 

Abertay University

Reading University, External Examiner

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 

Independent Member

Reason for joining Court

I joined the Court of Abertay University because of its commitment to social and economic mobility, inclusion and opportunity; values and priorities which I share.

Biography

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 co-opted Trustee of Chwarae Teg, Wales’s leading equality charity.  Lynne is Lay Chair of Powys County Council Governance and Audit Committee.

She is married to a fellow Scot, has two sons and a small granddaughter.

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

Significant Pecuniary Interests 

None

Independent Member

Reason for joining Court

Pam is committed to helping bring purpose to life in organisational cultures to help governance and strategy delivery. She aims to bring Abertay the benefit of her experience to help deliver its purpose, in particular enabling students and staff to reach their full potential and preparing students for the world of work. In summary, Pam’s passion is helping to create great workplaces, the type of place our children will be proud to join. 

Biography

A graduate of Surrey and Stirling Universities, Pam has a background in public and private sector people engagement and helping create great organisational cultures.  As a business advisor and coach, Pam has worked in communications, employee engagement, change management, management consulting, and as a senior leader in organisations such as John Lewis Partnership and government departments from HM Revenue & Customs to HM Prison Service. She has also worked across many industry sectors from financial services, media, pharmaceuticals, retail to technology and transportation.  

As the first in her family to go to university, studying for a BA (hons) in Educational Studies and then an MSc in PR & Communications, Pam is committed to supporting others who may not always have the opportunity to go to university. She has been a mentor through Heriot Watt‘s Help to Grow programme and for some of my mentees their only access to some form of further education. Her passion to contribute to Scottish universities led her to complete the first Scottish Universities Scale Up Consortium working with other business leaders in creating case studies for business learning. Pam is also one of only 45 trained Impact Economy Advisors as part of the Scottish Government’s Scotland Can B initiative to help organisations look at their impact on all stakeholders internally and externally (from the community they serve to the environment they operate within). 

Originally from Aberdeenshire, Pam lives in Edinburgh and has two sons.  Her interests include Scottish and Edinburgh Rugby, dance and movement, Scottish art, hill walking and skiing.  

Register of Interests

Paid Employment 

Own business  

Directorships etc. 

Own business  

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 

Deputy Principal and Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Professor Irons is originally from Stranraer in Scotland, but has lived in the north east of England since 1985, when he graduated from the University of Edinburgh.

He joined Abertay from the University of Sunderland.

Prior to joining the University of Sunderland in September 2008, he worked at ICI on Teesside, ONE North East and at Northumbria University.

Professor Irons became a National Teaching Fellow in 2010, was a visiting scholar at the University of Cape Town in South Africa from 2013 – 2017 and is a senior research associate at the University of Johannesburg.

Currently Vice President (Academic) of the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, and Chair of the BCS Academy Board, Professor Irons also serves on the management board of DYNAMO North East, the management board of Sphere North East and is a trustee of the NE Futures UTC. 

Register of Interests 

Paid Employment

Abertay University

Directorships etc

Member of BCS Trustee Board

Trustee of BCS Foundation

Board member of SPHERE North East

Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business

External Examiner at University of Central Lancashire and University of Strathclyde. End point assessor at University of Gloucestershire.

Position of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University

N/A

Independent Member

Reason for joining Court

My association with Abertay stretches back 25 + years as my first graduate job was at Abertay and I will be forever grateful for that role and the experiences it afforded me. I have now joined Court to ensure this very special university continues to deliver life changing opportunities for its students, its staff and the populations of Dundee, Scotland and beyond. In a nutshell, it is about giving something back.  

Biography

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 later awarded an MBA from the Open University. 

Having grown up in a number of towns across the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, Fraser now resides in Hertfordshire and works in the Office of the Vice Chancellor at the University of Essex. His career in domestic and international Higher Education has included appointments at Abertay, St Andrews, The Open University, City University and Birkbeck, University of London.  

Outside of work Fraser enjoys spending time with his family, walking Roxy his dog, playing golf, and keeping up with politics and current affairs. 

Register of Interests

Paid Employment

Deputy Registrar (Education & Research), University of Essex  

Directorships etc.

• East 15 Acting School Ltd; 
• University of Essex Enterprises Ltd; 
• University of Essex International College 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

Biography

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

Independent Member

Reason for joining Court

I feel passionate about the important role that the universities play in society and I am enjoying working with academics and people with a different mindset to the people I work with every day in commerce. 

Biography

Jim MacGregor has many decades experience in commerce working in the beer industry working for companies such as Carlsberg, Scottish & Newcastle and laterally Heineken.  

He is currently based in Amsterdam as the Head of Change Enablement in Digital Transformation for the Global E-Business division. Jim has been fortunate in his time at Heineken to work in all four regions of the globe helping local operating companies embrace and drive change. 

Jim was born in Dundee and is married with one grown up son, he has been working with our team in Abertay Business School for over 10 years, giving business insights through guest lectures and is a regular at our annual Global Growth Initiative Event. 

He holds an MBA from Edinburgh Napier University Business School and is passionate about the important role that the universities play in society. 

Register of Interests

Paid employment

HEINEKEN International B.V. 

Stadhouderskade 79, 1072 AE Amsterdam 

P.O.Box 28, 1000 AA Amsterdam, The Netherlands 

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 

Independent Member

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

Independent Member

Chief Executive of 20/20 Business Group, Business Sector / Independent Member.

As Chief Executive of 20/20 Business Group, Tony is responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of the Board including the good governance of all Group Businesses and their effective operation.  The role includes leading in digital business transformation via a Knowledge Transfer Project (KTP), maintaining ley client relationships, providing project subject matter expertise and working closely with the Group CEO and other Board members to improve shareholder value for our employee shareholders.

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, co-author of 'The Practitioner Handbook of Project Controls' published by Rutledge, and also author of  the 'Standard for Capital Projects Management for NHS Scotland'.  

Tony previously founded and led a collaborative learning research company called BusinessLab ®, was a Director of Worldwide Learning (a division of News Corporation), 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 was a Board Member of the Scotland for Employee Ownership Industry Leadership Group.

He resides in Broughty Ferry, Dundee and works throughout the UK.

Register of Interests

Paid Employment

20/20 Business Insight Ltd

Directorships etc.

Director of 20/20 Business Group Ltd
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)

Staff Member

I am a Scoto-Iranian faculty of Abertay University. I used to be a student at Abertay in 2010 when I moved to Scotland. In the past, I have worked at the University of Dundee and the University of Edinburgh in numerous research roles. In 2016, I joined the Abertay community as a lecturer in Computer Games Technology. I am also a critical designer. My practice engages with how we interact with digital technology and aims to bring to the fore the hidden aspects of technologies that we use every day. I am particularly interested in games surveillance and player-avatar big data.

I enjoy making things with wood and computer code! I don’t like running, but I love walking, swimming and cycling. I am a proud father of two wonderful children. I enjoy working at Abertay and I am hoping to work with Abertay Court to improve our gender pay gaps, diversity and well-being of our colleagues and students.

I am member of the University court as a Trade Union Representative and I am the president of Abertay UCU. I am looking forward to working with the University Court members.

Register of Interests

Paid Employment

None

Directorships etc.

Elected president of Abertay University College Union (UCU).

Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business

Abertay UCU.

Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University

Abertay UCU.

Vice-President of the Abertay Students' Association

Reason for joining Court

Being a member of Abertay University Court is part of my role as Vice President of the Students’ Association. 

Biography

Liv graduated from Abertay in 2023, with a BSc (Hons) Applied Biomedical Science degree. As Vice President within Abertay Students’ Association, she works towards manifesto goals of promoting health and wellbeing across the University; connecting Abertay Sport with Abertay Student’s Association; Creating safe events for students; helping to continue cost of living support for students; and increasing transparency within the university.  

Outside of this role, she mostly spends her time weightlifting and outside in nature.

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 

Significant Pecuniary Interests 

None 

President of Abertay Students’ Association

Bio to follow

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 

Independent Member

Reason for joining Court

My father was at Bell Street Tech in the 1940s.  I am passionate about changes that education can bring to someone’s life. As a citizen of Dundee I am so pleased to be associated with Abertay. 

Biography

Professor Sim was at school in Dundee and as a result of a meeting of the British Association and a talk by Dame Kathleen Lonsdale, was enthused to follow a career in science. 

She studied Biochemistry at Edinburgh University gaining a first class honours degree and studied for her DPhil in Oxford. She was a Royal Society Exchange Fellow in Grenoble, returned to Oxford University as a Departmental Lecturer in Biochemistry and then moved as a Wellcome Trust Senior Lecturer to the Department of Pharmacology being appointed a Professor of Pharmacology and Head of Department for 5 years. She was then Director of Graduate Training in the Medical Sciences Division at Oxford and laterally Dean of Science, Engineering and Computing at Kingston University. Her research on arylamine N-acetyltransferases was supported by the Wellcome Trust for over 25 years and other funding has been from Venture Capital funds, Research Councils in the UK and overseas and Pharmaceutical companies as well as other research charities. 

She has served on research panels of charities and research councils in the UK and Europe. She chaired the Doctoral panel of the Medical Research Council and was a founding scientist of the drug discovery spin out company now called Summit plc. She was a Trustee of the Daphne Jackson Trust supporting returners to research after a career break and is an Emeritus Fellow at St Peter’s College Oxford and an Emeritus Professor at Kingston University and the Department of Pharmacology at Oxford.  

Register of Interests

Paid Employment 

None 

Directorships etc. 

Oxford International Biomedical Centre - director. Voluntary position  

Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business 

Emeritus Professor at University of Oxford and also Kingston University UK Emeritus Fellow at St Peter's College Oxford. 

Position(s) of authority with any organisation(s) whose policies and decisions might be supposed to impact on the University 

None 

Significant Pecuniary Interests 

Pensions from USS and TPS  

Independent Member

Reason for joining Court

I am a product of Abertay’s purpose.  I was the first to go to University in my family and progressed through the AHEAD programme in order to gain a place on my degree course.  I was given a platform, a transformational opportunity.  I will be forever grateful for this opportunity and joined the court to ensure that our progressive University continues to change lives like it did mine for local people and beyond.

Biography

Steven was born and raised in Dundee and studied Civil Engineering at Abertay, graduating in 2005.  He has 20 years' experience in the construction industry where he has led operational construction, business development, bid management and framework delivery across the consultancy and contracting sectors.

A Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, an Incorporated Engineer with the Engineering Council and recognised by The Institute of Leadership & Management, Steven has also led the Industrial Liaison Panel for Civil Engineering at Abertay University since 2018 and is a visiting lecturer on construction procurement at University of Dundee.

Married with 3 children, he still lives in Dundee.  In his spare time, he is an active Assistant Referee / Video Assistant Referee in professional football and is Secretary of the Angus and Perthshire Referee’s Association.  He also enjoys watching his children play football, family holidays, going to the gym and playing golf.

Register of Interests

Paid Employment 

Robertson Construction Group Limited

Directorships etc. 

Secretary - Angus and Perthshire Referee's Association

Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business 

Robertson Construction Group Limited

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 

Biography

Caroline was appointed as Vice Principal (Strategy and Governance) and University Secretary in May 2022, having previously held the posts of Vice Principal (Strategy and Planning) since February 2020 and Director of Strategic Planning since October 2013.

Caroline is responsible for leading the University’s strategic planning and governance functions. This includes developing and monitoring the University's Strategic Plan, leading internal operational planning processes, developing the University's Outcome Agreement with SFC, ensuring effective arrangements are in place to support the University’s governance framework, and providing support to Court and its committees.

Caroline has extensive experience in a range of roles within the HE sector having previously worked at Glasgow Caledonian University, the Scottish Funding Council, and the University of Stirling before joining Abertay.

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

Director of Finance, Infrastructure and Corporate Services

Biography

Gordon has responsibility for strategy and operations in areas covering finance, estates, information technology, campus facilities, business development, commercial contracts and services, procurement, administration, 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 former 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.

Director of Design Dundee Ltd - established to develop and operate V&A Dundee

Director of Dundee Business School Ltd - dormant - Abertay University

Director of Protoplay Ltd - dormant - Abertay University

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 

Biography 

As Abertay’s Director of People and Organisational Development, Eilidh is responsible for the strategic leadership of Abertay’s People Services and for taking a lead in the University’s development as an organisation. She is a member of the University’s Executive Group and Senior Management Team.

Before joining Abertay, Eilidh was Deputy Director of HR for the University of Edinburgh and prior to that for Heriot-Watt University. Earlier in her career, she worked for Teesside University and briefly in the NHS, Department for Employment and Scottish Amicable.

Eilidh has an MA in Economics from the University of Edinburgh, a Post-graduate Diploma in HR Management from Napier Polytechnic and a Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching from the Association of Executive Coaching. 

Eilidh is currently Treasurer of Universities HR; an Athena Swan Charter panel chair; and a member of the Universities and Colleges Employers’ Association’s (UCEA) Health and Safety Committees.

Register of Interests

Paid Employment

Abertay University

Athena Swan Panel Chair – £200 honorarium paid for each panel, for approximately two panels per year (panel meetings are outwith Abertay working time).

Directorships etc.

Treasurer and member of the Executive of Universities HR

Significant involvement with any organisation with which the University might do business

Member of the UCEA Health and Safety Committee

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