Members of Court

Chair of Court/Independent Member

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

Staff member elected by Support Staff

Reason for joining Court

I was elected by support staff at Abertay to hold a position on Court.  

Biography

Nazhat currently works as a Business Development Officer in the Business Development Unit within the Finance, Infrastructure and Corporate Services. 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 as a Development Officer within the former Alumni and Development team. 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

Currently work at Abertay University. 

Also a part time freelance fitness and dance instructor (work is not regular). 

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

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

None

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

Vice President of Abertay Students’ Association.

Being a member of Abertay University Court is part of my role as a sabbatical officer in the Students’ Association. 

Biography

Lauryn graduated from Abertay in 2022, with a BA (Hons) Accounting & Finance degree. As Vice President within Abertay Students’ Association, she works towards manifesto goals of increasing student links with the local community, increasing student engagement with the aim of decreasing social isolation, and continuing efforts to mitigate the impact of the cost of living crisis. 

Outside of this role, she mostly spends her time on rollerskates, and plays roller derby with Dundee’s local roller derby league.  

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

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 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 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

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

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 Trustee of Chwarae Teg, Wales’s leading equality charity and a Trustee of YCS/The Talking Company, a low-cost counselling service based in Cardiff.  Lynne is also an Independent Member of the Police and Crime Commissioner and Chief Constable for Dyfed Powys Joint Audit Committee, the Lay Chair of Powys County Council Governance and 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.

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

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

Staff Member nominated by Senate

Biography and Register of Interests to follow.

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

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)

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

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.

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 

Shareholder in Summit Inc  

Pensions from USS and TPS  

Staff Member Elected by Academic Staff

Reason for joining Court

To provide an insider perspective on the function of the University and to ensure open collaborative communication occur between the function of Court and the staff of Abertay. 

Biography

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 Health Sciences. 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 painting, watching rugby and walking her dog. 

Register of Interests

Paid Employment

Abertay University

Directorships etc.

Director/Trustee/Board member: British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy 

Committee member (Director/Trustee of charitable organisation) Forgan Arts Centre, Newport on Tay 

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

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

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