Current members Business CommitteeConvener Mr Gordon Cairns Convener of the Business Committee 2024-2028ImageGordon Cairns has previously served on the Business Committee and hopes to provide added value to the committee, given his experience as a solicitor, tribunal judge, university tutor and examiner. He considers working to enhance the reputation of the University and the student experience through membership of the Business Committee to be an honour and a privilege. Member of the Business Committee since 2007 and Vice-Convener from 2016-2024. Vice-Convener Dr Bruce Nelson Vice-Convener of the Business Committee 2024-2028Recently retired administrator with extensive knowledge of HE and the University. Held Deputy Secretary, Director of Planning and College Registrar roles in the University. Governance/non-executive director experience includes Chair of Association of University Administrators, governor of University of the Highlands and Islands, Management Committee Student Awards Agency Scotland.Member of the Business Committee since 2022.Image Standing Committee ConvenersConvener of Academic Standing Committee Professor Graeme Reid During 36 years as an Edinburgh academic I have contributed widely in research, teaching and various management roles. As Dean of Learning I worked with a very wide range of colleagues across the University and hope to use my experience to support the continued success of the University.Member of the Business Committee 2020-2028Convener of the Academic Standing Committee since 2024Image Convener of Constitutional Standing Committee Ms Candice Donnelly Candice Donnelly graduated from the University in 2005 with a Law degree and obtained her Diploma in Legal Practice in 2006. After working in financial services, Candice is now a solicitor at a technology company, where she advises on strategic projects and corporate governance. She is a trustee and adviser for several local organizations, including a charity for young people with additional needs. She has never quite managed to leave the University, having taught post graduate students here since graduating herself, and welcomes the opportunity to represent the continuing interests of General Council members in the University's operations and developments.Member of the Business Committee from 2018-2026Convener of the Constitutional Standing Committee since 2024Image Convener of Finance and Services Standing Committee Ms Almira Delibegovic-Broome KC King's Counsel at the Scots Bar, with wide experience of commercial work. Originally from Bosnia-Herzegovina. Was a part-time tutor and lecturer at Edinburgh.Attended Harvard twice (LLM student 2002-2; Visiting Scholar 2018-19). Can contribute legal, business, academic and analytical skills, informed by that background.Business Committee Member from 2020-2028Convener of Finance and Services Standing Committee since 2022Image Convener of International Standing Committee Ms Ann Cormack I bring experience including:leadership and change management from a 30 year+ international business career, from marketing, communications and strategy to Global Executive Head of HR.knowledge of good governance and impactful championing from serving as Non-Executive Director at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and Chatham House.ImageMember of the Business Committee 2023-2027Convener of International Standing Committee since 2024 Convener of Public Affairs Standing Committee Professor Alice Brown I could contribute effectively to the work of the Business Committee by drawing on my extensive knowledge of higher education; wide experience of working in the sector; and the relevant skills I have developed in different roles, including General Secretary of the RSE and Chair of the Scottish Funding Council.Member of the Business Committee 2022-2026Convener of Public Affairs Standing Committee since 2024 Business Committee Members The Rt Rev Brian Smith Business Committee Member 2021-2025Brian Smith was born and attended school in Edinburgh. He graduated in philosophy in 1966 (MA). He next studied theology at Cambridge (MA, MLitt), moved to Oxford, where he was ordained, and taught theology at Cuddesdon College.He has held a number of ecclesiastical appointments, together with responsibilities in the field of theological education.He was appointed bishop of Tonbridge in 1993, and was subsequently elected bishop of Edinburgh in 2001. He retired from that post in 2011.He has served on the governors of a number of schools and training institutions. He has been a Director of Waverley Care, and a member of the UK UNESCO "Memory of the World" Committee. Since retirement her also paid visits to Botswana, as a volunteer, to teach theology.ImageIn 2017 the Senatus Academicus of the University of Edinburgh invited him to be admitted to the Honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity. The degree was conferred at a ceremony in 2018.Previously Member of Business Committee 2017-2021. Ms Kirsty MacGregor Business Committee Member 2021-2025My expertise in leadership development, business consultancy and education alongside being co-director of the university's Global Compassion Initiative could contribute wide-ranging perspective to the Business Committee in supporting the University's mission of world-class excellence.A personal priority is strengthening the University's community both locally and internationally through the current challenges.ImagePreviously Member of the Business Committee 2011-2015 and 2016-2020 Ms Manya Buchan Business Committee Member 2023-2027Third generation Edinburgh alumna. Former member of staff (14 years), latterly as the Head of Research Policy & Planning Services. Now working in software development, serving the higher education research sector and collaborating with institutions to help them meet statutory requirements and showcase their research expertise.Image Dr Mary Gunn Business Committee Member 2023-2027Mary Gunn (PhD, MBA, MA, LLM), is a global board leader with 30 years of public and private governance experience in high growth life science, financial services, and education sectors; during which she provided fiduciary and strategic oversight, worked with activists, engaged in proxy contests, identified areas of growth (including organic international expansion, licensing agreements, co-development with strategic partners, global M&A), supported fundraising, led successful exits, leveraged debt and other financial instruments, ensured compliance and ethics, and hired/evaluated the CEO/CCO/CMO. Gunn has been an advisor and partner to publicly traded diversified funds, private equity, venture capital, sovereign wealth, and family offices for 15 years supporting the deployment of $20B+ across 150 investments. She also served on the advisory board of the 250-year-old Brown University and as the Chairman for SpotArt Foundation (Cultural Diplomacy). Gunn currently serves on the EWIT board overseeing asset managers Baillie Gifford. Gunn studied law at the University of Edinburgh. Image Mr Arron Ashton Business Committee Member 2022-2025I graduated from the School of Geosciences in 2013 and have worked in the public sector since. I ask for the opportunity to contribute on your behalf by bringing modern thinking and ensuring that the University continues to utilise its world leading talent and reacts appropriately to the ever-changing global landscape.Image Mr Devin Scobie Business Committee Member 2022-2025Devin Scobie graduated MA (Hons) History from Edinburgh University in 1987 and after a spell as a travel journalist has worked in the communications business ever since. His student claim to fame was securing what remains the only private interview ever granted to Student newspaper by then Chancellor, the Duke of Edinburgh.Devin is now one of the most experienced political consultants in Scotland, having stepped back from the business he set up in 2006 during lockdown to resume self-employment. He now works with a small but busy range of clients spanning the rail industry to building safety. Devin's experience includes a spell as an elected member of the City of Edinburgh Council and he has been Chair of UK Charity Starfish Asia, funding primary schools in slum districts of Pakistan, since January 2020.Image Dr Nikhil Agarwal Business Committee Member 2024-2028Dr Nikhil Agarwal is India’s foremost expert on Startups, Innovation and Policy. He is current serving as Managing Director, FITT, IIT-Delhi.Between 2019-24 he was holding the dual charge of CEO of SIIC and AIIDE at IIT - Kanpur. SIIC is the largest tech-incubator in the country today with over 250+ incubated startups. IIT Kanpur is #1 in innovation in 2023 in NIRF ranking. Between 2021-22, he was holding additional charge as CEO of C3iHub (Cybersecurity and Cybersecurity of Physical-Systems Innovation Hub).In 2018, he is appointed as Vice Chairman, Mahaashmita Livelihood Rural Accelerator Program (MILAP), Govt of Maharashtra – a program in joint collaboration with MSRLM and FICCI. In 2014, Indian Prime Minister urged Indian diaspora to return to the country to serve the motherland. Dr Agarwal responded to the call and returned from UK to join Govt of Andhra Pradesh as Chief Executive Officer, Andhra Pradesh Innovation Society (CEO, APIS) to kickstart the statewide innovation agenda between 2015-2017.He is also the founder of Entrepreneur Café – a global movement spread in 110 cities and six continents, connecting over 45,000 entrepreneurs. Dr Agarwal has founded businesses and advised firms on strategic matters in last 20 years of his career. He has worked with global multinationals like Cadbury's, FIC and Zensar (RPG Group). He has lectured at leading universities like Virginia Tech Polytechnic & State University, University of Bradford and University of Cambridge. His articles, interviews and work has been extensively covered in international media including Harvard Business Review Blog, Forbes, CNN Money, BBC Radio, The New York Times and Economic Times.Professor Agarwal has served on many international think tanks and hold leadership positions in global organizations such as WBAF. Between 2006 -13 he served as high-level-advisor to United Nations Global Alliance on ICT & Development (UNGAID). He was the first Asian to be elected as Co-Chair of prestigious Internet Society Advisory Council (ISOC-AC) for 2008-10. Between 2017-19, he was the Hon Fellow of IC2 Institute, University of Texas at Austin. He is recipient of ‘Excellence in Promoting Innovation in Governance” by Govt of Rajasthan, India.Nikhil has earned MPhil (University of Cambridge) and PhD (University of Edinburgh) in United Kingdom.Nikhil has interest in martial arts – he is co-recipient of ‘Guinness World Record’ in Taekwondo in 2017. In his free time (or when he is flying), he likes to read and watch shows on Netflix. Image Professor Richard Andrews Business Committee Member 2024-2028My main contribution to the Business Committee would be on international and/or postgraduate matters: I have represented the University in China and worked extensively in Asia and the USA. I chaired the postgraduate report for the curriculum transformation project for the University. I served as Professor and Head of Moray House from October 2019 to October 2022. This position enabled me to work at high levels within the University, attending Senate and (by invitation) Court as well as to engage in the strategic and day-to-day management of a large School within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Image Dr Lucy Blackburn Business Committee Member 2024-2028As a former Head of Higher Education in the Scottish Government, I have a long-time interest in how universities meet the substantial challenges they face. Since leaving the senior civil service, I have researched and published on higher education, especially funding and access, recently completing a PhD at the University on student finance, with an interest also in questions of academic freedom. I have lived in Edinburgh for many years and have a child at a LEAPS programme school. I would welcome the opportunity to use my experience to help the University flourish as a local, national and international institution. Image Professor John Gillies Business Committee Member 2024-2028I believe that my extensive experience in medicine, professional bodies and chairing committees could be of great value tot he Council. I worked in Malawi and as a general practitioner and educator in Scotland for many years. I was Chair, Royal College of GPs in Scotland from 2010 to 2014 and deputy director of the Scottish School of Primary Care 2015-2019. www.sspc.ac.uk I speak Scottish Gaelic. In 2018, I was asked by Scottish Government, and Scottish Medical Schools Board to chair a report on increasing GP input into undergraduate medical education in Scotland, involving communication across all Scottish medical schools. Image Professor Judy Hardy Business Committee Member 2024-2025During my time as an academic at the University I have held a number of leadership roles, including Dean of Learning and Teaching for the College of Science and Engineering. I have also contributed to a wide range of strategic initiatives aimed at the development of student education and student support, and have worked extensively with colleagues from across the University. I have substantial experience of teaching and supporting students. I will use my experience to contribute to the work of the Business Committee and the University. Image Mrs Tamara Raidt Business Committee Member 2024-2028I graduated in 2022 in Creative Writing. As an international student with experience in education and communication, I believe I can contribute to the university’s role on the global scene. My priority is to support Edinburgh's international community of students in all the challenges they may face. Image Dr Dorothy Welch Business Committee Member 2024-2025Recently retired from a career in university leadership and management, Dorothy Welch is passionate about the value of higher education. She has extensive experience of working at the University of Edinburgh in a wide range of roles and, latterly, at the University of Glasgow. Having started her career in a lecturing role she has held a wide range of administrative roles. She is committed to access to the University and the time is right for her to give back to the University. She looks forward to contributing as a member of the General Council Business Committee. Image Mr Max Browning Business Committee Member 2024-2026Max graduated from the University with a Double First Class Honours in Chinese & Russian (2022) before completing an MSc in East Asian Relations (2023). He was selected for the highly competitive Schwarzman Scholarship, which he completed at Tsinghua University in China, graduating with an MA in Global Affairs (2024). Max is the founder of the One Scotland Initiative, a Scottish charity with branches in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Stirling focused on enhancing cultural exchange through collaboration between student communities and locals. He represented the University at the United Nations COP26 in Glasgow and served on the Board of Trustees of the Edinburgh University Students' Association from 2019 to 2024. Max is committed to enhancing the reputation of the University at home and abroad, with a focus on improving the student experience, links with the City of Edinburgh, and international partnerships. Image Mr Alan Ross Having started my working life at the University, implementing the current website system, I’d enjoy being able to influence the direction of University through Committee membership.My experience in IT since then has given me a grounding in the challenges and opportunities that face organisations as they go through periods of change and transformation. This ranges for implementing and designing solutions to sitting on governance bodies. I feel this puts me in a good position to constructively contribute both to the specific IT aspects that have been identified as being required but also across all the committee’s responsibilities. Image Ex-Officio members of the Business CommitteeSecretaryAssessors on the University CourtChancellor's Assessor This article was published on 2024-07-08
