Vice-Principal Education, Enhancement Theme Lead for the Resilient Learning Communities University of St Andrews

Professor Clare Peddie is a graduate of the University of St Andrews. Her career has been focussed on education in biology and she is the first Professor appointed under new promotions procedures that recognise contributions to teaching and service at her University. Her undergraduate degree and PhD were both in Marine Biology at the University of St Andrews; her research career moved into medical research at other institutions before she returned to take an education-focussed position at St Andrews. She has held roles as Director of Teaching for the School of Biology, ProDean for Undergraduates in the Faculty of Science, ProDean for Taught Postgraduates and Head of School. She was promoted to Professor and was appointed to the role of Vice Principal Education (Proctor) in May 2019. External to her University, she has a depth of experience as an external examiner, an institutional reviewer for the QAA in Scotland and often conducts subject-based and degree-accreditation reviews of other institutions. She still teaches marine biology in the field at undergraduate and masters level and has interests in the role of experiential learning in effective teaching.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education and Digital), Buckinghamshire New University

Professor Elizabeth Cleaver is Pro Vice Chancellor (Education and Digital) at Buckinghamshire New University, providing leadership for education, the student experience and the use of digital technology. Following a seven year period working in educational policy evaluation for a range of government sponsors, she has spent the last 12 years focusing on the enhancement of learning and teaching in four contrasting English HE institutions. Liz’s recent work for QAA Scotland on evidencing intangible yet important aspects of the university experience can be traced back to the earliest part of her academic career where, as a qualitative sociologist, her research focused on the meaning and experience of housing and home for students and young adults. 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Learning, Teaching and Student Experience, Glasgow Caledonian University

Professor Valerie Webster's overall objective is to drive forward excellence in Learning and Teaching and the enhancement of the GCU Student Experience for all learners. Professor Webster has throughout her career been passionate about widening participation and supporting students to succeed regardless of their circumstances. Inclusion and equality have been key pillars throughout her career and she has been the Athena Swan and gender champion at her institution for many years. This strategic role connects with all aspects of the University to drive forward innovative pedagogies, technologies and approaches to ensure the delivery of a truly outstanding student experience that meets diverse student’s needs. Professor Webster has always had a keen interest in supporting students to develop the knowledge and skills to not only succeed in their chosen profession, but to become the change leaders of tomorrow.

Subject Specialist: Strategy (Accessibility), Jisc

Kellie Mote's role is to provide strategic advice and guidance to help Jisc members ensure their digital content is accessible to everyone. Kellie’s interests and experience include assistive technology, needs assessment and inclusive strategies. She also manages a large accessibility community of practice that enables Jisc members to share challenges and solutions

Working in inclusive education and assistive technology for over 20 years, Kellie’s first role was creating accessible learning materials for school pupils with vision impairment. She then progressed to teach IT and assistive technology skills to college students with vision impairment. At the BRITE Initiative (Beattie Resources for Inclusiveness in Technology and Education), she provided accredited training in assistive technology and inclusive practice to further and higher education professionals. Prior to joining Jisc, Kellie was student experience manager with remit for access and inclusion at Edinburgh College. In 2020, Kellie completed an MSc in Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychological Practice at the University of Edinburgh.

Senior Lecturer, Abertay University

Dr Mhairi Thurston is a senior lecturer in Counselling with over 25 years’ experience in education. A Registered, Accredited Counsellor with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), she was appointed to the BACP Board of Governors in 2011. In 2018, she became Chair of the Research Governance Committee for BACP. From 2010 to 2017, she was Chair of VISION2020UK’s Counselling and Emotional Support Services Committee (CESS). 

Her particular research interest is the social and emotional effects of acquired sight loss. Additionally, she is interested in wider issues surrounding disability, equality and inclusion. Dr Thurston's research has been featured on BBC News and in the national press, and she contributed to the Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011 regarding the accessibility of health information for blind and partially sighted patients.

Strongly committed to making a difference to policy and practice in the field of counselling and vision impairment, Dr Thurston is a member of Cross Party Advisory Group on Vision Impairment at Scottish Parliament and was on the Scottish Vision Strategy Advisory Board from 2010 – 2016. She was also involved in the Scottish Government’s review of Certification and registration in 2017, which was led by Professor Carrie McEwan.

She is a member of the editorial board for Disability and Society and an associate editor for the International Journal of Disability, Development and Education.

Abertay University

Gemma is a 23-year-old wheelchair athlete from Monifieth and a member of the GB Wheelchair Rugby Talent Squad which helps to prepare athletes to make the step to the Paralympic Squad.

Prior to being on the GB Talent Wheelchair Rugby Squad Gemma was a member of the Scotland U23 Wheelchair Basketball Team during her time on the squad Gemma won gold at the Celtic Cup 2016 and Co-Captained Scotland U19s at both the School Games and National Junior Championships.

Gemma coaches wheelchair basketball for Dundee Dragons Wheelchair Sports Club and won the COVA Young Coach of the Year in 2018. As well as being athlete and coach Gemma sits on the Scottish Women and Girls in Sport Advisory Board and until this year Scottish Disability Sport Young People’s Panel, she now supports and mentors the newly formed board. Gemma has spoken at the House of Lords about the benefits of disability sports and has been recognised as one of the most inspirational young women in Scotland by the YWCA. Gemma is currently in her 4th Year at Abertay university studying Sports Development and Coaching and hopes this will help to progress her career in disability sport.

Vice-Principal and Head of Social Sciences, University of Glasgow.

Professor Sara Carter OBE FRSE is Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Social Sciences at the University of Glasgow. A Professor of Entrepreneurship, Sara’s academic work examines the effects of business ownership on households and the consequences of structural inequalities in resource access on the SME sector. Her work encompasses the agriculture, rural and food sectors; the experiences of women as business owners; and the economic well-being of entrepreneurial households.

She is a member of the Council of Economic Advisers to the First Minister of Scotland; the Enterprise & Skills Strategic Board; board member of South of Scotland Enterprise; the Women in Enterprise Action Group; and Non-Executive Director of Women's Enterprise Scotland. In 2008 she was awarded an OBE for services to women entrepreneurs. She has served on boards including the British Bankers’ Association Diversity and Inclusion Business Council; the Scottish Government Strategic Group on Women and Work; the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Research Committee; the Chartered Association of Business Schools Delivering Value Taskforce; and the Leverhulme Trust Research Awards Advisory Group.

Prior to her appointment at the University of Glasgow, Sara was Head of the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship and Associate Principal at the University of Strathclyde.

Director, Access, Learning & Outcomes, Scottish Funding Council

James Dunphy is Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes at the Scottish Funding Council. James leads SFC's work on all aspects of learning provision including widening access and inclusion, equality and diversity, skills and learning quality. His directorate is also responsible for negotiating outcome agreements with Scotland's Universities and Colleges and for ongoing performance assessments.

James was previously a Director at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and also Chair of Scotland's Centre for Work Based Learning.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Queen Margaret University

• Principal and Vice Chancellor of Queen Margaret University Edinburgh since 2019.
• Clerk and Chief Executive of the Scottish Parliament 1999 -2019.
• Knighted in the New Year’s Honours List 2016.
• Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 2018. Elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences 2020.
  
• Current non-executive roles: Council Member, Institute for Fiscal Studies; Scientific Advisory Board Member, Behaviour Change by Design Research Project, Cambridge University; Trustee, Queen’s Nursing Institute Scotland; Convenor, Universities Scotland Learning and Teaching Committee.
• Previous roles: Trustee, Bank of Scotland Foundation, 2011-2020; Board Member, Edinburgh International Festival, 2013-2019; Board Member, Economic and Social Research Council, 2009-2015; Member of Court, University of Stirling, 2006-2013; Board Member, Policy Scotland (University of Glasgow) 2014-2019; Advisory Board Member, Scottish Centre for Social Research 2017-2020.
• Background: graduated in 1984 from University of Stirling. Joined the UK Civil Service through the “Fast Stream”; 1985-1992 - worked in several roles in Whitehall including as Principal Private Secretary to Virginia Bottomley MP.
• Moved to the Scottish Office - 1992-1999. Joined Constitution Group in May 1997 with lead responsibility for the Referendum on establishing the Scottish Parliament and, subsequently, the Scotland Act 1998 which laid the new constitutional framework. Appointed Clerk and Chief Executive of the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

Vice President (Education), Heriot-Watt University, Student Union

Alexander Hedlund is the current Vice President Education for Heriot-Watt University Student Union and in his second term as the Enhancement Themes Student Lead, SHEEC member and member of QAA Scotland’s Strategic Advisory Committee. He has also entered his first year as a Scottish representative on QAA UK’s Student Strategic Advisory Committee. Alexander has been involved in the student movement and academic representation, both locally and nationally, for five years and has keen interests in the pedagogic benefits of blended learning, alternative assessments and supporting diverse learning communities. He is excited to see the sector’s paradigm shift in learning and teaching that allows students from all backgrounds to excel in a co-creative environment that will inspire the leaders of tomorrow.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor, University of St Andrews

Professor Sally Mapstone FRSE is Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews, the second woman in succession to hold this role there. She is a board member of Universities UK, a trustee of UCAS and of the Europaeum, and a member of the advisory board of the Higher Education Policy Institute. She is Vice-Convener for Universities Scotland and also leads on its widening access work. She is chair of the international advisory board for the University of Helsinki. In 2017 she received the Foreign Policy Association of America medal for services to higher education. In 2019 she was elected to the fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. As an academic Sally is a medievalist, with expertise in the area of medieval and Renaissance Scottish literature. She is President of the Saltire Society, which champions Scottish culture.

Vice-Principal (Education), University of Aberdeen

Professor Ruth Taylor took up the role of Vice-Principal Education at the University of Aberdeen in November 2019. She is responsible for leading the effective delivery of the University’s strategic objectives for Education. Areas of responsibility include: quality and innovation in learning, teaching and assessment; student experience and engagement, including student support; student success; employability and entrepreneurship; quality assurance and enhancement across the provision. Ruth is also responsible for leading the University’s work on the Race Equality Charter.

Ruth was previously Senior Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of a Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care, and Professor of Nurse Education, at Anglia Ruskin University from 2013. She held an institutional role in the leadership of the student retention strategy. Prior to that she worked at The Robert Gordon University in a leadership role in the School of Nursing and Midwifery having had a career in clinical nursing practice for 15 years.

Ruth’s research interests include student retention, the first-year student experience, social capital in the context of the student experience, compassion in healthcare practice, and student leadership in healthcare practice.