Responsibilities and framework
Executive members, collectively and individually, have delegated authority and accountability as determined from time to time by the Principal and reported to the Board of Governors. The Executive accepts collective accountability for achieving the university’s vision, mission and strategic goals by:
- Advising the Principal in developing strategic plans and objectives, with the approval of the Board of Governors and on consultation with other stakeholders, and recommending appropriate courses of action in responding to emerging threats and taking advantage of new opportunities
- Monitoring progress and outcomes of strategy implementation, including the Business Plan and Risk Register (and associated key performance indicators/targets) and reports in relation to this to the Board
- Advising the Principal regarding the resource allocation and budgets for the university, subject to approval by the Board of Governors, and ensures appropriate financial monitoring
- Approving, or recommending, to the Board of Governors for approval, high-level policies and procedures to ensure the smooth and effective operation of the university
- Ensuring effective communication with, and reviews papers and strategy documents for submission to, the Board of Governors, its main Standing Committees and the Academic Council as appropriate
- With the Principal, ensuring the effective leadership, coordination and management of the activities of the university, and keeps organisational structures under review, consulting as appropriate with the Board of Governors and Academic Council
- Meeting regularly with the Senior Management Group and the Operations Management Group to ensure effective strategy development and implementation
Meetings
The Executive meets every Tuesday from 9:45 - 13:00 and Thursday from 10:00 - 11:00 in SB05 in Garthdee House Annex.
Members
Professor Steve Olivier
Principal and Vice-Chancellor
Professor Steve Olivier is an experienced leader in the higher education sector, both in the UK and internationally. He has held leadership positions in Scottish, English and South African universities. In addition to his role as Principal and Vice-Chancellor at RGU, he is in his second term as Convenor of the Universities Scotland Learning and Teaching Committee. He also serves on the Corporate Governance Group of Universities Scotland and regularly leads for that body in interacting at senior government level on matters ranging from funding through to skills. At UK level he is a Board member of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association and is a Board member and Director of several other educational regional economic institutions. He is also the founder and primary fundraiser of the Ally Weakley Memorial Bursary.
Prior to joining RGU, Professor Olivier held the role of Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of the West of Scotland since 2018, where his portfolio involved strategic and operational planning, executive-level leadership of the UWS Deans of School, and oversight of the university’s academic and professional services portfolios. He was previously Vice-Principal and Deputy Vice–Chancellor (Academic) at Abertay University.
With more than thirty years’ experience of working in universities, Professor Olivier serves on a variety of Scottish and UK-wide higher education bodies and groups. He has delivered many international invited speeches, most notably on change leadership and is an active researcher, publishing widely in applied ethics and sport.
Until recently, he served for several years as a crew member in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution. Outside of work he still surfs, swims, does long solo surfski paddles, is President of the Aberdeen Surf Lifesaving Club and remains a fully qualified surf lifesaver. He previously competed in many and varied outdoor endurance events after a long rugby playing and coaching background. Recognising his commitment to the region he was elected as a Burgess of Guild of the City and Royal Burgh of Aberdeen. He has also been honoured with the Rhodes University Distinguished Alumni Award.
Donella Beaton
Vice Principal Partnerships
Portfolio
- Business and Economic Development
- Entrepreneurship and Innovation Group
- Alumni and Fundraising
Scott Cameron
Executive Director People and Culture
Scott is responsible for leading and delivering the University’s HR (people) strategy, with a focus on maximising the potential, commitment and contribution of all staff throughout the lifetime of their employment. He is particularly interested in equality, diversity and inclusion and enabling a culture where all staff are engaged, empowered and are given the opportunity to thrive.
Scott is an RGU graduate, having studied Public Policy and Management at the University from 1997-2001 and then returning a year later to undertake a post-graduate diploma in HRM. He returned to the University again in 2006 as an HR Business Partner, before progressing to HR Manager, Head of HR, and most recently Director.
Outside of work, Scott enjoys spending quality time with his family. He is a season ticket holder at Pittodrie, enjoys walking and fishing, and is interested in history, politics and current affairs.
Dr Duncan Cockburn
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Resources)
Duncan has many years of experience in higher education, having spent the majority of his career working in the sector in a variety of roles. He is a double-graduate of the University of Aberdeen, holding both an MA honours degree and a PhD in History. He is also a former President of the University of Aberdeen’s Student Association.
Duncan took up his first role in the higher education sector in 2004 as Head of sparqs (Student Participation in Quality Scotland) before joining RGU in 2008 as the Principal’s Policy Advisor. He was appointed as the Director of Planning and Policy at the University in 2013 and as a Vice Principal in 2022. In his current role, Duncan is the executive lead for a number of departments, including Planning & Student Records; External Affairs and Student Recruitment, Access & Admissions. He is the co-Chair of Universities Scotland’s and Colleges Scotland’s Joint Articulation Group and is a Board member of North East Scotland College.
In April 2026, Duncan undertook responsibility for the University's sustainability programme, providing strategic oversight to ensure sustainability is embedded in University-wide decision-making and operations, and alignment with national and global ambitions including Net Zero and Education for Sustainable Development.
Outwith work, Duncan is active in the cultural sector, he is currently a member of the Board of Creative Scotland as well as being the Deputy Chair of Aberdeen Performing Arts. He is a former Chair of Culture Aberdeen and of the Look Again visual arts and design festival. Duncan is a Fellow of the Royal Society of the Arts.
In his spare time, Duncan enjoys cooking, gardening and reading history books
Portfolio
- Strategy, Planning and Policy
- Communications
- Marketing
- Student Recruitment & Admissions
- Widening Access
Professor Nick Fyfe
Vice-Principal Research and Regional Engagement
Professor Nick Fyfe is an internationally recognised researcher in the field of policing and criminal justice who has held positions at universities in the UK, Europe and New Zealand.
Prior to joining Robert Gordon University in March 2021 Nick was Associate Dean for Research and then Dean of the School of Social Sciences at the University of Dundee. Between 2006 and 2018, he was also founding Director of the Scottish Institute for Policing Research, a pioneering interdisciplinary collaboration between 14 universities, Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority. The Institute has established Scotland as an international centre of excellence in interdisciplinary policing research and plays a major role in supporting knowledge exchange between researchers and practitioners. In 2014 he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Center for Evidence-Based Crime Policy at George Mason University in the United States and since 2017 he has been a Visiting Professor at the Norwegian Police University College. In 2020 he was elected to the fellowship of the UK’s Academy of Social Sciences in recognition of his outstanding contributions to research and the application of social science to policy, education, and society.
Supported by funding from UK research councils and government, Nick’s career has seen him carry out research on a range of policing related topics. This has included the first ever in-depth evaluation of a police witness protection programme and an international review of measures to facilitate witness co-operation in organised crime investigations; a major study of police responses to missing person cases which has informed the development of good practice guidance on the training and deployment of officers; and leading a 4 year evaluation of the impacts and implications of the reform of police and fire and rescue services in Scotland.
Nick is passionate about promoting interdisciplinarity and the public value of research and is currently a member of the Scottish Funding Council’s Research and Knowledge Exchange Committee and a Trustee of the UK Police Foundation and on the Board of the Scottish Policy and Research Exchange.
Responsibilities
- Research and Impact
- Community Engagement
Line Management
- Heads of School: Law and Social Sciences: Computing, Engineering and Technology: Pharmacy, Applied Science and Public Health: and the Graduate School
- Head of Research Strategy, Culture and Performance
- Director of Library and Learning Services
Committees
- Research Committee
- Research Degrees Committee
Professor Lynn Kilbride
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic)
Professor Lynn Kilbride is a leading figure in healthcare and higher education internationally. Her professional discipline is nursing but she has worked in a number of HEI’s in Scotland over the last 20 years in roles that span research, teaching and learning, commercialisation and international activity. Lynn holds the role of Universities Scotland Lead for Student Mental Health and is also Executive Lead for International at Robert Gordon University.
Lynn is passionate about academic development and the student experience and has extensive experience at home and overseas of developing, delivering and quality assuring curricula. Her clinical research activity was centred around diabetes and neuro oncology, however she has published in other areas and her most recent research explored healthcare leadership during COVID-19 pandemic. Lynn holds a number of honorary, consultancy and trustee positions at home and overseas and consistently aspires to improving individuals lives through education and is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Responsibilities
- Academic Development
- Student Experience
- Governance and Academic Quality
- Internationalisation
Portfolio
- Academic Quality and Learning Enhancement
- Student Life
- RGU Student Union
- Executive Lead : School of Health, Aberdeen Business School, Gray’s School of Art, Scott Sutherland School of Architecture & Built Environment
Jeremy Lindley
Executive Director of Finance
Jeremy is a chartered accountant with over 20 years’ experience working in higher education in Scotland and England. In each he has been a member of the lead executive group of the organisations and has played an active role in strategic development and implementation. His previous positions include Finance Director, Managing Director and Deputy Chief Operating Officer at the Universities of York, Birmingham and Exeter and the international private education provider INTO University Partnerships.
He led key initiatives to develop staff cultures, so they are aligned with organisational mission, creating new university partnerships for both educational and infrastructure purposes, negotiating new and refinanced debt positions and restructuring large university professional services teams to enable them to better deliver on the university’s goals.
Jeremy has led multi university teams having been the chair of both the Russell Groups and the previous 1994 Group Finance Directors team. In addition, he has been a Director of the Northeast and Southern purchasing consortium in England and a Director of The Energy Consortium. He has also been a trustee and employer representative to several pensions’ schemes. Jeremy has chaired and been a member of many joint university venture partnership operating student residences, pathway colleges and international student recruitment activities.
Responsibilities
- Finance
Line management
- Finance
Committees
- Finance and General Purposes Committee
Veronica Strachan
University Secretary and Vice-Principal Governance
Veronica has significant experience within RGU, having held senior roles within both academic Schools and professional support departments. She has been a member of a wide range of committees at various levels and have been involved in leading and delivering successful outcomes in university wide projects.
Veronica qualified as a solicitor in Scotland before joining RGU as a lecturer in law in 1994. In her early career, Veronica completed PG Certificate Tertiary Level Teaching and developed a keen interest in teaching and learning, and was an early adopter of technology, becoming a Fellow of Higher Education Academy in 2004. She was active in leading and developing the Law teaching portfolio and in 2002 was appointed Associate Head of School of Public Administration and Law.
In 2005 she was appointed Business Manager in Aberdeen Business School with Faculty responsibilities for development and delivery of aspects of Strategic plans and policies, and the leadership of the Faculty based administration including the placement office and learning and media technologists.
In 2016, she was appointed as Assistant Chief Academic Officer, leading the continuous development and implementation of efficient and effective academic quality assurance processes. In that role she was part of the working group for the TEF submission, achieving TEF Gold.
In 2018 she was appointed as Assistant Chief Academic Officer and Secretary to the Board. As Secretary to the Board, she supports the Board of Governors with authoritative guidance about its responsibilities under the University Statutory Instrument and regulatory frameworks, external legislation and the requirements of the Scottish Funding Council. She was actively involved designing and implementing the process for the election of the Chair of the Board of Governors, and the process for the recruitment of the current Principal.
In January 2022 she became University Secretary and Vice Principal for Corporate Services. In this role she had the responsibilities of Secretary to the Board, Executive responsibility for Governance and Compliance, Estates and Property Services, and IT Services, key corporate services designed to deliver and support the business of the University, its learning, teaching, consultancy and research now and in the future. She had university wide responsibilities for EDI leading the successful achievement of Athena Swan Bronze and for sustainability, ensuring the delivery of key strategic enablers of the University and the ambitions to reach Net Zero as well as developing the University submission for THE Impact Rankings and achieving a 2:1 ranking in the People and Planet League table.
From 31 March 2026, University Secretary and Vice Principal Governance, reflects the importance of good governance to the university and the necessity to underpin strategic developments on solid governance foundations. She provides strategic leadership of Robert Gordon University’s governance and legal frameworks, ensuring that the University operates with integrity, transparency, and accountability in line with its statutory obligations and the expectations under the University Statutory Instrument and regulatory frameworks, external legislation and the requirements of both the Scottish Funding Council and the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator. She has Executive responsibility for Governance and Compliance, which includes contracts and legal services, complaints handling, policy and Information Governance, due diligence and ethics, freedom of speech and CONTEST with oversight of institutional risks.
She is the RGU nominated governor at Robert Gordons College, and a Director/Chair of APUC (Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges).
Responsibilities
- Secretary to Board of Governors
- CONTEST
- Business Continuity
Portfolio
- Governance and Compliance
- Legal
Committees
- CONTEST Steering Group - Convenor
- Ethics Committee – Convenor
- Member of Executive, Academic Council, Infrastructure Committee, Business Continuity Group
Committees & Groups
University Management Group
The Principal's forum for reviewing and monitoring the University's strategy, Business Plan, policies, developments, challenges and opportunities.
This group has been constituted by the Principal.
Convener: Professor Steve Olivier, Principal
Secretary: Jaqui Azeem
Remit
The University Management Group:
- Provides a forum for reviewing and monitoring strategy implementation, taking account of the university’s key performance indicators and the targets set out in the Business Plan
- Informs high level policy formulation and operational developments
- Provides a forum for sharing information and formulating operational solutions to address institutional challenges and opportunities
- Provides a vehicle for effective two-way communication between the university community and the Executive, ensuring effective alignment between strategy and implementation
- Considers such other matters as the Principal may determine.
Membership
Notes of meetings
Notes of meetings are all available on RGyoU at:
Meetings
- 24 September 2025
- 22 October 2025
- 19 November 2025
- 17 December 2025
- 14 January 2026
- 11 February 2026
- 11 March 2026
- 8 April 2026
- 6 May 2026
- 3 June 2026
- 1 July 2026
- 26 August 2026
All meetings will be at 10:00 in H230.
Health, Safety & Wellbeing Committee
The Health & Safety committee's purpose is to contribute to the provision by the university of a safe and secure environment for work, study and visit, both on- and off- campus, to ensure that the university’s reputation is of the highest standing relative to its strategic intent.
Convener: Ms Veronica Strachan, University Secretary and Vice Principal Corporate Services
Secretary: Jaqui Azeem
Membership, Remit and Composition
Scope
The H&S Committee will consider and advise the university on the health, safety and welfare aspects of all RGU policy, procedure and practice relating to staff, students, visitors, contractors and others within RGU campuses and related off-site activities.
Remit/terms of reference
The role of the H&S Committee will be to:
- Ensure effective and representative two way communication and consultation between staff, students, trade unions, other stakeholders and the management of the university.
- Advise the university on emerging issues, significant changes, proposals and recommendations regarding the university’s policy, procedures and practices having properly assessed the issues and implications.
- Monitor the H&S performance of the university and review the completion of any actions arising from routine audits, incident investigations or external regulatory interventions.
- Recommend to both the Executive and SGC, steps which can be taken to promote and sustain a positive H&S culture within the university, having properly considered options and implications.
Membership
The number of management representatives on the H&S Committee must not exceed the number of employee representatives and vice-versa.
Permanent Committee Membership
- Convener: Ms Veronica Strachan
- University Secretary: Jennifer Brown
Management Representatives
- Director of Student Life
- Director of Estates - representing all departments
- Head of School - School of Pharmacy, Applied Sciences and Public Health
- Head of School - School of Computing, Engineering and Technology
- Head of School - Gray's School of Art
Employee Representatives
- EIS appointees (2)
- Unison appointees (2)
- UCU appointees (2)
Student Representatives
- Student Union President
Contractor Representatives
- Catering (local manager)
- Facilities Maintenance (local manager)
- Health Board (partner/ manager from Garthdee Campus)
- International College (local manager)
- Nursery (local manager)
Advisory Representatives
- Director of People & Culture
- Head of Occupational Health & Environmental Safety
Additional Co-opted Members
In attendance by invitation – examples only
- Any RGU manager or employee for relevant agenda item
- Director of Library Services
- Accommodation Services Manager
- Risk and Compliance Officer
- Fire Safety Adviser
- Occupational Health Provider representative
- Local H&S Coordinator (specific / outstanding issues)
- Other competent persons as and when required (RPS, LSO, etc.)
Meetings & Minutes
Frequency of Meetings
The H&S Committee will meet at least 3 times a year and the meeting schedule will be published one year in advance. It is expected that meetings will not be cancelled or rearranged without good justification and the Convenor will have the deciding authority on this point.
Attendance
The expectation is that all permanent members of the H&S Committee will attend each meeting. However if this is not possible then a nominated substitute can attend provided they have been:
- Nominated by the permanent member & approved by the H&S Committee (RGU staff).
- Nominated by the permanent member (non–RGU organisations).
In order to enable the efficient and accurate flow of information the nominated substitute should be identified to the H&S Committee and their attendance notified within 2 weeks of the draft agenda being issued.
Where a substitute has been agreed it will be the responsibility of the Committee member being substituted to ensure the substitute is fully briefed and able to fully contribute to the meeting.
As a minimum expectation any meeting of the committee will require a quorum of at least 4 management and 4 employee representatives in attendance.
Publication & Communication of Agenda and Minutes of Meetings
The draft agenda will be circulated by the secretariat 4 weeks before the planned meeting date. Any items members wish to add to the agenda should be submitted to the Convenor via the secretariat not less than 2 weeks before the meeting date.
The draft minutes of the meeting will be produced by the secretariat within 4 weeks following the meeting date and circulated to all members for comment.
Comments on the draft minutes should be submitted to the Convenor via the secretariat within 2 weeks following the draft circulation. The final approved minutes will then be published once ratified by the Committee at its subsequent meeting.
The outcomes of the meetings will be reported to the Executive within the Quarterly H&S Report. This report is also subsequently considered by the Staff Governance Committee.
The agenda and minutes will be made available to staff and students on the university website. Contractors will be supplied with electronic copies through their nominated contacts.
Standing Agenda Items
The committee has agreed that the standing agenda includes:
- Apologies for absence
- Minute of previous meeting
- Report from Head of OHES – progress against annual H&S plan
- Consideration of current statutory developments
- Consideration of current policy developments
- Consideration of audit reports and actions
- Consideration of fire safety risk assessments and actions
- Consideration of quarterly reports and accident / incident investigations
- Consideration of reports from enforcing authorities and actions
- Consideration of strategic H&S issues arising at local membership level
- AOCB
- Date of next meeting - reminder only as pre-set
Minutes
Meetings
- 20 June 2024
- 8 October 2024
- 11 February 2025
- 24 June 2025
All meetings will be held at 14:00 in N204.
Equality & Diversity Committee
This is a Sub-Committee of the Quality Assurance and Enhancement Committee. The remit includes to inform strategic equality and diversity priorities and direction, based on robust evidence, data, involvement and consultation with the University’s Equality and Diversity Forum and other appropriate stakeholders.
Convener: To be confirmed
Secretary: Emmanuel Akerele, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Adviser
Membership, Remit and Composition
The Remit and Composition of the Academic Regulations Sub-Committee are contained in Organisational Regulation O4, 1.4
Minutes
- EDSC Minute - 22 September 2020 (PDF 214KB)
- EDSC Minute - 23 November 2020 (PDF 142KB)
- EDSC Minute - 15 February 2021 (PDF 203KB)
- EDSC Minute - 20 September 2021 (PDF 181KB)
- EDSC Minute - 10 November 2021 (PDF 150KB)
- EDSC Minute - 7 February 2022 (PDF 193KB)
- EDSC Minute - 27 April 2022 (PDF 154KB)
- EDSC Minute - 8 November 2023 (PDF 160KB)
- EDSC Minute - 5 February 2024 (PDF 185KB)
- EDSC Minute - 1 May 2024 (PDF 147KB)
Meetings
- 5 November 2026, 10:00
- 11 February 2027, 13:00
- 15 April 2027, 13:00
All meetings held in SB05, Garthdee House Annex.
Forums
- 16 September 2026
- 18 January 2027
- 3 March 2027
All forums held in H230, Ishbel Gordon Building at 10:00.
Research Integrity and Ethics Sub-Committee
This is a Sub-Committee of the Research Committee. The remit includes to oversee the implementation of a research governance quality management system for the University and the maintenance and enhancement of ethical standards in the conduct of research (including consultancy and professional practice) undertaken by employees and students of the University.
Convener: Professor Nick Fyfe, Vice-Principal for Research and Community Engagement
Secretary: Mrs Fiona McLean Whyte, Deputy Academic Registrar
Membership, Remit and Composition
Standing Committees will from time to time establish Sub-Committees in order to assist them in undertaking their remits.
The Remit and Composition of the Research Integrity and Ethics Sub-Committee are contained in Organisational Regulation O4, Annex 4.1
Sub-Committees, their memberships and Conveners will be reviewed not less than every three years.
Membership - to be confirmed.
Minutes
These Minutes contain Reserved Business and are not posted on the website.
Meetings
- 6 October 2026
- 26 January 2027
- 6 April 2027
All meetings will be held in N204 at 13:00.
Ethics Procedures
The following information is available through Commercial Operations Support:
Also part of the Executive:
- Infrastructure Committee
- IP Commercialisation Executive
- CONTEST Steering Group
- TRAC Development Group