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Scottish Funding Council
24/09/2009
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Fiona Hyslop, today announced the appointment of three new members to the Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council and the re-appointment of the Chair and two existing members.
The new members are Robin Crawford, Audrey Cumberford and Albert Rodger. In addition, John McClelland is being re-appointed as Chair along with members Janet Lowe and Jim Gallacher.
Ms Hyslop said:
"I am delighted to announce the appointment of Robin Crawford, Audrey Cumberford and Albert Rodger to the Council. The range of skills, experience and knowledge they bring to their appointment will make a strong and valuable contribution to the work of the Council."
"I am also very pleased to announce that John McClelland has accepted a second term of appointment as Chair. John brings with him a wealth of experience in industry and education and has provided strong leadership and direction to the Council during his first term of appointment. I look forward to his continuing contribution for another four years. In addition, Janet Lowe and Jim Gallacher will also continue in their roles bringing sound and constructive advice to the Council's work."
Robin Crawford is a member of Court of Strathclyde University and a Director of Erskine Hospital. He was a partner in KPMG for 24 years where he was Head of Services to Manufacturing, Retail and Distribution companies in Scotland. For five years until 2008, he was Chairman of the Scottish Business Crime Centre and from 2000 to 2006 he served as a Member of Council of CBI Scotland.
Audrey Cumberford, having graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Education, moved to Bristol University to take up a two year Graduate Assistant Lecturer post, undertaking research within the field of sports psychology. Following this, she left the Higher Education sector and moved into private industry where she held a number of roles within the pharmaceutical and product design industries, specialising in marketing. After 7 years she returned to education, taking up her first management role within the College sector at Edinburgh's Telford College. In 1999, Audrey moved to a senior management position at Reid Kerr College in Paisley, and was promoted to her current post of Vice Principal in January 2005.
Professor Albert Rodger is Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Physical Sciences at the University of Aberdeen. A chartered civil engineer, Professor Rodger has been awarded the John Logie Baird Award for Innovation and the Silver Medal of the Royal Academy of Engineering for his research into geotechnical dynamics which has led to patented and licensed inventions. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, Director of the Northern Research Partnership in Engineering and Chief Executive of the National Subsea Research Institute.
John McClelland has extensive experience across the private and public sectors. He was Vice President of Worldwide Operations for IBM's personal computer company before joining Digital Equipment Corporation in 1995 where he was a Senior Vice President. He was also Global Chief Industrial Officer and board member of Philips Consumer Electronics and latterly President of 3Com's Business Networks Company.
He is Chair of NQC Ltd and a former Chairman of Rangers Football Club, where he has been a member of the Board since November 2000. John is also a former Chairman of the Renfrewshire Enterprise Company. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He recently conducted a review of public procurement in Scotland (The McClelland Report).
John is a former member of the Scottish Higher Education Funding Council and chaired its Quality Assessment Committee. In 1994 he was awarded a CBE for his services to industry and education.
The appointment of Robin Crawford, Audrey Cumberford and Albert Rodger are part-time and for four years, effective from October 3, 2009 until 2 October 2013. The remuneration is £11,376 a year for a time commitment of three days per month.
John McClelland's reappointment is part time and for four years, effective from 3 October 2009 until 2 October 2013. The remuneration is £45,760 for a time commitment of 2 days per week.
Janet Lowe is a former Principal of Lauder College, Dunfermline, a position she held for 10 years. During her 30-year career in further and higher education, she also held posts at the University of Hull, Napier University and Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art. Her previous public service has included membership of the Garrick Committee, the Court of Heriot-Watt University, and the Boards of the Scottish Further Education Unit and Scottish Enterprise. She was a member of the independent Local Government Finance Review Committee which reported to Scottish Ministers in 2006. She is currently a member of the Court of the University of Dundee and the Skills Development Scotland (SDS) Board. Janet was awarded the CBE in 2003 for services to FE.
Jim Gallacher was formerly Professor of Lifelong Learning and Co-Director of the Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning at Glasgow Caledonian University. His research interests include FE and social inclusion, FE and HE links, widening access to further and higher education, work-based learning, and credit and qualifications frameworks. Jim is a member of the Forum for Lifelong Learning, and is Vice Chair of the Universities Association for Lifelong Learning.
Janet Lowe has been re-appointed for a four year term effective from October 3, 2009 to October 2, 2013. Jim Gallacher has been re-appointed for a one year term effective from October 3, 2009 to October 2, 2010. The remuneration is £11,376 a year for a time commitment of three days per month.
Of these appointees, only Janet Lowe holds another Ministerial public appointment. As a member of the SDS Board, Janet receives remuneration of £6,240 per annum.
The Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council was established on October 3, 2005 under the provisions of the Further and Higher Education (Scotland) Act 2005. All appointments to the Council are based on this legislation. The Council is responsible for providing funding for learning and teaching, research and other relevant activities in Scotland's colleges and higher education institutions (HEIs).
These Ministerial public appointments were made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments in Scotland's Code of Practice.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees' political activity (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Jim Gallacher has declared political activity with the Labour Party in the last five years.