Court Office

I seek your support as the elected academic staff member on University Court. Academic staff are the enduring backbone of our University and deserve effective representation at the highest level of governance. 

My experience directly aligns with Court's responsibilities across strategic planning, budgeting, estates management, HR oversight, and educational quality assurance. As Dean for Learning and Teaching in the College of Science and Engineering (CoSE) since 2019, I have championed teaching excellence through curriculum review initiatives and feedback process improvements, while developing staff careers through targeted promotion support programs. Previously, as Head and Deputy Head of Psychology, I gained comprehensive understanding of how our subjects and institution functions within the wider HE ecosystem. 

Throughout 25+ years of service, I have consistently stepped forward where needed most. I’ve led learning and teaching strategies in my School and in CoSE, modernised undergraduate curricula, launched new MSc programmes, and chaired committees supporting colleagues' career development. My committee experience spans School roles (e.g. Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee and Research Committee), University positions (e.g. CoSE Management Committee, University Learning and Teaching Committee), and external appointments (e.g. Quality Enhancement and Standards Reviewer-Scotland, parliamentary special committees - Holyrood and Westminster.) This breadth, combined with higher education experience across Canada and the USA, provides valuable comparative perspectives on university governance. 

As a Principal Investigator supervising the full academic lifecycle- from undergraduate to junior academic staff- and external examiner for programmes and institutional reviews from York to Oxford, I understand both grassroots academic life and sector-wide quality assurance standards. My leadership philosophy centres on collaboration and service. As co-chair of successful Athena Swan applications and Chair of the committee developing our Accessible and Inclusive Learning policy, I have championed equity and diversity. Appointed as mediator for staffing issues, as well as chairing student appeals, I approach complex workplace and study situations with care, compassion, and integrity- skills essential for effective Court representation. 

The University's mission succeeds when we uphold shared values together. Academic staff voices must be heard at decision-making's highest level, particularly during times of change and challenge. My diverse experience- from frontline teaching and research to strategic leadership- positions me to understand pressures facing colleagues across career stages and disciplines. 

The role of an academic on Court is unique- we are both guardians of academic excellence and stewards of an environment where all can thrive in research, scholarship, teaching, and countless daily contributions keeping our University running. I have witnessed our community maintain core values of inclusivity, service, and academic leadership through significant change, and I am committed to ensuring these values guide our future. 

It would be a privilege to represent you on Court, working collaboratively to champion our shared interests, support our academic mission, and help steer the University towards a vibrant, sustainable, and inclusive future. Thank you for participating in this vital process. We must engage to make a difference. 

The higher education sector is facing unprecedented challenges—from financial uncertainty and political pressures to shifting student expectations and growing demands on academic staff. While the University of Glasgow is well-positioned to weather these challenges in many respects, we are not immune to the turbulence affecting the sector. In this context, the academic voice in institutional governance is essential—not only for navigating this complexity, but for ensuring that the University remains focused on its core academic mission and values. 

The University Court plays a central role in that governance. It is responsible for ensuring that decisions taken at the highest level align with the institution’s long-term interests, and for providing rigorous, independent oversight of senior leadership. This oversight is critical for maintaining transparency, strategic clarity, and accountability—especially as universities face increased scrutiny from government, funders, and the public. 

If elected, I would bring broad and relevant experience to the role. I have served as Head of Subject (several times), Head of the School of Social and Political Sciences, and Dean of the Glasgow-Nankai Joint Graduate School, each of which involved extensive engagement with strategy, governance, and cross-institutional collaboration. I recently stepped down as Convener of the Politics 1A course, a large and complex teaching programme with over 500 students annually. All of these roles have given me insight into the day-to-day realities of academic life and the mounting pressures on staff as we seek to balance our teaching, research and administrative responsibilities. 

I would aim to ensure that the perspectives of academic colleagues are clearly represented at Court. The success of the University depends on the commitment and expertise of its staff, and our voices must be part of key institutional decisions. I would maintain an open-door policy for colleagues wishing to share concerns or raise issues, and work to ensure that governance is responsive, inclusive, and grounded in the academic community. 

Beyond the University, I serve as a Trustee of a charitable organisation in the democracy sector, which funds third-sector organisations and academic research aimed at strengthening democratic practice and resilience in the UK. This has given me a deep appreciation of governance principles—particularly the importance of independence, fiduciary responsibility, and oversight in complex organisational contexts. 

I currently am the Stevenson Professor of Citizenship within the School of Social and Political Sciences. I started work at the University of Glasgow in 2005 and returned after a period working at the University of Strathclyde. Over the years, I’ve found the most rewarding parts of leadership to be mentoring colleagues, advocating for fairness in workload and resources, and supporting career progression and wellbeing. 

I would be honoured to contribute this experience to the work of the Court, helping to uphold strong governance and accountable leadership at a time when it matters most. 

I have put myself forward for the role of Elected Academic Staff Member on the University Court for several reasons. I am keen to understand more about the institution - its processes, decision-making, finances, and strategies - because this directly affects staff and students. My wish to understand how the University works is underpinned by my desire to give effective, and articulate, representation for academic staff, who are core to the University’s continued success and global reputation. As the University adapts to a changing society and evolves coherently, the views of academic colleagues should be heard and reflected in the University’s values, particularly the aim to create an inclusive community. 

Since joining the University in February 2014 my role has expanded substantially. As the Director of Vocational Studies in the Undergraduate Medical School I am involved in curriculum development, teaching, assessment, research, and I have a significant managerial role. I contribute to the appointment and interview panels for new staff and support their ongoing training. I am a permanent member of the Fitness to Study panels for students across the University which has enhanced my understanding of the other Schools and how they work.  

 I have introduced innovative methods to teach Equality, Diversity and Inclusion by harnessing the power of lived experience and giving people a voice. As a consequence of this I was recognised with an EDI Award for Exceptional Contribution at the College of MVLS inaugural EDI awards and I was invited by the University’s Equality & Diversity Unit to be a panel member at the recent International Women’s Day Menopause Panel event. 

 I am involved in Widening Access to medicine and have contributed to the REACH summer school for the last 10 years. The success of Widening Access has had the unintended consequence of an increased requirement for student support from academic staff, and it is important for the University to support both students and staff for each group to thrive  

I am a member of the British Medical Association (BMA) and am an elected member of the Medical Academic Staff Committee which represents all medically qualitied educators and researchers, and advocates on their behalf. 

In my clinical role I have been a partner in a GP practice for 25 years and consequently have a good understanding of managing budgets in a challenging environment. This knowledge has been invaluable in my academic role where I am involved in the complexities of medical education funding via the NHS.  

This breadth of experience shows that I can work collaboratively with colleagues, advocate for them, and engage with students. 

As a graduate of the University, and subsequently as a member of staff, I have a strong bond with the institution, and I would welcome the opportunity to contribute further to Glasgow’s standing as a world-class university by representing its staff. 

I am standing for election to Court to contribute a perspective that enhances the breadth and depth of strategic decision-making—drawing on my experience as an active researcher, programme lead, and regional campus-based academic committed to inclusive, globally engaged governance. As the first person in my family to earn a PhD—following a father who was the first in his generation to attend university and grandparents who were farmers—I understand firsthand the transformative potential of higher education. This background drives my commitment to institutional governance and ensuring that our structures reflect a robust range of staff and student experiences. 

I currently serve as Programme Lead for the MSc in End of Life Studies at the Dumfries Campus. My research focuses on innovations in end-of-life care, and I lead international, interdisciplinary projects with collaborators across Europe, North America, and South America. I am also developing new work on environmental emotions and long-term resilience—supporting young people and communities to navigate climate-related challenges in socially inclusive ways. These projects reflect the University’s values of creativity, professionalism, and a global mindset rooted in local relevance. 

Alongside my research and teaching, I contribute actively to the University’s internal structures. I lead my School’s Ethics Committee and serve on the College of Social Sciences Ethics Committee, which has given me insight into academic administration, reputational risk, and the importance of strong institutional safeguards. I am also involved in several School-level committees for research development, sustainability, postgraduate support, and curriculum innovation. These have provided me experience in policy formation and collaborative governance, and strengthened my commitment to transparent, thoughtful processes that balance strategic priorities with practical realities. 

Prior to my academic career, I held several senior research coordinator positions on large, multi-year national health improvement initiatives in Canada, gaining valuable experience in cross-sector collaboration, governance, and evidence-informed decision-making. 

While it may be unusual to consider a Dumfries-based lecturer as an Academic Staff Member of Court, my experience offers a valuable and often underrepresented perspective at the highest levels of institutional decision-making. As a lecturer, my close engagement with students and involvement across teaching, research, and service roles provides a grounded understanding of how institutional policies affect every day academic life. My candidacy also continues the presence of a regional campus within Court, helping ensure that the opportunities and challenges of the University’s full geographic footprint are meaningfully represented. 

Throughout my time at the University, I have worked to align teaching and research with the University’s strategic direction, uphold academic integrity, and strengthen the resilience of our institution through inclusive, future-focused academic practice. I am committed to contributing to the growth of the University’s international reputation. Through my candidacy, I offer the valuable perspective of an early-career academic while seeking to develop leadership skills that will support the University’s long-term success. If elected to Court, I will contribute an enthusiastic, grounded, and strategically informed approach in furthering the future-facing vision for the University as a global leader in innovation, inclusion, and academic excellence. 

I am a Professor in the School of Education within the College of Social Sciences, with a strong and sustained record of interdisciplinary engagement and knowledge exchange. My academic work spans multiple fields, and I am committed to fostering collaborative scholarship that bridges disciplinary and institutional boundaries. 

In addition to my academic responsibilities, I serve as a member of the University Senate. I am also a member of the University and College Union (UCU). 

As a woman from an ethnic minority background, I bring a critical perspective on equality, diversity, and inclusion to all aspects of university life. I am deeply committed to advocating for a more democratic academic environment, and I believe this perspective would be a valuable addition to the work of Court. 

I would be honoured to represent the interests of academic staff on Court, ensuring that our voices are heard in the highest forums of university governance. I hope to contribute to shaping the strategic direction of the institution in a manner that upholds academic integrity, transparency, and respect. 

Our university is a complex ecosystem of thinkers, learners and innovators, that is rich with idiosyncrasy, contradiction, and passion. I believe this heterogeneity is one of our greatest strengths. I am seeking election as an academic staff member to Court to ensure that this diversity of perspectives is heard, valued, and nurtured in our governance. 

Since joining the University in 2019, I have worked proactively to identify and deconstruct silos, foster collaboration, and build meaningful connections across our community. As MBA Programme Director and Associate Director of Learning and Teaching in the Adam Smith Business School, my leadership has prioritised enabling colleagues to flourish, as well as empowering student voice in shaping their assessment and broader learning experiences. Through student-centred initiatives, I have encouraged active student participation in curriculum development, resulting in richer, more engaging educational experiences and better-informed, more authentic assessments. 

In my previous role as Associate Director for Connections with Practice, I brought external voices and real-world contexts into our teaching environment, creating vibrant partnerships that enhance the university experience for both students and staff. My cross-university programme leadership, involving all four Colleges, facilitated interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation. Together these roles have deepened my commitment to collegial leadership, embracing complexity, and rejecting 'one-size-fits-all' approaches. 

My previous experiences in industry, management consultancy and various community leadership roles have taught me that effective leadership is stewardship rather than control. I believe leadership is about listening, acting with integrity, empowering others, and maintaining transparency, accountability, and innovation. 

As an academic community representative to Court, I would ensure the Court remains closely connected to the realities of academic work, in for example recognising the creativity, emotional labour, pressures, and triumphs across all disciplines. I would strive to amplify everyday achievements and address concerns, ensuring the Court hears the authentic voices of our academic community. Equally, I am committed to enabling colleagues to design and deliver more impactful and satisfying educational experiences through responsive and inclusive governance. 

I fully understand the responsibilities of an EASM, including attending Court and Senate meetings, serving on appointment and promotion panels, and participating in periodic reviews. I would undertake these duties with the dedication, reflection, and thoughtfulness I bring to my teaching and programme leadership. 

Ultimately, I believe our university’s future depends not on rigid frameworks, but on open dialogue, respect for diversity, and nurturing environments that allow both staff and students to thrive. If elected, I promise a reflective, principled voice on Court; one that questions constructively, promotes fairness and inclusivity, and which recognises that effective leadership is inherently collaborative. 

I do not claim to have all the answers, but I promise to listen, learn, and advocate diligently on behalf of colleagues. It would be an honour to serve as your representative, to champion the diversity and creativity at our university’s heart, and ensure our collective voice shapes its future. 

I am honoured to submit my candidacy for the position of academic staff member on University Court. With over two decades of experience as a student, graduate, and academic within this institution, I bring deep-rooted institutional knowledge, dedication, and a commitment to fostering innovation, inclusion, and academic excellence across the University. 

My career has spanned teaching, leadership, engagement, and innovation. As founding Programme Director of the MSc in Medical Visualisation and Human Anatomy, delivered collaboratively with The Glasgow School of Art's School of Simulation and Visualisation (SimVis), I have led a successful interdisciplinary programme that has graduated over 200 students. Many have gone on to influential roles in the medical technology industry, a testament to the strength of collaborative education and diversity in teaching teams. This programme reflects the University’s mission to combine academic rigour with impact beyond the classroom. 

I am also the Lead Editor for the Biomedical Visualisation/Visualization book series with Springer Nature, which has involved 500 contributors from 24 countries and over 100 institutions. With over 100K downloads, this initiative has helped staff and students across levels showcase their work and has enhanced global academic visibility. It reflects my commitment to scholarship, professional development, and mentorship. 

As Director of Innovation, Engagement and Enterprise within the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, I am deeply involved in delivering key strategic goals of the MVLS College. I lead collaborative public engagement events with organisations such as the NHS, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, the Hunterian Museum, SimVis, and Glasgow Science Centre. This role underscores my belief in the power of partnership between academia and society. 

In governance, I have actively contributed to multiple strategic bodies. I have served two terms on the Senate Business Committee (second term), Council of Senate, and as a Senate Assessor for Student Conduct (also second term), where I have contributed to over 700 conduct cases. I have previously participated in key institutional projects, such as the KeyStone Project Development Board and the University Working Group on the refurbishment of teaching spaces. These roles have given me insight into how institutional decisions are made and how staff voices can influence strategic outcomes. 

I am also a Licensed Teacher of Anatomy, appointed by the Scottish Government, and lead the day to day running of the University's Body Donor Programme—another example of my operational leadership and responsibility. 

I bring to this role a blend of teaching, innovation, mentorship, and institutional service. I will advocate for colleagues and students alike, ensuring their needs are reflected in the strategic direction of the University. If elected, I will bring energy, fairness, collegiality, and a clear voice rooted in practical experience and deep commitment to our academic community, as we enter challenging academic and geopolitical landscapes. 

Nominations 

• Christina Cobbold, Professor of Mathematical Biology, School of Mathematics and Statistics, College of Science and Engineering 

• Neil Allison, Lecturer in Modern Foreign Languages, School of Modern Languages and Culture, College of Arts and Humanities 

• Scott Hurrell, Senior Lecturer in HRM and Employment Relations, Adam Smith Business School, College of Social Sciences 

• David Robertson, Head of CVR Bioinformatics, Centre for Virus Research, School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences 

I have sat on Court for the last two years as the UCU representative, but will cease to do so having now stepped down as UCU Glasgow branch president. I am standing to be an Elected Academic Staff Member of Court because as UCU branch president and union nominee on Court I have learnt a huge amount about the challenges faced by academic staff and I believe this experience can be used to make the university a better place for us all to work.  In particular I believe that the University Senior Management Group (SMG) should be informed of a wider range of staff perspectives in their future planning.  This is particularly important in the context of the arrival of a new Principal for the first time in sixteen years. 

The University of Glasgow’s finances are currently relatively secure in comparison to many other Scottish and UK HE establishments, but nonetheless as we evolve in response to pressures impacting on the sector there will likely be major implications for workload and stress experienced by staff across the university.  It is right that SMG be constructively challenged on the relative importance it places on staff and students vs infrastructure. These challenges cannot just come from the unions; they also have to come from its governance structures in the form of Court to ensure that the long-term strategy of the University is focused on the needs and well-being of the people that make this university work – the staff. 

Beyond my experience on Court and as UCUG branch president, I have been a member of staff at the University of Glasgow since 2007, and I have been casualised for half of that time. As a result, I have extensive direct experience both of the university itself, and of the precarious nature of much of academic employment. I have been co-director of a university research centre, and I currently sit on the University’s Research-Funded Employment working group, which is developing a strategy for moving more research staff onto fully open-ended contracts. I also helped developed the first plans for the university to recruit Research Software Engineers as permanent staff in the University to support research, and I am now on the University Steering Group for Research Computing as a Service (RCaaS). 

Finally, I hope that you will vote for candidates who will ensure that SMG and Court hear a broad range of perspectives when determining future strategy. 

I am honoured to be considered for the role of Elected Academic Staff Member of University Court. I am currently Senior Lecturer in Pharmacology in the School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health (SCMH), College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences (MVLS). I am a graduate of the University of Glasgow (BSc (Hons) Pharmacology 1990; PhD 1994) and my 30-year academic career has included periods as R-only staff at University of Glasgow (1994-2007), R&T staff at University of Liverpool (2007-2018), and LTS staff at University of Glasgow since 2018, giving me a broad perspective on academic life. 

I have been Year 3 lead and deputy programme director for BSc (Hons) Pharmacology since 2019 and will conclude a 3-year term as Director of Education (L&T Convenor) in SCMH at the end of July 2025. I was appointed to this latter role at a time of College restructure and the re-integration of teaching and research across MVLS. I immediately assumed strategic responsibility for six UG programmes and six PGT programmes and line management responsibility for ten LTS staff in the newly formed School. Over the past 3 years, I have represented those programmes and colleagues at numerous School, College and University level committees whilst also maintaining one of the highest teaching loads in MVLS. 

My academic career has been enriched by positions of responsibility at external organisations, including a current elected appointment to the Education & Training committee of the British Pharmacological Society. I served as Chair of the Board of Trustees at Epilepsy Research UK for seven years (2011-2018), experience that is directly relevant to membership of University Court, not least because this role comes with trusteeship of the University as a charitable body. Leadership of a national charity, and the associated responsibilities to staff, supporters and relevant statutory bodies, also embedded the principles of public life to which I continue to adhere. 

It is a rare privilege to now teach the subject I studied as an undergraduate at the University of Glasgow, to shape the future of my discipline at Glasgow and beyond, and to play a part in the enduring success of my alma mater. I am proud to be a University of Glasgow graduate and seek to instil that same sense of pride in my students. I am similarly proud to be a member of academic staff at this University and endeavour to act at all times with honesty, objectivity and collegiality.  

The University of Glasgow is not immune from the unprecedented societal, financial and technological challenges facing the UK Higher Education sector. More than ever, we need individuals with experience, acute understanding of day-to-day academic activity, and a genuine affection for the institution to be involved in decision-making at the University of Glasgow. On that basis, I firmly believe I am qualified to take on the role of Elected Academic Staff Member of University Court. If elected, I will rigorously represent the interests of all academic colleagues in the governance of our esteemed institution.