The Herald Higher Education Awards

Barclay McBain, Executive Editor, The Herald

Chair of the judging panel

I joined The Herald’s London office in 1980 as a news, business and politics reporter.  I joined The Herald’s Glasgow team of reporters after a couple of years in London, working in the newsroom.  I was appointed education correspondent before becoming a leader writer, then chief leader writer, then managing editor, then assistant editor, senior assistant editor before becoming deputy editor, and now my current role Executive Editor.  I also duty edit the Sunday Herald in the absence of Editor Neil Mackay.  I am looking forward to seeing all your submissions and recognising all the great work happening in the Scottish Higher Education sector.

John Kemp, Interim Chief Executive, Scottish Further and Higher Education Funding Council

John Kemp is currently Interim Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council. His previous post was Director of Access Skills and Outcome Agreements at the Council, responsible for outcome agreements for universities and colleges, leadership of its work on access, skills and quality as well as supporting mergers and collaborations. He has been with the Council in a variety of roles since 2000. Before working for the Funding Council he worked in publishing and local government. He has also taught and served on governing bodies in both the college and university sectors.

Ailsa Crum, Head of Quality & Enhancement, QAA Scotland

Ailsa Crum is Head of Quality & Enhancement at QAA Scotland having worked with QAA since 1998, first as Assistant Director and later as Head of Reviews. Her current role involves designing and implementing the Enhancement-led Institutional Review method and leading an exciting programme of enhancement and development activity in close association with the Scottish university sector and its students. Ailsa’s previous Higher Education posts were at the organisation now known as Universities Scotland and at The Robert Gordon University. Ailsa went to school in Wick and consequently was one of the few students to travel south to study at the University of Aberdeen. She has a love of learning and promoting student engagement having also studied at the Robert Gordon University and both Strathclyde and Glasgow universities. Over the last fifteen years, she has developed an academic interest in creative education and has recently completed a PhD at the University of Glasgow. Ailsa is on the editorial board for the literary journal, Mulberry Fork, and has performed stand-up comedy with The Bright Club.

Jason Miles – Campbell, Head of Jisc Scotland and Jisc Northern Ireland

As head of Jisc Scotland and Northern Ireland, Jason has responsibility for ensuring outstanding service for Jisc customers and communities in both nations. For this dual role he splits his time between the Stirling and Belfast offices.

Graduating in law with French law from University College London, Jason’s passion for education began with a lectureship at the University of Abertay in Dundee. Whilst specialising in European law, consumer law and then IT law, he became an enthusiastic adopter of technology in teaching, including use of online self-assessment with large classes, delivering learning material through a virtual learning environment and use of video for teaching and feedback. He also gained valuable experience through undertaking a secondment as head of law.

In 2004, Jason became service manager at Jisc Legal. He was appointed head of Jisc Scotland and Northern Ireland in January 2015.

Beyond his enthusiastic evangelism for good use of technology in education, he enjoys running, cooking (haggis wontons are a speciality), judging school debates, gadgets, travel and the music of Girls Aloud.

Alastair Sim, Director, Universities Scotland

Alastair Sim took up office as the Director of Universities Scotland on 01 July 2009. Universities Scotland is the representative body of Scotland’s 19 higher education institutions. Universities Scotland develops policy on behalf of the university sector and campaigns publicly on higher education issues.

Previously, Alastair was a Civil Servant with the Scottish Office and later the Scottish Government between 1989 – 2009. He served in a number of departments, including a time as Private Secretary to Minister for Agriculture and the Environment. Alastair developed policy and legislation on constitutional reform and protection of the natural heritage and was seconded to the European Commission.

During his career in the Senior Civil Service he was Head of Division, Environment and Rural Affairs; and was seconded to the post of Director of Planning, University of Glasgow; and latterly held the post of Director of Policy and Strategy, Scottish Court Service.

Alastair is a member of various different committees including: Cross-Party Group (CPG) on Scotland’s Universities and Colleges; and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) Executive Committee.

James Dornan MSP, Convenor of the Education and Skills Committee, Scottish Government

James Dornan MSP has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Cathcart since 2011. Previously James represented Langside ward on Glasgow City Council, and was the leader of the SNP council group.  James is currently the Convener of the Education and Skills Committee at the Scottish Parliament and he is completely committed to the development of young people in education from the cradle onwards. James is passionately dedicated to life-long learning across Scotland.

Bre Edwards, Director of Student Life, UWS

Bre Edwards took up her post as Director of Student Life at UWS in June 2016. In this post Bre has oversight of the student experience across the University campuses, ensuring the student learning journey, the student voice and the expectations of the Corporate Strategy are prioritised whilst also responding to higher education strategies and policies that impact on student expectations and requirements. She leads a team of over 100 staff, working with them to build a team of professionals to deliver outstanding support for staff and students. Alongside this she works closely with the UWS Students Association (SAUWS) and the student body in general.

Bre previously held the role of Director of Student and Academic Services at University of Reading’s Malaysia Campus and prior to this was Quality Support Officer at the University of Reading and Teaching & Learning Officer in the Henley Business School at Reading.

Shona Struthers, Chief Executive, Colleges Scotland

Shona Struthers is Chief Executive of Colleges Scotland, the representative voice and membership organisation for the college sector. Shona took up the post on 18 August 2014, having acted as Interim Chief Executive since June 2014. She joined Colleges Scotland in November 2013 as Director of Policy and Public Affairs. Prior to that she ran her own education consultancy, during which time she planned and advised on the SRUC merger, advised City of Glasgow College on the financial and legal aspects of its three-college merger, and acted as Corporate Services Director to the Scottish Further Education Unit (SFEU). Prior to establishing her consultancy, Shona was Finance and Communications Director for Zeneca/ Avecia Ltd and became a Chartered Management Accountant during her seven years at Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). Shona was a Forth Valley College board member for six years and chair of its finance committee. She has previously served on the boards of the SFEU (2005-2008) and Falkirk Women’s Technology Centre (1995-2005). Currently, Shona is a board member of Strathcarron Hospice.

Vonnie Sandlan , NUS Scotland President

Vonnie Sandlan is NUS Scotland President. Vonnie is passionate about women’s rights and women’s representation at our colleges and universities. She is also extremely interested in widening opportunities for all people, no matter what their background, age or gender. In particular, Vonnie has an interest in students who are care leavers, and has been actively involved in shaping the work of Who Cares? Scotland.

Vonnie is a mother of four, a former student of Langside College, and currently taking a sabbatical from early years education at the University West of Scotland.

Alistair McKay – Regional Manager, SQA

Alistair is a Regional Manager and has worked in a field based role working with SQA’s customers for 7 years. He enjoys working directly with schools, colleges, the private, public and third sectors in order to grow SQA’s business and reputation. Prior to joining SQA, he worked as Lead Officer with Fife Council.