Court Members

Iona Fyfe

Iona is a director of the Traditional Music and Song Association, a charity which promotes and preserves traditional music through advocacy and education at a range of levels and abilities. Iona is a strong advocate of life-long learning, and is particularly passionate about access to music making, sport and creative endeavours as a vehicle to establishing a well-being economy. 

In 2022, Iona joined Kansas City-based Folk Alliance International as a director, helping to develop the organisation's strategic plan and EDI framework. Iona also has experience in fundraising. She is a member of the Scottish Government's Cross-Party Group on Music and the Scots Language.  

During the pandemic, Iona co-founded and voluntarily acted as Communications Officer for Oor Vyce, the campaign for the legal recognition of the Scots Language, including the Doric dialect of Scots. The organisation is helping to oversee the new Scottish Languages Bill, which will see an update to the Gaelic Language Act, and a brand-new Scots Language Act. In 2021, Iona changed language policy at Spotify when she successfully campaigned for the company to add the Scots Language to its platform. 

Email: rector@abdn.ac.uk

Neil Calvert

Neil, in his role as Senior Independent Member on University Court, was appointed Acting Senior Governor on 4 December 2025.

Neil’s professional background is in education. During a 26 year career working in state secondary schools, Neil served as a headteacher, an executive headteacher and the founding CEO of a Multi-Academy Trust. In Higher Education, his non-executive experience includes a six year term as Vice Chair of Governing Council at the University of Derby.

Among his current portfolio of roles, Neil currently holds lay panel member and chair positions on investigation and fitness to practise committees of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the General Pharmaceutical Council, the General Optical Council and the Architects’ Registration Board. He is an independent board member of the Commission for Local Administration in England, the governing body of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO), and holds a public appointment in the criminal justice system.

Neil has chaired remuneration committees at the University of Derby and the DHL UK Foundation, and currently does so at the LGSCO. An Accredited Lay Pension Trustee, he is the Independent Chair of the Derbyshire Local Government Pension Board and also chairs the network of LGPS Board Chairs for the Central region.

In November 2025 Neil was duly appointed as Senior Independent Member (SIM) of the University Court.

Professor Peter Edwards

Professor Edwards is Principal & Vice-Chancellor of the University, an appointment he has held since 1 November 2025.  

In his nearly four decades at the University he has also held a range of senior leadership roles, including Head of Computing Science, Head of the College of Physical Sciences Graduate School, Director of the Northern Research Partnership Graduate School (a collaboration among the Universities of Aberdeen, Dundee, and Robert Gordon), Head of the School of Natural and Computing Sciences, Vice-Principal for Regional Engagement, and Acting Senior Vice-Principal.

Richard Hepworth-Young

Dr Richard Hepworth-Young was appointed to the University of Aberdeen as Lecturer in Mathematics in 2011.  He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2016, and to Reader in 2022. Richard has been an elected member of Senate since 2018, a member of the University Education Committee from 2021 to 2022, and a member of the Senate Business Committee since 2023.  

Richard's research focuses on algebraic topology.  He teaches a variety of mathematics courses, and received the university's Excellence Award for Undergraduate Lecturer of the Year in 2021.  

Karen Scott

Karen Scott is Professor in Gut Microbiology in the world leading Gut Microbiology Group at the Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen. Prof. Scott currently leads a research team investigating how obligately anaerobic gut bacteria interact with the diet and human host, throughout life. Products of gut bacteria are important for health, sending signals around the body, and what we consume within our diet has huge effect on these important host-bacterial interactions. In vitro bacterial growth studies utilising our large culture collection of gut anaerobes and genome sequencing and bioinformatic analyses are used to investigate niche-specific processes and bacterial interactions, identifying key species as targets for enrichment through dietary manipulation or development as bacterial supplements or probiotics. Resident bacteria are also an important reservoir of transferable antimicrobial resistance genes, and other work investigates the evolution and spread of resistance from farm to fork. Prof. Scott is a member of the board of directors of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP).

Trevor Stack

Trevor Stack has been at the University of Aberdeen since 2002. He is Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies and Director of the interdisciplinary Centre for Citizenship, Civil Society and Rule of Law (CISRUL).

He is an interdisciplinary scholar, whose current research focuses on how labour and environmental regulations work on the ground, especially in global South contexts like Mexico.

In 2024 he was elected as Senator for the School of Language, Literature, Music and Visual Culture, and in 2025 as Senator Assessor to Court.

Ilia Xypolia

Dr Ilia Xypolia is Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at University of Aberdeen. She is an elected senator for the School of Social Science since 2018. In 2022, Ilia was elected as a Senator Assessor to the Court.

Ilia is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is also the Reviews Editor of the refereed periodical Journal of Global Faultlines. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on democracy, nationalism and imperialism.

Academic Staff Member

Martin Barker

Dr Martin Barker is senior lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences, with strong teaching interests in inclusion, widening access, pastoral support, disability provisions, staff-student communication and also innovative methods in assessment and feedback. Martin's research interests focus on plant ecophysiology and forest canopy research. He has promoted plant biology in public lectures, TV and radio. His career has in higher education has previously been centred (chronologically) at the universities of Sussex, Exeter, Hertfordshire, Lancaster, Brunei and Florida. Martin has also been a school teacher and has written several textbooks on biology.

Since joining the University of Aberdeen in 2009 Martin has served on numerous committees, Senate (2017—2020; 2023—) and is also the honorary Quaker chaplain. Outside the university, Martin's contributions include President of the Friends of the Cruickshank Botanic Garden, and previously Chair of Governors, Bachlaw Projects (Banff), and parent teacher associations of local schools (Aberdeen).

Professional Services Staff Member

Iain Grant

Iain is an alumnus of the University, having qualified with a degree in Politics and International Relations in 2004. He started his career at the University within Academic Services in 2006, working his way via a number of posts to the position of Head of Strategic Planning in 2017. Iain managed the institutional strategy development process in 2019 for Aberdeen 2040, and his portfolio was expanded in 2021, to include leading the University's Project Management Office (PMO); reflecting both his experience and qualifications in that space, having completed an MSc in Project Management via distance learning in 2017.

Academic Trade Union Member

Helen Martin

Dr Helen Martin is a lecturer in Mathematics Education where she specialises in pedagogical design capacity and professional decision-making. Her research and teaching are based on the design principles 'valuing diversity, developing flexibility and making connections' with an emphasis on how 'others' make sense of doing mathematics, becoming and being mathematicians within a community.

Helen has led collaborative projects across universities around E-Formative Assessment, online study sessions for primary pre-service teachers and Multiplicative and Algebraic Reasoning across Scottish schools as well as continuing to work at a National level with the Scottish Government, Scottish Mathematics Council and Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Support Staff Trade Union Member

Owen Cox

Owen Cox is a Security Liaison Officer within the Directorate of Estates and Facilities. He is also the Branch Chair of the Unison Aberdeen Universities trade union, as well as co-chair of the Unison Scottish Higher Education Committee which incorporates all of the HE branches based in Scotland.

He has had quite a varied career across his working life including working for British rail as a shunter, working in hotels in a number of positions (food service, accommodation, housekeeping, conference and events and as an auditor of the daily hotel business).

He also worked as a Facilities Manager in the oil industry, in a number of locations including Africa and Scandinavia. He has worked at the University since 2004.

President of the Students' Association

Christina Schmid

Christina is the Student President of the Students' Union (AUSA) for the year 2024/2025 and a trustee for Court. She graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 2024 with a Master of Arts in Politics, Spanish and Latin American Studies. Christina has a broad experience in political campaigning, having been the president of a regional youth organisation and an intern for a member of the German Parliament. Her research has focused on football fan protest against the growing commercialisation of the game.

AUSA Vice-President for Welfare

Karim Hurtig

Karim is the Vice President for Welfare at the Students' Union (AUSA) for 25/26, being re-elected after 24/25. He graduated from the University of Aberdeen with an MA in Psychology, writing his UG thesis on the experience of belonging in multicultural individuals. Outside the classroom, Karim's experiences at the University revolved around the clubs and societies he took part in and led, and in being a student ambassador for the University for two years. At the Students' Union, Karim leads on work around equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), liberation, student welfare, mental health, housing, and international students - working both locally and nationally on these topics.

Lesley Birse

Lesley has a wealth of business experience operating globally in energy and materials markets with specific expertise in Human Resources.

Most recently she held the position of Executive President - People and Organisation in Wood plc, a FTSE listed organisation. In this capacity she worked closely with the board on driving a new strategic business agenda of growth and transformation. She also formed part of the Remuneration Committee shaping Remuneration policy. She is credited with having taken a lead role in improving diversity and overall employee engagement.

Before becoming part of Wood, Lesley held senior positions in Human Resources with AmecFosterWheeler, Canadian Natural Resources (CNR), Weatherford, Baker Hughes and BAA plc - Aberdeen Airport. She holds an MBA and is very committed to employee development.

She is known as an inspirational leader, a strategic thinker who designs and drives change as well as knowing what it takes to achieve assured operational results in a business. She is renowned for her professionalism, pragmatism, insight, curiosity and integrity.

She lives in Deeside with her family and besides exploring the world, she enjoys walking with her black labrador Hamish, golfing, pilates, yoga and most importantly socialising with friends old and new.

Neil Calvert

Neil’s professional background is in education. During a 26 year career working in state secondary schools, Neil served as a headteacher, an executive headteacher and the founding CEO of a Multi-Academy Trust. In Higher Education, his non-executive experience includes a six year term as Vice Chair of Governing Council at the University of Derby.

Among his current portfolio of roles, Neil currently holds lay panel member and chair positions on investigation and fitness to practise committees of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the General Pharmaceutical Council, the General Optical Council and the Architects’ Registration Board. He is an independent board member of the Commission for Local Administration in England, the governing body of the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO), and holds a public appointment in the criminal justice system.

Neil has chaired remuneration committees at the University of Derby and the DHL UK Foundation, and currently does so at the LGSCO. An Accredited Lay Pension Trustee, he is the Independent Chair of the Derbyshire Local Government Pension Board and also chairs the network of LGPS Board Chairs for the Central region.

On 27 November 2025 Neil was duly appointed as Senior Independent Member (SIM) of the University Court.

Ewan Cameron

Ewan is a distinguished executive with a robust academic background, holding degrees from both the University and HEC Paris, where he earned an Executive MBA. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Over his 30-year career, Ewan has amassed extensive experience in finance and audit, beginning with General Electric, where he held senior roles across the UK, USA, and Australia.

Ewan's career trajectory includes prominent CFO positions within publicly listed companies across diverse sectors including Retail, Technology, and Banking, spanning Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Australia. Currently, he is an Executive Partner at Gartner in the CFO Practise.

In addition to serving as an independent member of the Court, Ewan sits on the University Audit and Risk Committee, and chairs the Investment Committee.

Dónall Curtin

Dónall is a dynamic and highly regarded leader in corporate governance, celebrated for his unwavering dedication to ethical leadership, strategic innovation, and boardroom excellence across both the private and public sectors. With over four decades of hands-on experience, Dónall is renowned for shaping robust governance frameworks and driving transformational change as an Independent Non-Executive Director and Audit & Risk Committee member at leading organisations throughout Ireland and the UK.

As the founding partner of one of Ireland’s distinguished accountancy practices, he combines deep financial oversight and risk management expertise with a visionary approach that strengthens compliance, accountability, and organisational culture at every level. His board directorships span Green Effects Investments plc, Fáilte Ireland, Arts Council, Office of Government Procurement, Irish College Leuven, and Early Childhood Ireland, reflecting a breadth of governance influence across commercial, governmental, non-profit, and cultural sectors.

A sought-after advisor and advocate for regulatory best practice, Dónall brings a wealth of insight in reviewing and setting strategic direction for complex entities, consistently pushing for the highest standards in board effectiveness, regulatory adherence, and sustainable growth. His leadership roles on Audit and Risk Committees—including Royal Pharmaceutical Society, Bar Council, Registers of Scotland, and Student Loans Company—demonstrate his depth of knowledge, rigor, and collaborative approach to managing governance challenges across diverse industries.

Throughout his career, Dónall has been instrumental in enabling organisations to achieve business-friendly legislative change, strategic restructuring, and powerful stakeholder alliances, earning a reputation for innovation and results-driven boardroom performance. He is distinguished by his unique blend of business acumen, technical proficiency, and passionate commitment to nurturing integrity, resilience, and values-based leadership.

Ayten Hajiyeva

Ayten is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in the energy industry. As bp’s Head of Country in Georgia, she drives strategy implementation, government relations, and external affairs while embedding sustainability into business practices. Throughout her career, Ayten has championed operational excellence, innovation, digital transformation and stakeholder collaboration. She is also a dedicated mentor supporting emerging leaders and professionals in advancing their careers and building high-performing teams.

Ayten has served on the boards of prominent business associations in Georgia, where she has  contributed to shaping strategic initiatives and promoting cross-sector collaboration.

Ayten is an executive sponsor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in her region, working across geographies to create an inclusive and equitable workplace.

Ayten holds a degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy and an MBA from Warwick Business School. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate at Warwick Business School, with her academic research focused on digital transformation and organizational behaviour.

Luke Halliday

Luke is an experienced IT professional, most recently Chief Information Officer of Wood Plc. He is a Computer Science graduate of Aberdeen University and over the last 35 years has worked for a number of large global companies across the energy, manufacturing and engineering sectors. He lives in Aberdeen with his family but has travelled extensively and worked across a broad range of cultures. As CIO of Wood Luke led the global IT Function supporting 36,000 people across 60 countries. His experience includes IT operations, strategy, change programmes, business due diligence, integration, cyber security and risk management. Along with Court Luke is the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Fiona Islam

Fiona Islam is an accomplished and results-driven global business executive with a wealth of experience having worked for near two decades in a top tier Global Investment Bank in London. Her experience spans over Global Sales Business Management, Regulatory Program Management, Strategic Business Transformation and Change Management in large complex initiatives, across all asset classes and region's. Fiona primary role is to lead strategic initiatives that shape the bank's investments, vision and execution across Fixed Income, Currencies, Commodities, Equities and ESG products.

Fiona has held several high-impact roles, including leading J.P. Morgan's Brexit and MiFID II regulatory implementations and overseeing multi-billion dollar global revenues for the Global Sales Senior Leadership team. Her reputation as a trusted business advisor and tenacious client negotiator is built on her ability to translate complex business challenges into clear, actionable strategies. She excels in managing large, diverse teams across multiple regions, driving profitability, and enhancing organizational effectiveness.

Fiona holds a BA Joint Honours in French and German from the University of Aberdeen and is deeply committed to supporting future leaders be that in the private or public sector. In addition to her corporate roles, she mentors young professionals and female entrepreneurs through various initiatives and is a trusted mentor for the The Princes Trust. Fiona's appointment to the University of Aberdeen Court allows her to contribute to her former University, one she is extremely proud of, and allows her to contribute to the strategic direction of the institution.

Gary McRae

Gary is a graduate of the University in Economics and of the University of Bath where he completed an MBA.

He trained in Aberdeen as a Chartered Accountant before a career in industry in which he has held senior positions in Corporate Finance/Development, Strategy and Legal at Dowty PLC, British Aerospace and Laird PLC. Gary has significant experience in Merger & Acquisitions and patents. At Laird PLC he created Laird Technologies from start-up to become the global market leader with annual revenues in excess of £1 billion and facilities in Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Since retiring from Laird PLC, Gary has undertaken a number of non-executive Director roles and is currently on the boards of SAS International, Frimley Health FT, Aster Group and FAC Technology. Previous roles include Senior Independent Director/Deputy Chair at Hampshire Hospitals FT and Trustee & Audit Chair at the William Harvey Research Foundation. He is Chair of a number of Board Committees for these organisations including Audit &Risk, Finance and People and a Trustee of Pension Funds.

Caryn Miller

Caryn is a finance lawyer and a graduate of the University of Edinburgh.

She is a Partner at international law firm CMS Cameron Mckenna Nabarro Olswang LLP and is Managing Director of their business in Asia and the Middle East. She is also the Chair of their Audit and Risk Committee. Prior to its merger with CMS in 2014, Caryn was joint managing partner of Dundas & Wilson CS LLP. She is qualified as a lawyer in both Scotland and England and has over twenty years of experience in all areas of debt finance, acting for both financial institutions and corporate borrowers. Caryn was also a member of the CBI Scotland Council 2016-19

Lorenzo Moretti

Lorenzo Moretti is a business leader with a strong track record in guiding global brands through transformation and growth. Originally from Aberdeen, he is excited to give back to the city and its communities. He has spent over 35 working across international markets, helping organisations stay culturally relevant and connected to younger generations.

Passionate about the power of education and community, Lorenzo brings a fresh perspective to the University of Aberdeen Court - combining commercial experience with a commitment to supporting the next generation of talent. His connection to the University is also personal: his son currently attends the institution.

Away from work, Lorenzo is deeply engaged in sport, creativity, and culture, believing these forces have the ability to inspire and unite people. A lifelong fan of Aberdeen Football Club and a music lover, he also has a side hustle as a melodic techno and Afro house DJ, reflecting a belief in the importance of creativity and connection both professionally and personally.

Alison Rankin

Adaku Ufere

Adaku Ufere is an award-winning energy attorney and sector leader, with extensive experience in designing and delivering large, complex projects in the energy sector and leading teams to successfully transform the energy landscape in sub-Saharan Africa.

As the Chief of Party for USAID and Power Africa's West Africa Energy Program Adaku provides operational and technical direction and leadership to a consortium of eight subcontractors and over 80 full and part-time staff, to advance energy policy and regulatory reform, accelerate investment, and increase power generation and access to electricity across 23 countries in West and Central Africa.

Adaku has a Law Degree from the University of Nigeria and a Masters in Oil & Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen. She has also earned certifications in Energy Sector Leadership from the UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership, in Public Management from the University of California, Davis and in Gender & Sexuality from the University of British Columbia.

Adaku is a Mandela Washington Fellow, an Obama Foundation Leader Africa and an Exceptional Alumni of the University of Aberdeen. She has also been awarded one of the 40 under 40 Leading Lawyers in Nigeria, Attorney of the Year at the African Legal Awards, Young African Professional of the Year and 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria, among others.

Adaku is a globally respected conference speaker, and has published articles in energy, gender and project finance.

(Not a formal Court member but 'In Attendance')

Donna Leith

Donna has over 14 years of experience leading operational delivery teams in the public sector, most of which has been in the NHS. Since 2022 however, Donna has been serving as Head of Operations at Ofgem, the UK Energy regulator.

Donna has BA Honours in Politics from the University of Strathclyde and a Masters in Public Policy from University of Glasgow.

Donna is passionate about creating positive workplace cultures within public services and has recently accredited as a Chartered Manager. Donna is committed to the University of Aberdeen’s values and strategic direction and looks forward to the opportunity to undertake the Governor Apprentice role with Court in 2025/26.