Vacant

Debbie Dyker

Debbie joined the Human Resources Section in 1992 and was appointed to the role of Director of People in 2017.  Prior to this Debbie was Director of Human Resources with responsibility for managing the delivery of the Strategic and Operational HR Service across all areas of the University.

The Directorate of People includes Human Resources, Health Safety & Wellbeing, Student Experience, Student Support, Careers and the Chaplaincy.

The Directorate of People plays a key role in supporting the University to deliver upon strategic priorities and institutional initiatives in line with the Strategic Plan.

The Directorate provides comprehensive, co-ordinated front facing support services to all staff and students in the University community.  The teams within the Directorate work in partnership with key stakeholders, both internal and external to the University, including Trade Union colleagues and local, national and international organisations.

A number of institutional organisational development activities are undertaken within the Section, including ongoing work in support of the Healthy Working Lives accreditation. The team liaise closely with colleagues across the Academic areas and Professional Services to ensure a co-ordinated approach to matters including student engagement, employee engagement, student employability, mental health & wellbeing strategy, equality & diversity and health & safety.  

The University acknowledges that institutional success depends on the talent, expertise and commitment of staff and in recognition of the importance of ongoing personal and professional development, the team has developed a suite of Leadership & Management programmes, many of which have received external accreditation through the Institute of Leadership & Management

Register of Interest

Tel: +44 (0)1224 273732
Email: d.j.dyker@abdn.ac.uk

Personal Assistant: Sarah Fyfe
Tel: +44 (0)1224 273732
Email: s.fyfe@abdn.ac.uk

Angus Donaldson

Angus was appointed Director of Estates in 2003 having previously held a range of management posts within Estates since joining the University in 1993. He is an Aberdeen land economy graduate and Chartered Surveyor.

Tel: +44 (0)1224 272060
Email: a.donaldson@abdn.ac.uk

Estates Office Manager: Mandy Murray
Tel: +44 (0)1224 272063
Email:mandy.murray@abdn.ac.uk

David Beattie

David joined the University as Director of Finance in July 2015 and heads up the Finance and Procurement team within Professional Services.

Previously, David was employed by the University as Head of Financial Planning and Budgeting and was seconded in 2005 to develop the facilities at Aberdeen Sports Village, becoming Chief Executive Officer in 2010.

David graduated from the University with an MA and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA).

Finance and Procurement is split into four sections - Financial Accounting, Financial Planning and Budgeting, Finance Systems Administration and Procurement. The aim of the department  is to provide high quality services and advice to staff, students and external bodies across a range of financial services.

Register of Interest

Brian Henderson

Brian joined the University in 2007, following a variety of technical and managerial roles in educational and council organisations.  Brian has over 20 years of experience in the Higher Education sector and was appointed to the Director of Digital and Information Services role in November 2017.

Brian is also currently a Director and Trustee of Aberdeen Science Centre, a Board member of Inverness College (UHI), Vice-Chair to the IT Directors in Scottish Higher Education Group (HEIDS) and a member of the Universities Scotland Efficiencies Taskforce.

Combining the Library & IT Services functions, Digital and Information Services delivers a comprehensive package of digital services to the staff and students of the University, as well as providing data centre services for Robert Gordon University and North East Scotland College through an award winning shared service.  Digital & Information Services will play a key role in the transformation of the University as we move forward with an exciting package of digital initiatives over the coming years.

Tel: +44 (0) 1224 273368

Email: b.henderson@abdn.ac.uk

Personal Assistant: Lynne Kirton

Tel: +44 (0) 1224 273368

Email: l.kirton@abdn.ac.uk

Dr Gillian Mackintosh

Gillian joined the Registry in 1998 and was appointed Academic Registrar in 2007 and Director of Academic Affairs in 2009.

Dr Mackintosh has wide experience in the area of quality assurance and enhancement of teaching and learning and participates actively in a number of QAA and Universities Scotland committees in this area.

The Directorate of Academic Affairs draws together the Registry and the Centre for Learning & Teaching. It also provides administrative support to the University’s Curriculum Reform Project. Furthermore, it provides a focus on work on the student experience including co-ordination in regard to student induction and retention.

Tel: +44 (0)1224 272045
Email: g.mackintosh@abdn.ac.uk

Vacant

Dr Hulda Sveinsdottir

Hulda was appointed Director of Planning in October 2015 and heads the Directorate of Planning within Professional Services. The Planning team has oversight of the Strategic Plan and is responsible for managing the University’s strategic planning process, external and internal performance monitoring, the development of the Outcome Agreement with the Scottish Funding Council, the production and administration of management information, risk management, and the development and management of strategic institutional initiatives.

Hulda has been with the University of Aberdeen since 2009 when she joined the administrative team within the College of Physical Sciences, first as Assistant College Registrar and later as College Registrar. Previous to this, Hulda worked at Abertay University in Dundee where she was based within the Office of the University Secretary/Vice-Principal for Research & Commercialisation, with responsibility for planning and governance.  

Hulda has a BA in Politics from the University of Iceland, and an MA in East Asian Politics and PhD in Japanese Politics from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Tel: +44 (0)1224 272016
Email: hulda.sveinsdottir@abdn.ac.uk

Personal Assistant: Marina Glennie
Tel: +44 (0)1224 272016
Email: m.glennie@abdn.ac.uk

Dr Liz Rattray

Liz joined Research and Innovation in 1997 and was appointed Deputy Director in 2005 to lead the business development and commercialisation teams.

Dr Rattray has extensive experience of research administration, project and contract management together with commercialisation of research (from collaborating with industry, knowledge exchange, licensing to new company formation). She has held board positions with a number of companies, and previously been a member of the  Scottish Funding Council’s research committee.

The Research and Innovation section plays a key role in supporting the University to deliver upon strategic priorities for research and knowledge exchange in line with the Institutional Strategic Plan. The section provides support for research development, commercialisation, knowledge exchange, enterprise activities and provides administrative support for research policy and the newly formed Graduate School for post graduate research students. Research and Innovation  is the first point of contact for business - facilitating access to the University’s researchers, services and technologies and offering a wide range of commercial opportunities arising from the University’s research activities.

Liz Bowie

Liz heads a team of fundraising and alumni relations professionals responsible for fundraising, alumni engagement, donor care, marketing and operational support.  Fundraising is undertaken through the University of Aberdeen Development Trust which is a charity registered in Scotland (no. SC002938). Established in 1982, the Trust raises funds for the University of Aberdeen and its vision to “Transform the world with greater knowledge and learning”.  In addition, the University is supported by the work of the University of Aberdeen Foundation, a US based 501(c)3 entity.  The work of the Development Trust and the Foundation is underpinned by excellence in alumni engagement with a global family of over 86000 alumni in 170 countries.

Liz joined the University in 1999, having previously worked for Scottish and Southern Energy. Liz worked initially as Consultancy Manager in the Research and Innovation team, engaging academics in short term projects with industry. In 2004 she joined the Development Trust working in the area of corporate fundraising. She then held the position of Associate Director of Operations before moving to Director of Development.

The University of Aberdeen’s Sixth Century Campaign successfully achieved its target of £150million, which included the flagship Sir Duncan Rice Library. The Development Trust is now focusing its fundraising around a number of medical priority areas: Cancer Research, Women’s Health, Fungal Superbugs, Osteoarthritis and Medical Education.  The Development Trust, however, also enjoys incredible support for other areas of the University, for example: our scholarship programme; student need; research to name but a few.   Donors work with the Trust so that particular areas of interest can be facilitated.

Tel: +44 (0)1224 272281
Email: e.bowie@abdn.ac.uk

Personal Assistant: Will Gibb

Tel: +44 (0)1224 272281
Email: w.gibb@abdn.ac.uk