- University Secretary and Chief Operating Officer
-
Tracey Slaven
Tracey became University Secretary and Chief Operating Officer on 4 January 2021. The University Secretary is responsible for ensuring the quality of information presented to Court and for safeguarding the standards of good governance expected of universities. As Chief Operating Officer, Tracey is responsible for providing direct line management of the Professional Services directorates and their performance in support of Aberdeen 2040.
Tracey was previously Deputy Secretary Strategic Planning at the University of Edinburgh from 2013. During her time at Edinburgh, Tracey was responsible for a broad portfolio including Court Services, Strategic & Business Planning, Student Recruitment & Admissions, Widening Participation and Data Protection & Freedom of Information – as well as co-ordination of the submission to REF2014 and REF2021. In taking forward her roles, Tracey also draws on significant experience of Higher Education policy and strategic change leadership with roles in the Civil Service, Government agencies and in the private sector.
In 2018, Tracey became an independent Trustee on the HESA Board, ensuring insight into issues and challenges facing the Scottish Higher Education sector.
Mail: tracey.slaven@abdn.ac.uk
Personal Assistant:
Amanda MacLean
Tel: +44(0)1224 273021 / 272094 - Director of External Relations
-
Jenny Fernandes
Jenny was appointed to the role of Director of External Relations in September 2020. Jenny heads up the different functions within External Relations, including:
• UK Recruitment and Admissions, including Access and Articulation
• International Engagement and Recruitment, including the Language Centre
• Communications, including Digital Communications
• Public Affairs, Stakeholder Engagement and Events
• Marketing and Brand Development
• Engagement and ConversionAn alumna of the University of Aberdeen, Jenny joined the University in 2004 as Head of the International Office. Prior to that she worked at the University of Glasgow and Queen Margaret University. She studied in the United States and worked as a teacher in Japan. In 2009 she completed her MSc in Education from the University of Edinburgh. Between 2006 and 2010 she acted as Vice Chair and subsequently Chair of the Scottish Universities International Group. She currently sits on the Board of BUILA (British Universities International Liaison Association) as the Scottish lead.
Email: jenny.fernandes@abdn.ac.uk
Personal Assistant: Jackie Willox
Email: jackie.willox@abdn.ac.uk
- Director of People
-
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
Tel: +44 (0)1224 273732
Email: d.j.dyker@abdn.ac.ukPersonal Assistant: Sarah Fyfe
Tel: +44 (0)1224 273732
Email: s.fyfe@abdn.ac.uk - Interim Director of Estates and Facilities
-
Duncan White
He is actively involved in supporting the University’s strategic objectives through the enhancement and rationalisation of buildings to create a sustainable environment that will enable interdisciplinary exchange, innovation and a sense of place.
Duncan White joined the University in November 2021 and was previously Executive Director of Estates Strategy at the University of Gloucestershire and before that, other similar senior management positions in Higher Education establishments in Scotland and in the Midlands and South West of England. The focus within these institutions was on managing significant change programmes to the estate including capital programme development, right-sizing estates, financial sustainability and supporting culture and leadership change.
Tel: +44 (0)1224 272060
Email: duncan.white@abdn.ac.ukEstates Office General Enquiries:
estates@abdn.ac.uk
Tel: +44 (0)1224 272063 - Interim Director of Finance
-
Phil McNaull
Phil is a Scottish Chartered Accountant who has worked in the HE sector as Finance Director for 14 years with the last 7 years at the University of Edinburgh (circa £1bn turnover). Prior to that he worked for 14 years at Scottish & Newcastle plc in a variety of leadership roles in Finance and Strategy. The first part of his 40 year career was spent developing as a professional accountant with Deloitte Haskins and Sells. He is now operating a portfolio of roles as a non-executive director, strategic finance adviser, client relationship director and executive coach.
email: phil.mcnaull@abdn.ac.uk
- Director of Digital and Information Services
-
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
- Director of Academic Services and Online Education
-
Dr Gillian Mackintosh
Gillian was appointed Director in 2009 and heads up the Directorate of Academic Services & Online Education. The Directorate encompasses the Registry, the Centre for Academic Development and the Online Education team. The Directorate provides professional services support across all aspects of academic student administration from registration through to graduation as well as supporting teaching and learning policy development and quality assurance, and also provides academic development support to staff and students including pedagogic staff development, eLearning expertise and academic skills support.
Gillian is a double graduate of the University having been awarded both a BSc and a PhD in Biochemistry. Having undertaken a three year post as a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow funded by the British Heart Foundation, Gillian joined the Registry is 1998 and was appointed as Academic Registrar in 2007. More recently, she undertook a two year period of secondment as Director of Online Education & Academic Development where she had lead responsibility for the strategic growth of the University’s online education provision. In her Director role, she continues to lead this work including the development of the University’s On-demand Learning portfolio.
Gillian has extensive experience of quality assurance and enhancement of teaching and learning, online education and wider student-related administration. She has participated actively in a number of QAA and Universities Scotland committees in this area.
Tel: +44 (0)1224 272045
Email: g.mackintosh@abdn.ac.uk - Director of Planning
-
Dr Hulda Sveinsdottir
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.ukPersonal Assistant: Marina Glennie
Tel: +44 (0)1224 272016
Email: m.glennie@abdn.ac.uk - Director of Research and Innovation
-
Dr Liz Rattray
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.
- Executive Director of Advancement
-
Rob Donelson
Prior to coming to University of Aberdeen, he served as Executive Director, Development & Alumni Relations at University College Cork in Ireland, and as Vice-President, Development & Alumni Relations at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada, where he led a team that named its business school.
He has also led multi-million-dollar campaigns with two hospital foundations. Rob led the first registered charity in Canada to earn the Ethical Fundraising License and the first university to earn the Standards Accreditation designation.
He has spoken at several national and international conferences of the Canadian Association of Gift Planners, Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE), and the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy, and served on the Board of CCAE.
He was named the 2013 Outstanding Fundraising Professional by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Golden Horseshoe Chapter.