Development Advisory Board

Professor Chris van der Kuyl (Chairman)
Professor George Borthwick CBE
Dr. Ann Budge
Lynne Cadenhead
Robert Carr
John Denholm
Dr Ann Gloag OBE
Lady Goodwin
Gary Kildare
Shuming Kong
Allan Proctor
Allan Shiach
Michael Welch
Professor Dame Joan K Stringer CBE (Ex-officio)
Karen Cairney (Ex-officio)
Professor Robin K Mackenzie
Peter Lederer, CBE, FIH, MI

Professor Chris van der Kuyl (Chairman)

Chris van der Kuyl is a highly experienced Chief Executive and Non-Executive Director whose expertise combines the start-up, development and market listed business arena in the technology, media and entertainment sectors. He grew his first business, VIS entertainment plc (“VIS”), out of a bedroom in Dundee to become a global player in the creation of leading-edge entertainment property for computer, television and video games platforms worldwide.

Through the development of VIS, as CEO and President, he took the business through substantive growth by developing and delivering on an acquisition, development and ultimately merger strategy that took the business on to an international stage merging in 2004 with the NASDAQ listed Bam Entertainment company.

This experience has equipped him in delivering successful and substantial fundraising exercises in the Private Equity, Corporate Venturing and now Listed Markets. Moreover as a business builder he has an exceptional ability in developing committed employees whilst keeping an ever- watchful eye on the bottom line.

Chris is currently Chief Executive Officer of brightsolid Limited (formerly Scotland On Line), one of the country’s Internet pioneers.  He is also Chairman of the Tayforth group which has interests in Video Games development, Technology and Intellectual Property; Chairman of 4J Studios a next generation video game development studio.

Chris is widely recognised as one of the UK’s the leading entrepreneurs. He is also a regular contributor to the 21st Century business and enterprise agenda through a variety of conference keynote speaking engagements and media coverage. Chris is a member of the Global Leaders of Tomorrow Programme at the World Economic Forum.

The entrepreneur also embraces the spirit of ‘giving something back’ and is fully committed to building the next generation of business people by encouraging enterprise education in Schools, Colleges and Universities.  He was Chairman of Young Enterprise Scotland for seven years and is a member of the Smith Group advising the Scottish Executive on educational matters.  As one of the youngest Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh Chris sits as a member of the Scottish Scientific Advisory committee who advise the Scottish government on all areas of science and technology.  Chris also Chairs the Creative board of the Education Wing at Kelvingrove Art Gallery in Glasgow and is a Director of Dundee Science Centre.

In his spare time Chris returns to his original career as a rock keyboard player with the entrepreneur’s charity ‘combo’ the “Cash for Kids Band” whose last single reached No. 11 in the Scottish charts.

Professor George Borthwick CBE

George Borthwick was born in Glasgow and attended the University of Strathclyde graduating with a BSc Honours Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is a Chartered Engineer and a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology and is a Companion of the Chartered Management Institute.

George has held senior management positions in manufacturing, operations, sales, marketing and general management in the Medical Devices Industry. He was with Ethicon for 33 years, appointed Managing Director of Ethicon Limited in 1988 and President of Ethicon Europe in 1996 until his retirement from Johnson & Johnson in 2002.

He is Chairman of Mpathy Medical Devices Limited and Surgeons Lodge Limited and former Chairman of Tayside Flow Technologies Limited and Nova Science Limited

George is Chairman of the Court of Edinburgh Napier University and a visiting Professor at Edinburgh Napier. He is former Chairman of Scottish Business in the Community and a former lay member of the Senate of Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland and also of the Joint Committee on Higher Surgical Training.  He is Chairman of the Joint Planning and Review Group of the Royal Colleges of Surgery in the UK and Ireland and is Chairman of the Breast Cancer Institute Development Committee.

He received the CBE in 1994 for Services to Industry and the Community in Scotland and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 2005.

He has received Honorary Doctorates from Queen Margaret University and Edinburgh Napier University and Honorary Fellowships of The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, The East African Association of Surgeons and is an Honorary Member of the James IV Association of Surgeons.

He serves on the Court of Patrons of The Royal College of Surgeons of England and The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland and is a Regent of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.  He is a Court Member of the Worshipful Company of Needlemakers and a Freeman of the City of London.

George lives in Edinburgh with his wife Milly and they have three children, Steven, Scott and Nicola.  

Dr Ann Budge

Ann was Chief Executive of Sopra Group UK and is now a Member of the Executive Board. As a founding director of Newell & Budge, Ann firmly established the company as one of the UK's fastest growing IT services companies. In 2005 her achievements in business were recognised when she received the Entrepreneur of The Year Award from The Entrepreneurial Exchange. That same year, Newell & Budge was acquired by Sopra Group. Ann graduated from Strathclyde University with an honours degree in psychology and became the first woman to be appointed to a Senior Management role in Scottish & Newcastle. Ann is an Honorary Graduate of Edinburgh Napier University.

Lynne Cadenhead

Lynne is an Edinburgh Napier alumnus and graduated with a BSc. in Life Sciences with distinction and was awarded Edinburgh Napier’s highest student honour – Award of Merit Medal 1st prize.  Lynne then completed her MBA at Dundee University with her dissertation focussing on “Relationship Marketing”.  She has had an illustrious career in the pharmaceutical industry responsible for developing key marketing and brand strategies and product launches, followed by venture capital investment in a range of early-stage technology companies. Lynne is an entrepreneur and successful business woman and most recently in 2003 formed a new company 1745 Trading where she is the CEO and sole owner.  The company has developed a best selling Scottish board game called Scottish Quest, with English, Welsh and Irish versions being launched in 2008.  Lynne is a highly motivated individual with a wide range of scientific, marketing and venture capital experience.

Robert Carr

Robert is the Chairman of Anderson Strathern LLP one of Scotland's leading law firms. Robert is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in medical negligence and personal injury litigation. Robert is also a Solicitor Advocate and a member of the Association of Regulatory and Disciplinary Lawyers.  He prosecutes professional disciplinary cases and has significant experience of interpreting professional disciplinary rules and regulations with a particular focus on human rights law. Robert also has extensive experience in advising public bodies on the interpretation of their governing legislation and in acting on their behalf when their decisions or actions are challenged. He has 25 years' experience of commercial litigation and delictual liabilities. Robert is a director of Scottish Business in the Community and is the current Prince of Wales Ambassador for CSR in Scotland. Robert is also the President of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and President of the Society of Solicitors to the Supreme Court.

John Denholm

Heavily involved in the Creative Industries, Mr Denholm is former Chairman of the Leith Agency, which he founded in 1984.  Prior to this he worked at Hall Advertising, Scottish & Newcastle and Boots, where he began his marketing career.  He served on the board of the Scottish Arts Council from 1993 to 1998.  He is now a director at Denholm Associates, the recruitment company specialising in the Creative Industries which was founded by his wife, Nikki.
 

Dr Ann Gloag OBE

Ann Gloag is co-founder of the Stagecoach transport empire and served as an Executive Director until May 2000 and is now a member of the Stagecoach
Board.  The company, which started as a small mini-bus service for tourists, has grown enormously and now has interests in rail and air transport throughout the world.  Ann, a former nurse, also regularly serves on hospital ships sent to developing countries by the international charity Mercy Ships. She is a past winner of the Businesswoman of the Year Award and European Women in Achievement Award. In June 2004 she was awarded an OBE for services to charity and Edinburgh Napier University awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 2005.

Lady Goodwin

Joyce Goodwin`s career in Commercial Finance started at Citibank and UCB, the commercial lending arm of the French group Compagnie Bancaire (now BNP Paribas).  Later she became Finance Director of an independent finance broker and, after completing her MBA at Strathclyde University, she became Deputy Chief Executive of Employee Ownership Scotland. She has a great deal of valuable experience regarding fundraising, having completed her MBA dissertation on Charitable Giving.
 

Gary Kildare

Mr Kildare was educated in Scotland and joined IBM in the UK.  He was appointed to his first leadership role in 1989. Mr Kildare is a confirmed 'internationalist' having worked around the world and has deep experience of major international business transformation, acquisitions, talent and change management with a specific interest in securing competitive business advantage through people. Having spent many years outside the UK - he returned in 2005 as Vice President of HR Global Business Services for Europe (IBM's fastest growing consulting business) and in April 2008 he became Global Vice President of HR for Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific with accountability for 400, 000 employees worldwide.

He is a Chartered Fellow of the Institute of Personnel and Development, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a non-executive director of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Education Scotland (HMIe),  a non-exeutive director of the National Skills Academy (Financial Services), a non-executive advisor to Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC), a governor of Edinburgh Napier University and a Globalscot.

Shuming Kong

Shuming Kong is a Scotland based business and PR consultant. She specializes in providing advice and support in promoting business, educational and cultural links and government relations between Scotland and China. She also has expertise in advising clients how to promote marketing and media profile in China.

Born in China, Shuming has 13 years experience of working as an education and culture reporter for the Chinese National Television (CCTV) in Beijing. From 2003 to 2006, she was the London based political correspondent for CCTV. She covered UK China relations and secured interviews with numerous European political leaders. Shuming’s other responsibilities in London were to provide media support and report on numerous visits by leading Chinese politicians to various European countries including President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. From this experience, she has established and maintained good government relations on both professional and personal levels.

She also has good contacts with the Chinese communities in the UK and a variety of organizations, companies and agencies who have engagements with China.

Shuming was a member of the advisory committee of China Now in Scotland, a yearlong China cultural program in Scotland in 2008.  She has been invited to speak at various China events, such as CBI, IOD seminars and BBC programs.   She is also a member of the All-Party China Group at the Scottish Parliament.

Allan Proctor

Mr Proctor was born and brought up in Blairgowrie, Scotland.  After leaving school he gained a commission into the Royal Anglian Regiment and retired with Rank of Captain. In 1997 he joined Christian Salvesen, Edinburgh and worked in distribution in various locations all over UK and Belgium. 

In 1980 Mr Proctor returned home to Scotland and set up dedicated distribution stores for Marks and Spencers. After two years with Marks & Spencer, Mr Proctor returned to the family business A. Proctor Insulation based in Blairgowrie, Scotland which specialised in thermal insulation together with an agricultural division. After 25 years of diversifying the company the A. Proctor Group Ltd has been serving the construction industry with an extensive portfolio of technically advanced thermal insulation, acoustic and vibration control, building envelope membranes, timber cladding and metal tiles, geo-engineering, agricultural insulation and ventilation products. Products are sold throughout the UK and also exported to USA, Canada, mainland Europe and Australia.

He has been involved with and continues to be involved with Scottish Enterprise Tayside, Perth College, Dundee Chamber of Commerce, Perth & Kinross Chamber of Commerce, Scottish Trust for Underwater Archaeology and he also gained an Honorary Graduate, Master of Technology from Edinburgh Napier University in 2002. Mr Proctor has a strong community connection and is involved in various fundraising initiatives with local groups, schools, organisations and is the Director of the Blairgowrie & Rattray Regeneration Company. 

Allan Shiach

After an apprenticeship in the whisky industry Allan Shiach worked in the world of film and television both during and after his two decades as Chairman and CEO of Macallan-Glenlivet plc where he helped to develop and market the single malt brand, The Macallan.  He has written, co-written or produced over 20 feature films.  He chaired a number of public bodies including The Scottish Film Council, The Development Fund and Scottish Screen.  He served as a board member of several companies, notably 13 years on the board of Scottish Media Group plc. as well as 6 years on the BBC's Broadcasting Council for Scotland  He was a governor of The British Film Institute and of The Writers' Guild of Great Britain.  He currently works as a writer and producer in both film and theatre.

Michael Welch

Mike Welsh established Blackcircles.com in 2001 with the enthusiasm and determination to do things differently.

At 23, Mike - then e-Commerce Manager at Kwik Fit - was asked by his boss where he wanted to go next in his career, to which he responded ‘Chief Executive’. Being told he’d have to wait 30 years gave Mike the motivation to leave the company and launch Blackcircles.com.

From its headquarters in the Scottish borders town of Peebles, he has grown the business to a turnover of £10 million, 300,000 customers and the largest number of tyre fitting outlets of any UK operator.

A true entrepreneur, Mike left school aged 16 to work as a tyre fitter and soon after launched his first mail order tyre business with just a £500 grant from The Prince’s Trust and a mobile phone.

His flair for on-line retailing led to him being head-hunted by Kwik-Fit, where he was attracted by the opportunity to learn from the likes of Sir Tom Farmer. Mike launched Blackcircles.com with just half a month’s wages to call on after leaving Kwik-Fit.

Professor Dame Joan K Stringer CBE (Ex-officio)

In 1980 Professor Stringer moved to Scotland to take up the position of a Lecturer in Public Administration at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen and in 1988 she was promoted to Head of the School of Public Administration and Law at Robert Gordon University, and in 1991 was promoted again to Assistant Principal.

In 1996 Professor Stringer took up the position of Principal and Vice Patron of Queen Margaret University College and became the first female Principal in Scotland. In January 2003 she became Principal and Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier (then Napier) University.

Professor Stringer has contributed to a number of policy initiatives through external organisations, committees and working groups, which included membership of the Scottish Committee of Dearing.

In 2001 Professor Stringer was awarded a CBE for Services to Higher Education and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Literature from the University of Keele for her contribution to higher education and public service.

Karen Cairney (Ex-officio)

Karen Cairney has worked as a senior fundraising professional in the charitable and educational sectors for over 20 years.  She has experience working with every sector, health, education, arts, environment and social services.  She was the first VP of Burk & Associates Ltd, a fundraising and research-consulting firm, where she was responsible for business development and client services. 

Karen then spent three years as VP Development for the Toronto Community Foundation and most recently was Director of Development for the Faculty of Business at Ryerson University where she worked on an $80 million campaign for a new business building and secured a $15 million commitment to name the faculty and building.

Karen is a frequent speaker at CASE and other industry events on topics such as major gift solicitation, working with volunteers and fundraising strategy.

Professor Robin Mackenzie

Robin is currently Vice Principal (Research and Knowledge Transfer). Born in Edinburgh, he was educated at Heriot-Watt University, the University of Edinburgh and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  His career has involved research posts at MIT and Heriot-Watt University, before taking up a Royal Society Industrial Fellowship in industry in 1990. He was appointed to the Chair of Acoustics at Sheffield-Hallam University, before joining Edinburgh Napier University in 1995, serving in various positions including Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.

Robin is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow and past member of the Council of the Institute of Acoustics and a former chairman of sub-committees on acoustics for both the International Standards Organisation (ISO) and British Standards Institution (BSI). An American National Science Foundation Fellow, Professor Mackenzie was awarded the Institute of Acoustics Tyndall Medal in 1980.

His research interests have involved mathematical modelling and auditorium acoustics design. His private practice RMP Acoustics was spun in to the University in 1997 and is now one of the largest acoustic consulting practices in the UK. He has acted as consultant for the Queen’s Hall, RSAMD, Edinburgh Conference Centre, Dynamic Earth and during the refurbishment of the Sydney Opera House. He has published twelve patents, resulting in many products licensed to the construction industry.

Professor Morag Prowse

Professor Prowse has been Dean of Faculty (Health, Life and Social Sciences) at Edinburgh Napier University since 2007. Her previous post was as associate Dean and Head of school in the University of Plymouth, working closely with the Peninsula Medical and Dental Schools. She completed her PhD ‘Managing critical Incidents in Anaesthesia’ in 2000 at the University Of Wales College Of Medicine. She is a graduate and post graduate in biological sciences, education, nursing, a clinical specialist in anaesthesia and pain management, western medical acupuncture and a trained mediator. The first half of her career included a range of senior management posts in the NHS in Wales and England. She retains her interests in the NHS through her current appointment (by the Cabinet Secretary for Health) as a non executive director of NHS Lothian Health Board (2008-12).She maintains research interests and was entered in the 2007 RAE where the Nursing Unit of Assessment achieved World Class standards at Edinburgh Napier University. Her current portfolio as Dean includes working to establish a sustained International footprint for Post Graduate programmes in health and sciences in Edinburgh Napier University’s key markets of India China and Hong Kong and completing the transition to move the Faculty of Health Life and Social Sciences into the new purpose built campus at Sighthill in 2010/11.

Peter Lederer, CBE, FIH, MI

Peter Lederer joined Gleneagles in 1984 as General Manager and was appointed Managing Director in 1987 and became Chairman in November 2007.  Previously he held operational, administrative and senior management positions Canada for ten years with the Four Seasons hotel group in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, and with Plaza Hotels in Toronto.  He was also for two years, a partner in a design, construction and consulting firm providing services to the hospitality industry.

Since joining Gleneagles, he has developed the resort/hotel into one of the premier hotels in the world. The hotel has won numerous awards for its attention to detail, luxurious facilities and personalised standards. The hotel has moved from a seasonal business breaking even, to a £40million turnover plus successful real estate developments and products. Gleneagles is recognised as a leader in the hospitality industry in terms of service, training, marketing and innovation. The hotel has been owned by Guinness/Diageo  plc since 1985.

He is committed to improving quality, educational standards and training opportunities within the hospitality and tourism industries.   He is President of the Institute of Hospitality (formerly HCIMA), a Patron of the Hospitality Industry Trust Scotland, a Trustee of the Springboard Educational Trust and Chairman, One & All Foundation.  He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration by Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh.  In addition, Peter is a Master Innholder and Freeman of the City of London, as well as a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Innholders.

Peter is Chairman of VisitScotland and a board member of The Leading Hotels of the World and Hamilton & Inches.  In 1993 he won the Tourism 'Catey' award and in 1997 was honoured as Hotelier of the Year.  In her 1994 Birthday Honours List, Her Majesty The Queen appointed him an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for his services to the industry.  This was followed by the honour of CBE in 2005.

He was born in 1950, is married to Marilyn since 1981 and has two sons, Matthew and Mark.

He was educated at City of London School (1962-1968) followed by four-year Hotel and Catering Management Course at Hendon College, London (1968-1972).