Biography

Professor Andrea Nolan became the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University in July 2013.

Andrea graduated as a veterinary surgeon from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland and after a short time in veterinary practice, embarked on an academic career which took her to the Universities of Cambridge, Bristol and the Technical University of Munich, before joining the University of Glasgow in 1989.

During the 1990s, Andrea established herself as a research leader in the field of animal pain, its recognition and management, and was appointed Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology in 1998. She also undertook advanced clinical training becoming a Diploma holder of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and gaining Diplomate status of the European College of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, and the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia.

She has published widely and has received awards for her work including the Pfizer Academic Award for Animal Health Research, the Amoroso Award from the British Small Animal Veterinary Association and, along with her collaborators, the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare Companion Animal Award for contributions to animal welfare. Currently she is a member of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association’s Global Pain Council and a Trustee of two animal charities.

In 1999, Andrea took up the post of Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in the University of Glasgow, with responsibility for academic leadership and resource management. Five years later she was appointed to the position of Vice Principal for Learning & Teaching in the University of Glasgow, and in 2009 she was appointed Senior Vice-Principal & Deputy Vice Chancellor, with responsibility for leading the development and delivery of the University’s internationalisation strategy, academic career development.

Over her career she has worked on a range of committees including the Scottish Funding Council Strategic Funds Advisory group and the Scottish Science Advisory Committee. She has been closely involved in the enhancement-led approach at sectoral level in Scotland through membership and convenorship of the Scottish Higher Education Enhancement Committee.

In August 2016, Andrea became Convenor of Universities Scotland, which represents all 19 of Scotland's higher education institutions. She previously served as Convenor of the Universities Scotland Research & Knowledge Exchange Committee and she is also a board member of the following: the Higher Education Statistics Agency; Universities and Colleges Employers Association; Royal Zoological Society Scotland; Interface Advisory Board; Moredun Foundation.

Andrea is a Trustee for the Medical Research Scotland – Scottish Hospital Endowment Research Trust and a member of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce Council. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Fellow of the Royal Agricultural Societies and an honorary life member of the Association for Veterinary Teachers & Research Workers.

Andrea was awarded an honorary OBE in 2013.