Heriot’s Governors

Appointed Chair in July 2020

Joyce is a partner and solicitor advocate in Scotland’s largest Scottish law firm, Brodies and provides advice and advocacy for a wide range of organisations including universities, public bodies, trustees and, importantly, schools. She has served as a non-executive director in a variety of organisations, including GTS Scotland and the Scotland Office, and is currently a non-executive director of the Independent Monitoring Authority for the rights of EU Citizens.

Governor since 2007

Appointed Vice Chair 2017

Mark is a consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh. He is a former Clinical Director and Associate Medical Director and currently is the lead clinician for the Scottish Thyroid Cancer Network. He was a Trustee and Treasurer of the British Thyroid Foundation for many years and remains a Trustee (and Secretary) of the Royal College of Physicians and the Wilson Christie Fund.

Governor since 2023.

Paolo is a qualified Chartered Accountant and former Chief Operating Officer (“COO”) for the real estate division at abrdn plc. As COO Paolo was a member of the senior leadership team responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction whilst also having responsibility for a multi-disciplinary team of finance, tax, legal, ESG and other professionals.  Paolo also sits on the Board of Edinburgh Napier University (“ENU”) and is Chair of the ENU Finance & Property Committee.

Dr Mary Bovill is a lecturer and researcher in Language and Philosophy in the Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh. She has worked in education for 30 years and taken on the role of Programme Director for the PGDE Secondary programme in the School of Education. Mary also sits as a board member for Sophia, the International Organisation for the Advancement of doing Philosophy with Young people and has worked with the University of Krakow, the University of Crete and the University of Western Australia to develop programmes of Philosophical Inquiry in schools, communities and in higher Education.

Governor since 2012

Kate is an independent educational consultant. She has had extensive leadership experience as headteacher, and as director in the Scottish Schools’ Inspectorate. Her specific responsibilities included the inspection programmes for independent schools and the development of supporting quality assurance frameworks. She has also inspected schools in the UAE.

Governor since 2023.

Louise is a Partner at Executive Search firm New Town Partnership which she co-founded in 2015. She works with many of Scotland’s largest and fastest growing businesses to develop high performing leadership teams. Louise began her career in strategy consulting with PwC, before holding roles in private equity and start-ups.

Governor since 2023.

Alasdair is a Chartered Surveyor with over 35 years of senior industry experience of agency, development & investment, and is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. He was previously International Director of JLL Incorporated and a Director of JLL UK Limited. Alasdair has served on the Policy Board of the Scottish Property Federation and was its Chairman in 2013/2014. He was recently the inaugural recipient of a Lifetime Membership Award for services to the property industry via the SPF. Alasdair was until recently a long-time member of the Investment Property Forum and is currently a director of Caledonian Packaging (Holdings) Ltd.

Governor since 2016

After a career in tourism and marketing with VisitBritain, VisitEngland and VisitScotland Vineet turned to literary translation, having studied French at the University of Edinburgh and Princeton University, and Translating and Conference Interpreting at Heriot-Watt University. His translation of The Woman Who Didn’t Grow Old by Grégoire Delacourt was published in 2020, and his first translated children’s book, Panthera Tigris, in 2019. He is also Vice Chair of Edinburgh UNESCO City of Literature.

Governor since November 2021.

Ross has over 10 years of international commercial and brand experience at Chief Officer level, including CMO at the world’s largest independent schools’ group. Ross is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Governor since 2017

Andrew is a Chartered Accountant and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accounts in Scotland. Andrew is Vice President of Finance for Wood Mackenzie, the global energy research business which he joined in 2013.

Governor since 2021

Nicola has run her own fundraising consultancy business since 2011. She develops fundraising strategies and secures income for charities across a broad range of sectors including Social Care, Education, Arts and Heritage, as well as fundraising for major capital campaigns. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Fundraising.

Governor since 2009

Until recently a senior lecturer in the University of Edinburgh School of Education, Dr Sangster held several roles including Deputy Director of Postgraduate Studies, and Director of the PhD and EdD doctoral Programmes and the PGDE English Programme. She is now an Honorary Fellow. Prior to joining the university, she taught in secondary schools for many years.

Governor since 2023.

Bryan is a Chartered Surveyor with over 30 years’ experience and is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. His career has covered Property Investment and Development throughout the UK across Commercial and Residential sectors. Bryan is a keen sports supporter and currently coaches youth rugby.