Following Bonnie Dean’s retirement, interim arrangements have been made to cover the responsibilities previously held by Bonnie on Senior Management Group, and the interface with Professor Chris Pearce’s current role as Vice-Principal (Research).

Uzma Khan will take on the role of Vice-Principal Economic Development and Innovation, to cover not only the Innovation remit, but also the University’s plans in relation to the Glasgow Riverside Innovation District (GRID) and the important role the University plays in respect of economic development. Chris Pearce will broaden his portfolio to include Knowledge Exchange and Research Impact, and he will now be Vice-Principal Research and Knowledge Exchange.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, said: “As a University, it is critically important for us to focus on the various activities which are delivered from our research base. This spans from discovery research at one end of the spectrum, to translation research, impact and innovation, and our role as anchor institutions in the local and national economy at the other end of the spectrum.

“Increasingly, Scottish and UK and international funding for these activities require us to demonstrate how we deliver societal benefit. It is important that we can demonstrate this so we remain competitive as a research-intensive University. The evidence in our recently published economic impact study demonstrates how important we are to the Scottish and UK economies as an institution.

“To ensure that we can deliver successfully in this area, I have asked Chris and Uzma to work closely with the University’s Director of Research, Bryony Wakefield, and Director of Innovation and Engagement, Declan Weldon, their teams in University Services, and the Deans of Research and Innovation in the Colleges, to ensure that we have a unified and ambitious agenda in this area. 

“There are many points of overlap and connection between Chris and Uzma’s portfolios which will require close co-ordination across the University. We have recently published ambitious strategies for both Research and Innovation, and Chris and Uzma will work together with their teams and the Colleges to ensure that we can deliver against the objectives set out in these strategies.

“In addition, the economic development portfolio is one which is developing rapidly, not only through our activities in relation to our Campus Development and GRID, but also in our dialogue with Scottish and UK Governments regarding the role of the University in the Scottish Government’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation, and the UK Government’s Levelling-Up White Paper which proposes an Innovation Accelerator for Glasgow. This dimension of Uzma’s portfolio is new at SMG, and reflects the importance of this agenda to us as a University.”

First published: 25 March 2022

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