Dear colleagues,
Earlier this week, on Tuesday, I had the pleasure of hosting our fifth Strathclyde Executive Leadership Awards (STELAR) ceremony, celebrating the achievements of some of our most successful alumni.
These awards recognise the contribution which valued members of our global alumni community have made, and continue to make, through their leadership roles in business, industry, academia and the public and third sectors.
Medals were presented to: Dr Pauline Burke, Head of Data Science for Siri Assistant and Dictation, Apple; Dr Peter Burke, Former Senior Vice-President of R&D, Ping Identity and Former CTO/EVP of Engineering & Operations at Neustar; Dr Samantha Kerr, Chief Scientific Officer, R&D, Merz Aesthetics®; Elise Rees, Independent Director (Enmax Corporation, Artemis Gold Inc., K-Bro Linen Services Inc. and Armstrong Group Holdings); and Dr Mark Sobey, President – Lasers, Coherent.
I am enormously proud that Strathclyde has provided a platform for success for each of our awardees, all of whom exemplify our Values of being People-oriented, Innovative, Collaborative, Ambitious and Bold, and provide inspiration to the next generation of Strathclyde graduates.
Yesterday, I was delighted to attend the official opening of the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre at the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland next to Glasgow Airport – alongside John Lamont MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland, and Ivan McKee MSP, Minister for Business, Trade, Tourism and Enterprise. Over 300 people participated in the opening ceremony, representing industry, university, government and public sector agencies.
This facility – a collaboration between our partners CPI, UKRI, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, GSK and AstraZeneca – is an exemplar of strategic academic and industrial collaboration. It highlights the important role such partnerships play in fostering innovation, the translation of research into practical applications, and the nurturing of the high-quality talent that businesses require.
As part of the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland, and sitting alongside the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland which Strathclyde will operate, this new facility will help to develop the technologies, systems, processes and products that will transform pharmaceutical manufacturing in this country and significantly boost the local economy. Scotland’s global reputation for advanced manufacturing is growing at pace, and the Medicines Manufacturing Innovation Centre will further enhance this.
Finally, I am pleased to announce that Professor Paul McKenna has been appointed Deputy Associate Principal for Research and Knowledge Exchange. Paul, who is currently Vice Dean Research for the Faculty of Science and formerly Head of the Department of Physics, succeeds Professor Billy Kerr who is stepping down from the role after a highly successful period in our Research, KE and Innovation leadership team.
I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to Billy for his substantial contribution to Strathclyde during his tenure. Over this time, Strathclyde’s research income and portfolio have grown significantly as we continue to advance towards the goals we set out in our Strategic Plan Vision 2025.
Thank you for your continued contributions and have a good weekend when it comes.
Best wishes,
Jim