Angus College

Kish Srinivasan

Born in India, Kish was educated at St Xavier’s School in Calcutta. In addition to obtaining an honours degree in Economics, he is also a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (admitted 1970).

Prior to 1983, Kish combined a career in academia with operating a part-time auditing and tax practice. He was a lecturer (and latterly) senior lecturer in Accounting at Napier Institute of Commerce and Technology. From 1983 to 1990, he was Head of Department of Accountancy and Economics at Dundee Institute of Technology, where we was also Dean of the Management Faculty (1985-1987 and 1989-1990). Kish led and participated in many of the development of degree courses in accountancy, economics and other management-related areas which contributed in due course to the granting of university status for both Napier and Abertay Universities. He has also been Chief Examiner and served on various committees with SQA and its various predecessors over many years.

Kish joined HMIe in 1990, where he was involved initially in HE sector liaison (particularly with Robert Gordon University). His varied subsequent roles included a spell of responsibility within HMIe for the Wider Access Programme in the West of Scotland, Lead Inspector for liaison with the Scottish Further and Higher Education Council, and finally Assistant Chief Inspector – FE till his retirement from full-time employment in May 2006.

Kish is currently the captain of Scotscraig Golf Club and a Past President of the Rotary Club of North Fife.

Kish joined the College Board of Management in 2007 and took over as Chairman in 2012.

Paul Grant

HND in Business Studies. Joined United Biscuits in 1967. Worked in 3 different divisions in 5 locations. During this period was general manager of a small business, managing director of a restaurant division, factory director of a major McVities factory and latterly personnel director of McVities UK & Europe.

Bought Mackays from UB in 1995. Today Mackays employs 145 people with sales of £14 million.

Paul Grant is the current Ambassador of the Year for Angus and in 2012 recently Mackays has been awarded the Queen’s Award for Exporting.

Member of Finance & Facilities Committee and Vice Chair of Angus College. Board member of Scottish Enterprise Tayside

Professor Mike Swanston

Mike is Emeritus Professor of Psychology, University of Abertay Dundee and Honorary Research Fellow, School of Psychology, Dundee University. He was Vice-Principal of Abertay University from 2002 until his retirement in 2008. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Dundee Science Centre.

He has been Vice-Chair of the Board of Management of Elmwood College (2000-07), a Director of Dundee Ice Arena (1999-2002), a member of the City of Discovery Campaign Committee (2003-05) and a member of Universities Scotland Learning & Teaching and Research & Commercialisation Committees (1999-2008).

His current research interests are in the visual perception of space and motion. He has published over 50 research papers and co-authored a textbook on vision.

David Sawers

David Sawers was educated at Harris Academy in Dundee. Following a spell in the private sector where he qualified as an accountant he worked for 37 years in local government. He is a fellow of the ACCA (Chartered Institute of Certified Accountants) and a member of CIPFA (Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy). He worked in local government in Angus for over 30 years. Holding the post of Director of Finance for 13 years and Chief Executive for 5 years. He retired in 2011.

He has served on the Angus College Board of Governors since 2009 and is currently Chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee.

David is currently Chairman of the Corse Hill Community Benefit Forum.

Pauline Murray

Pauline is a Programme Manager with the BT Group Openreach, having held a range of senior positions within BT. Pauline’s experiences include transformational change management within large complex businesses.

Member of Audit Committee.

Pamela Milne

Pam has 20 years experience of working as an HR professional. Employed as the University of Dundee’s HR Director since 2002, she started her employment with the University in 1990, as an Assistant Personnel Officer. She is a member of the Senior Management Team at University of Dundee and Pam’s remit includes not only the HR function but also Health and Safety, Occupational Health, Equality and Diversity, Organisational and Professional Development and HR Legal Services.

On a professional level, she co-convened for some time the Scottish Universities Heads of Personnel (SHOP) group. This involved not only raising and discussing HR issues which were important to the sector but also provided, on behalf of the HR community, views and advice to other bodies such as: the Scottish Funding Council, Universities Scotland and the Universities HR (UHR). She also sits on the Universities and Colleges Employers Association (UCEA) Scottish Committee, the UCEA Research Advisory Panel and Universities Scotland Efficiencies Taskforce.

Pam is also a member of the Board of Governors at Strathallan School in Perthshire.

George Robertson

Having obtained a BA (Hons) in Business Studies in 1976 from what is now University of Abertay Dundee, George worked primarily in the electronics industry for over 30 years in a number of positions covering Finance, Operations, Supply Chain and Quality before setting up his own consultancy in 2008 advising SME’s on finance, supply chain and business improvement.

An Associate of CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) since 1979 and a Fellow since 1999 he has been active at Branch, Regional and National level serving on CIMA Council for 6 years to 2006 and as Scottish Chairman until 2008. He was awarded a silver medal (one of less than 50 currently worldwide) by CIMA in 2009 for his services to the Institute. He remains involved with CIMA as a membership assessor.

A keen cyclist (weather permitting) George spends the rest of his spare time with his family.

George McAteer

Born In Dundee and educated at St John’s High School, Dundee. Worked in the building industry for a number of years before retraining in Computing and IT at Angus College from 1994. Progressed onto Abertay University gaining a Degree in Information Management. Worked as a computer and network installer before taking up a post at Angus College in 1998.

George enjoys exploring new aspects of computing, and family activities.

Cisco and Microsoft Trainer with hardware and networking as specialist subjects.

Academic Board member since September 2012

Jan Low

Born in Dundee and educated at Linlathen High School, Dundee. Studied Accountancy at Dundee College of Commerce from 1986. After a number of years working in Accountancy and Hospitality in the UK and overseas, returned to study at Dundee College in 2000, progressing to gain a BA (Hons) in Information Management at University of Abertay.

Jan has worked at Dundee College for 11 years and is currently a member of the eLearning support team.

Jan enjoys to travel and has worked in, and travelled to, many places worldwide. Scotland remains her favourite country.

Non-teaching staff Board Member since May 2012.

Tatiana Zorina

I was born in Russia in 1984. Have finished High School in 2001 and went straight to the Agricultural University. I have been graduated in December 2006 in Degree in Management and Economics at Agricultural Enterprise.

First time I came to Scotland in 2004, and really liked here, I liked such a friendly and welcoming atmosphere of Scotland. I moved permanently in 2007, and that is when I started to learn my English. In 2010 I went to Angus College to study English.

Now I am studying HNC Administration and IT at Angus College, looking to progress to HND and gain Degree in the future.

I am very motivated and self-confident individual who looks to the very bright future.

Graham Ramsay

Graham Ramsay is the Student President of Dundee College for term 12/13. He is currently studying in my second year of HND Hospitality Management. Previously I studied my HNC and NQ Level 3 in Hospitality.

Graham also works in the hospitality industry and very much hopes to continue his career in this area when he completes his studies at Dundee College.

Previously, Graham was involved with the Air Training Corps, in which he achieved the rank of Staff Cadet Flight Sergeant, and sadly had to leave after his 20th birthday, to comply with the leaving age.

John Burt

John Burt graduated from Edinburgh University in Economics in 1973 followed by a post-graduate teaching qualification from Moray House College. John worked as a Marketing Economist for a leading Scottish Finance Institution until 1975 and then joined the College Sector as a Lecturer in Economics and Behavioural Sciences at the then Fife College (now Adam Smith).

Progressing through a number of senior posts (Senior Lecturer/Head of Faculty), John joined Angus College as Principal in 1996 and has survived to be the current longest serving Principal in Scotland.

As well as leading Angus College, John has served on various national organisations including:

Chair of Eastern Scotland European Partnership (ESEP)

Chair of Principals’ Forum

Founding Director of the Further Education Development Directorate (FEDD) at the Scottish Funding Council

Chair of the ‘Differences Colleges Make Group’ – Scottish Government

Vice Chair of Scotland’s Colleges

Chair – Student Volunteering in Scotland’s Colleges Group

Member – Court of University of Abertay Dundee

John was awarded the OBE for Services to Further Education in Scotland in 2006.

Christina Potter

In August 2007, after 10 years as Principal of Elmwood College in Fife, Christina Potter was appointed Principal at Dundee College. Christina has spent almost 30 years in the College sector, working both in England and Scotland. Starting as a Lecturer in Computing and moving on to a variety of management posts, Christina has worked in a wide range of college settings, including large inner city institutions and small, rural colleges.

Prior to moving into Further Education, Christina had a successful career in the computing industry, spent mainly with ICL but including posts at RBS and Scottish & Newcastle Breweries. She holds professional computing qualifications and is a full member of the British Computing Society. In 1996, she completed an MBA (with Distinction) at Warwick University.

Christina has served on a number of Scottish Funding Council Committees including the Collaboration and Mergers Advisory Committee, the Further Education Student Support Advisory Group and the Working Group on Funding.

Currently she is a member of the Court of Dundee University and a Director of Scotland’s Colleges.

Christina’s leisure interests include Theatre, Music and Art as well as reading and coastal walks.

Andy Reid

Born in Chester, my family moved to Brechin in 1981 (when I was aged 6), where I lived until December last year when I moved to Forfar.

I have worked at Angus College as the Payroll Officer for almost 5 years, prior to which I have worked in various payroll and accounts roles, with my last job prior to moving here being at Angus Council for 4 years.

I have been the Support Staff Representative on Angus College’s Board since June this year, with the past 5 months having been a very busy time and along with our colleagues in Dundee we will work hard to make sure the merger is a success.

Doug Reilly

Born in Dundee in 1958 and educated at the former St Michael’s Secondary School, which was until 2011 the Dundee College Graham Street Campus.

Association with Dundee College (Kingsway Technical College as it was then known) commenced October 1974 through enrolment on the School Link Pre-Apprenticeship Programme in Construction Crafts.

Attended Dundee College via: block release, day release and night classes between 1974 and 1981 gaining: City and Guilds Craft and Advanced Craft Certificates in Carpentry and Joinery, Membership Qualification of the Institute of Carpenters, National Certificate in Building and a number of Highers.

Gained experience in the local construction industry for a number of years including three years with Dundee University Estates Department.

Gained a part-time lecturing post in carpentry and joinery at Perth College in 1986 and continued to work in industry until March 1987 at which point was appointed to a full time lecturing post in carpentry and joinery at the former Kirkcaldy College of Technology, now Adam Smith College. While working there gained the Higher National Certificate in Construction.

Appointed as lecturer in carpentry and joinery at Dundee College in October 1989 until present.

Branch Secretary, Education Institute of Scotland, Further Education Lecturer’s Association, Dundee College Branch from January 2003 until present date.

Doug joined the College Board of Management in 2008.