Nigel Seaton

Nigel Seaton graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a BSc (Honours) in Chemical Engineering and went on to do an MSE and a PhD, also in Chemical Engineering, at the University of Pennsylvania.

After working briefly in the oil industry, Professor Seaton moved in 1989 to the University of Cambridge, where he was a Lecturer in Chemical Engineering and a Fellow of Clare College. He was a visiting professor at Cornell University in 1996-97.  In 1997, he returned to the University of Edinburgh as Professor of Interfacial Engineering.  Between 1998 and 2007, he held a succession of leadership posts leading to appointment as Vice-Principal (Academic). In 2008 he moved to the University of Surrey, firstly as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Development) and then as Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor.

Professor Seaton was Principal and Vice-Chancellor of Abertay University from 2012 to 2022.

Professor Seaton has been a Director of Design Dundee Ltd., Jisc, the Equality Challenge Unit, Advance HE, the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, and GuildHE. 

Professor Seaton is a Chartered Engineer, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, and a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.

Register of Interests

All positions, appointments, employment etc (whether remunerated or not) that you hold with any other organisation:

• Chair, Royal Tay Yacht Club

Details of any self-employed business, consultancy or other activities you are engaged in, whether remunerated or not, or for other reward or gains:

• Occasional activities as a mentor, executive coach or consultant (sometimes remunerated and sometimes not)

Details of any contractual or financial/non-financial relationship (including Directorship, Partnership, Consultancy, Board Membership, other Appointments or position of authority or influence, whether paid or unpaid,) with any other company, public authority or service or any other organisation, or any other position you have that would or could enable you to influence the award of a contract or allow you to benefit financially:

• None

Details of any ownership of land or property or other holdings within Aberdeen (other than your own main family home) that may be directly or indirectly affected by any known or prospective estate development plan in the vicinity of the city centre campus or the Garthdee campus:

• None

Details of any other interests or matters of equivalence to any of the above:

• None

Details where the interests of any close relative may require to be declared:

• None