Veronica Strachan

Veronica has significant experience within RGU, having held senior roles within both academic schools and professional support departments. She has been a member of a wide range of committees at various levels and have been involved in leading and delivering successful outcomes in university wide projects.

Veronica qualified as a solicitor in Scotland before joining RGU as a lecturer in law in 1994. In her early career, Veronica completed PG Certificate Tertiary Level Teaching and developed a keen interest in teaching and learning, and was an early adopter of technology, becoming a Fellow of Higher Education Academy in 2004. She was active in leading and developing the law teaching portfolio and in 2002 was appointed Associate Head of School of Public Administration and Law. In 2005 she was appointed Business Manager in Aberdeen Business School with faculty responsibilities for development and delivery of aspects of strategic plans and policies, and the leadership of the faculty-based administration including the placement office and learning and media technologists.

In 2016, she was appointed as Assistant Chief Academic Officer, leading the continuous development and implementation of efficient and effective academic quality assurance processes. In that role she was part of the working group for the TEF submission, she led the university project creating the Centre for Employability and Community Engagement and she has worked across the University to develop and enhance annual appraisal/monitoring process.

In 2018 she was appointed as Assistant Chief Academic Officer and Secretary to the Board. As Secretary to the Board, she supports the Board of Governors with authoritative guidance about its responsibilities under the University Statutory Instrument and regulatory frameworks, external legislation and the requirements of the Scottish Funding Council. She was actively involved designing and implementing the process for the election of the Chair of the Board of Governors, and the process for the recruitment of the current Principal.  Her title was changed in July 2021 to University Secretary and Assistant Chief Academic Officer.

In January 2022 she became University Secretary and Vice Principal for Corporate Services. In this role she has the responsibilities of Secretary to the Board and has a University wide remit for equality and diversity, and sustainability - ensuring the delivery of key strategic enablers of the University and the ambitions to reach net zero. She has Executive responsibility for Estates and Property Services, and IT Services, key corporate services designed to deliver and support the business of the University, its learning, teaching, consultancy and research now and in the future. She is RGU nominated Governor at Robert Gordons College, a Director of APUC (Advanced Procurement for Universities and Colleges) and is a member of the Management Committee of The Burn at Edzell.

Responsibilities

• Secretary to Board of Governors
• Sustainability
• Equality and Diversity
• CONTEST
• Business Continuity

Portfolio

• Governance and Academic Quality
• Estates and Property Services
• IT Services

Committees

• Equality and Diversity Sub-Committee – Convenor
• Health and Safety Committee - Convenor
• The Sustainability Group - Convener
• Member of Executive, Academic Council