Court Members

Martina Chukwuma-Ezike (to 31 December 2024)

Martina Chukwuma-Ezike is Chief Executive of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, Scotland's only dedicated asthma charity, which she founded in 2009. The charity set up the first Asthma Support Centre in the UK to provide support services for people with asthma and allergies in the northeast of Scotland. The organisation now has offices in Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh and supports 13,826 people with asthma annually.

Martina is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen, having completed her MBA in 2009, and has a longstanding relationship with the student body, offering mentoring, volunteering and work placement opportunities at the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, enabling students to gain vital experience.

Martina has a range of skills and experience occupying several management positions within the oil & gas sector and from her time leading a charity with national reach. She has demonstrated herself to be a powerful advocate in her professional role, she is well placed to advocate on behalf of University of Aberdeen students.

Email: rector@abdn.ac.uk

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Iona Fyfe (from 1 January 2025)

Biography to follow

Julie Ashworth

Julie is Chair of the Institute of Directors (IOD) Edinburgh and Deputy Chair IOD Scotland. She is also a member of the Scotland Advisory Board and sits on the Expert Advisory Group UK for Diversity and Inclusion.

She is the Scottish lead for Women on Boards UK, and Founder and CEO of Broadreach Leadership , which works with companies and organisations worldwide in Board and executive development. Julie is also an active member of Chapter Zero, The Directors Climate Forum and sits on the advisory Board of Scottish Business Networks.

She is an experienced Executive and Non-Executive Director, Chair, Board Advisor, Angel Investor and Founder, she has worked with a range of businesses and charities across a range of Sectors and geographies.

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George Boyne

Professor Boyne is Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University, an appointment he has held since August 2018.

Joachim Schaper

Professor Joachim Schaper studied Theology, Philosophy and Assyriology at the University of Tübingen and Theology at the University of Cambridge. He was a Research Fellow at Clare College, University of Cambridge and taught as a Privatdozent in Old Testament at the University of Tübingen from 1999 to 2005.

In 2005 he joined the University as a Reader in Old Testament, was appointed to a Personal Chair in 2006, and translated to the Chair of Hebrew and Semitic Languages in 2012.

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Neil Vargesson

Neil is Professor in Developmental Biology at the University of Aberdeen and was a member of Senate 2008-2013 representing the School of Medical Sciences and again since 2016 representing the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition.

Neil is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and teaches both Undergraduate and Postgraduate taught students and is Degree Programme Coordinator for Developmental Biology courses. His research is focused on understanding how birth defects come about, specifically those caused by medicines, such as thalidomide, as well as drug safety and he has advised national and international Governments and Agencies regarding his research.

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Diane Skåtun

Dr Diane Skåtun is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen. Her first degrees are in Political Economy and then Economics from the University of Glasgow before coming to Aberdeen and being awarded a PhD in Economics. She joined the Health Economics Research Unit at the University in 1999 where her research focuses on how financial and non-financial incentives influence the behaviour of the healthcare workforce.

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Ilia Xypolia

Dr Ilia Xypolia is Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at University of Aberdeen. She is an elected senator for the School of Social Science since 2018. In 2022, Ilia was elected as a Senator Assessor to the Court.

Ilia is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. She is also the Reviews Editor of the refereed periodical Journal of Global Faultlines. Her interdisciplinary research focuses on democracy, nationalism and imperialism.

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Academic Staff Member

Martin Barker

Dr Martin Barker is senior lecturer in the School of Biological Sciences, with strong teaching interests in inclusion, widening access, pastoral support, disability provisions, staff-student communication and also innovative methods in assessment and feedback. Martin's research interests focus on plant ecophysiology and forest canopy research. He has promoted plant biology in public lectures, TV and radio. His career has in higher education has previously been centred (chronologically) at the universities of Sussex, Exeter, Hertfordshire, Lancaster, Brunei and Florida. Martin has also been a school teacher and has written several textbooks on biology.

Since joining the University of Aberdeen in 2009 Martin has served on numerous committees, Senate (2017—2020; 2023—) and is also the honorary Quaker chaplain. Outside the university, Martin's contributions include President of the Friends of the Cruickshank Botanic Garden, and previously Chair of Governors, Bachlaw Projects (Banff), and parent teacher associations of local schools (Aberdeen).

Professional Services Staff Member

Iain Grant

Iain is an alumnus of the University, having qualified with a degree in Politics and International Relations in 2004. He started his career at the University within Academic Services in 2006, working his way via a number of posts to the position of Head of Strategic Planning in 2017. Iain managed the institutional strategy development process in 2019 for Aberdeen 2040, and his portfolio was expanded in 2021, to include leading the University's Project Management Office (PMO); reflecting both his experience and qualifications in that space, having completed an MSc in Project Management via distance learning in 2017.

Academic Trade Union Member

Helen Martin

Dr Helen Martin is a lecturer in Mathematics Education where she specialises in pedagogical design capacity and professional decision-making. Her research and teaching are based on the design principles 'valuing diversity, developing flexibility and making connections' with an emphasis on how 'others' make sense of doing mathematics, becoming and being mathematicians within a community.

Helen has led collaborative projects across universities around E-Formative Assessment, online study sessions for primary pre-service teachers and Multiplicative and Algebraic Reasoning across Scottish schools as well as continuing to work at a National level with the Scottish Government, Scottish Mathematics Council and Royal Society of Edinburgh.

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Support Staff Trade Union Member

Owen Cox

Owen Cox is a Security Liaison Officer within the Directorate of Estates and Facilities. He is also the Branch Chair of the Unison Aberdeen Universities trade union, as well as co-chair of the Unison Scottish Higher Education Committee which incorporates all of the HE branches based in Scotland.

He has had quite a varied career across his working life including working for British rail as a shunter, working in hotels in a number of positions (food service, accommodation, housekeeping, conference and events and as an auditor of the daily hotel business).

He also worked as a Facilities Manager in the oil industry, in a number of locations including Africa and Scandinavia. He has worked at the University since 2004.

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President of the Students' Association

Christina Schmid

Christina is the Student President of the Students' Union (AUSA) for the year 2024/2025 and a trustee for Court. She graduated from the University of Aberdeen in 2024 with a Master of Arts in Politics, Spanish and Latin American Studies. Christina has a broad experience in political campaigning, having been the president of a regional youth organisation and an intern for a member of the German Parliament. Her research has focused on football fan protest against the growing commercialisation of the game.

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AUSA Vice-President for Communities

Ainhoa Burgos Aguilera

Ainhoa has been re-elected as the Vice President for Communities at the Students' Union. She studied her undergraduate degree in Biology, graduating in 2023 from the University of Aberdeen.

Her passion for tackling climate change and the cost-of-living crisis is reflected on the numerous initiatives she carries out at the Students' Union. She is also an advocate for equality and inclusion and is committed to ensuring all students' voices are heard.

Her large network with community groups, local businesses and the third sector allows her to provide opportunities for the students feel part of the community.

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Eleanor Bentley

Eleanor is a Chartered Accountant and a graduate of the University of Aberdeen. She has extensive experience of corporate governance, risk and financial management having spent the majority of her executive career in senior finance roles with international and complex public companies.

Eleanor is a Non-Executive Director of the Scottish Ballet and Celtic Renewables Limited and chairs both their Audit & Risk Committees. She is a Trustee of the Scottish Ballet Endowment Fund and is a Member of the Audit & Risk Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS).

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Lesley Birse

Lesley has a wealth of business experience operating globally in energy and materials markets with specific expertise in Human Resources.

Most recently she held the position of Executive President - People and Organisation in Wood plc, a FTSE listed organisation. In this capacity she worked closely with the board on driving a new strategic business agenda of growth and transformation. She also formed part of the Remuneration Committee shaping Remuneration policy. She is credited with having taken a lead role in improving diversity and overall employee engagement.

Before becoming part of Wood, Lesley held senior positions in Human Resources with AmecFosterWheeler, Canadian Natural Resources (CNR), Weatherford, Baker Hughes and BAA plc - Aberdeen Airport. She holds an MBA and is very committed to employee development.

She is known as an inspirational leader, a strategic thinker who designs and drives change as well as knowing what it takes to achieve assured operational results in a business. She is renowned for her professionalism, pragmatism, insight, curiosity and integrity.

She lives in Deeside with her family and besides exploring the world, she enjoys walking with her black labrador Hamish, golfing, pilates, yoga and most importantly socialsing with friends old and new.

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Ewan Cameron

Ewan is a distinguished executive with a robust academic background, holding degrees from both the University and HEC Paris, where he earned an Executive MBA. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. Over his 30-year career, Ewan has amassed extensive experience in finance and audit, beginning with General Electric, where he held senior roles across the UK, USA, and Australia.

Ewan's career trajectory includes prominent CFO positions within publicly listed companies across diverse sectors including Retail, Technology, and Banking, spanning Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Australia. Currently, he is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer at Snoonu, a leading technology start-up based in the Middle East.

In addition to serving as an independent member of the Court, Ewan sits on the University Finance and Resources Committee, and chairs the Investment Committee.

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Ayten Hajiyeva

Ayten is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in the energy industry. As bp’s Head of Country in Georgia, she drives strategy implementation, government relations, and external affairs while embedding sustainability into business practices. Throughout her career, Ayten has championed operational excellence, innovation, digital transformation and stakeholder collaboration. She is also a dedicated mentor supporting emerging leaders and professionals in advancing their careers and building high-performing teams.

Ayten has served on the boards of prominent business associations in Georgia, where she has  contributed to shaping strategic initiatives and promoting cross-sector collaboration.

Ayten is an executive sponsor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in her region, working across geographies to create an inclusive and equitable workplace.

Ayten holds a degree in Petroleum Engineering from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy and an MBA from Warwick Business School. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate at Warwick Business School, with her academic research focused on digital transformation and organizational behaviour.

Luke Halliday

Luke is an experienced IT professional, most recently Chief Information Officer of Wood Plc. He is a Computer Science graduate of Aberdeen University and over the last 35 years has worked for a number of large global companies across the energy, manufacturing and engineering sectors. He lives in Aberdeen with his family but has travelled extensively and worked across a broad range of cultures. As CIO of Wood Luke led the global IT Function supporting 36,000 people across 60 countries. His experience includes IT operations, strategy, change programmes, business due diligence, integration, cyber security and risk management. Along with Court Luke is a member of the University Audit and Risk committee and the Pension Advisory Group.

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Fiona Islam

Fiona Islam is an accomplished and results-driven global business executive with a wealth of experience having worked for near two decades in a top tier Global Investment Bank in London. Her experience spans over Global Sales Business Management, Regulatory Program Management, Strategic Business Transformation and Change Management in large complex initiatives, across all asset classes and region's. Fiona primary role is to lead strategic initiatives that shape the bank's investments, vision and execution across Fixed Income, Currencies, Commodities, Equities and ESG products.

Fiona has held several high-impact roles, including leading J.P. Morgan's Brexit and MiFID II regulatory implementations and overseeing multi-billion dollar global revenues for the Global Sales Senior Leadership team. Her reputation as a trusted business advisor and tenacious client negotiator is built on her ability to translate complex business challenges into clear, actionable strategies. She excels in managing large, diverse teams across multiple regions, driving profitability, and enhancing organizational effectiveness.

Fiona holds a BA Joint Honours in French and German from the University of Aberdeen and is deeply committed to supporting future leaders be that in the private or public sector. In addition to her corporate roles, she mentors young professionals and female entrepreneurs through various initiatives and is a trusted mentor for the The Princes Trust. Fiona's appointment to the University of Aberdeen Court allows her to contribute to her former University, one she is extremely proud of, and allows her to contribute to the strategic direction of the institution.

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Gary McRae

Gary is a graduate of the University in Economics and of the University of Bath where he completed an MBA.

He trained in Aberdeen as a Chartered Accountant before a career in industry in which he has held senior positions in Corporate Finance/Development, Strategy and Legal at Dowty PLC, British Aerospace and Laird PLC. Gary has significant experience in Merger & Acquisitions and patents. At Laird PLC he created Laird Technologies from start-up to become the global market leader with annual revenues in excess of £1 billion and facilities in Europe, the Americas and Asia.

Since retiring from Laird PLC, Gary has undertaken a number of non-executive Director roles and is currently on the boards of SAS International, Frimley Health FT, Aster Group and FAC Technology. Previous roles include Senior Independent Director/Deputy Chair at Hampshire Hospitals FT and Trustee & Audit Chair at the William Harvey Research Foundation. He is Chair of a number of Board Committees for these organisations including Audit &Risk, Finance and People and a Trustee of Pension Funds.

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Caryn Miller

Caryn is a finance lawyer and a graduate of the University of Edinburgh.

She is a Partner at international law firm CMS Cameron Mckenna Nabarro Olswang LLP and is Managing Director of their business in Asia and the Middle East. She is also the Chair of their Audit and Risk Committee. Prior to its merger with CMS in 2014, Caryn was joint managing partner of Dundas & Wilson CS LLP. She is qualified as a lawyer in both Scotland and England and has over twenty years of experience in all areas of debt finance, acting for both financial institutions and corporate borrowers. Caryn was also a member of the CBI Scotland Council 2016-19

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Lorenzo Moretti

Biography to follow

Alison Rankin

Otto Thoresen

Otto Thoresen is the serving chairman of NEST, the BT Defined Benefits Pension Scheme and Aviva International Insurance. In addition, he has served on the Board of the Association of British Insurers and is the former Chief Executive of life and pensions company AEGON UK.

A Fellow of the Faculty of Actuaries, Otto has been involved during his career in advising government and regulators on consumer issues in financial services. In 2007, he led a review for HM Treasury on delivering generic financial advice which was published in 2008 with its recommendations accepted by the Government.

In Scotland, he chairs the Board of the life subsidiary of Abrdn.

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Adaku Ufere

Adaku Ufere is an award-winning energy attorney and sector leader, with extensive experience in designing and delivering large, complex projects in the energy sector and leading teams to successfully transform the energy landscape in sub-Saharan Africa.

As the Chief of Party for USAID and Power Africa's West Africa Energy Program Adaku provides operational and technical direction and leadership to a consortium of eight subcontractors and over 80 full and part-time staff, to advance energy policy and regulatory reform, accelerate investment, and increase power generation and access to electricity across 23 countries in West and Central Africa.

Adaku has a Law Degree from the University of Nigeria and a Masters in Oil & Gas Law from the University of Aberdeen. She has also earned certifications in Energy Sector Leadership from the UNISA Graduate School of Business Leadership, in Public Management from the University of California, Davis and in Gender & Sexuality from the University of British Columbia.

Adaku is a Mandela Washington Fellow, an Obama Foundation Leader Africa and an Exceptional Alumni of the University of Aberdeen. She has also been awarded one of the 40 under 40 Leading Lawyers in Nigeria, Attorney of the Year at the African Legal Awards, Young African Professional of the Year and 100 Most Inspiring Women in Nigeria, among others.

Adaku is a globally respected conference speaker, and has published articles in energy, gender and project finance.

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(Not a formal Court member but 'In Attendance')

Shona Russell

Shona is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen with a MA (Hons) in English and Management Studies. Upon graduation, she embarked on a commercial graduate traineeship with the John Lewis Partnership progressing through several store retail management positions across London and the South East of England. Throughout her subsequent 20 year career with the Partnership, Shona has gone on to specialise in Human Resources, undertaking head office and regional roles for both the John Lewis and Waitrose brands across the Partner lifecycle. These include learning and development, recruitment, policy and procedures and organisational development and design in support of significant pan Partnership transformational change. Currently Shona is a People Partner (HR Business Partner) providing operational and strategic HR support to the enterprise level leaders, and their teams, across the Chairman's Office.