Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), the University for the Common Good, is a vibrant, values-led, multicultural, civic University with a global outlook and strong commitment to delivering social innovation and sustainable development in its education and research. The University has more than 22,000 students from nearly 120 countries and 1,600 staff, who enjoy state-of-the-art facilities across each of the campuses in Glasgow, London and New York. An independent report concluded the University contributed £1.7bn and 14,360 jobs globally, and £612m and 5,390 jobs in Glasgow in 2020-21.

With a modern campus in the heart of Glasgow, the University is unique in its global reach through a degree-awarding College in New York in addition to a campus in London, and models of delivery which include partnerships in China, South Africa, Oman and Mauritius. Closer to home, they are Scotland’s leading provider of Graduate Apprenticeships, its College Connect Team provides a dedicated service to help students transition from college to university, GCU’s Caledonian Club, an award-winning outreach initiative, has reached 20,000 local children, families and carers, many from disadvantaged backgrounds, and its Advanced Higher Hub supports sixth-form students across Glasgow.

GCU has a strong social mission: it is the University for the Common Good, a commitment that is embedded in its high-quality educational offering and its focus on research excellence in key areas. They are currently ranked fourth in the world and first in the UK for promoting gender equality, and 70th globally in the 2022 Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. They are also ranked 21st in the world and first in Scotland for reduced inequalities, 39th globally for decent work and economic growth, and first in Scotland for health and wellbeing. National performance indicators show the strong completion rate of its students, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, and an exceptionally low drop-out rate. GCU also emerged as the top Modern University in Scotland for research power at the last Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercise.

The University’s new 2030 strategy ensures that the University has clear ambitions as it responds to the challenges and opportunities of the decade ahead. With a focus on serving a growing student body, expanding its international footprint and investing in its digital and physical infrastructure, it's an exciting time for the University. It will also continue its work to develop external partnerships and its civic agenda, whilst continuing to offer world-class education to its students.

The University Court is GCU's governing body. Working with the executive team, the Court is committed to advancing the University’s sustainability and success and securing its pre-eminence in a competitive higher education landscape. The Court is also responsible for approving the University’s overall strategic direction and exercising general oversight of the University’s performance, development, and legal and regulatory compliance.

The Finance and General Purposes Committee is a critical group that supports the University as it works to meet the strategic goals set by the University's 2030 strategy. The Chair Designate will be a leader within the court and continue to drive the university's global outlook and strong commitment to delivering social innovation and sustainable development in its education and research.

Under the current Chair, the Court is developing strongly as a body where Members are well-networked with each other, engage constructively with the executive, and where collegiality and supportive challenge work in productive partnership. Normally, a Court dinner with a topical external speaker and including students and members of staff, takes place on the evening before each Court meeting. The Governor Link Scheme associates individual lay governors with a key functional area of business or a core strategic theme such as climate and sustainability.

Glasgow Caledonian University is seeking a Chair Designate of the Finance and General Purposes Committee who will also sit on the University Court. They will take on the Chair role in August 2024. They will bring business experience and acumen as well as financial scrutiny to the Committee and wider Court to ensure long-term sustainability and growth. They will be a sounding board to the Court and the executive team and will have an ability to challenge constructively, provide strategic input, bring attention to detail, work collaboratively and explain complex commercial and financial information to Court.

Candidates will bring senior strategic finance experience and may have held roles such as CEO, COO, CFO, Financial Director and / or Audit Partner from the commercial sector and / or in a publicly-funded institution. They may well bring a recognised accounting qualification (Chartered, Certified or Cost and Management), but the University will be seeking strong strategic business and financial experience at the highest levels. With strong commercial acumen they will be well connected and utilise their networks in the business community to build civic bridges. The successful candidate will bring previous chairing experience of a Board or Committee.

More importantly, candidates will be able to demonstrate their commitment to the University’s mission, vision and values and to offer the time and dedication to contribute at meetings, informally, and as an ambassador for the University.

Diversity: GCU is particularly keen to further the diversity of the Court through this appointments, please see the diversity section for further information.

The Court includes the Vice-Chancellor ex officio and elected and nominated staff and student membership. To view a full list of Members of Court, please click here. The lay governors are:

Rob Woodward, Chair
Peter Baguley
Amit Bhargava
Campbell Fitch
Sylvie Freund Pickavance
Daniel Gallacher
Asif Haseeb
Ian Kerr
Sharon Lowrie
Meg Lustman
Bill McDonald
Neena Mahal
Austin Sweeney
Jane Wilson

There are six Court meetings (with a dinner the evening before) and three to five Finance and General Purposes Committee meetings. Governors are also expected to be available for ad hoc communication. This role is unremunerated, but reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed. The appointment is for a three-year term, which can be renewed twice at the discretion of the Court. Court meetings to be held in person, with Committee meetings operating with a hybrid format.

Members are also expected to be available for ad hoc communication and are encouraged to attend University graduations and participate in other events wherever possible.

Location: Candidates will be UK based and will be able to attend Court meetings in person and a dinner the previous evening.

GCU is committed to ensuring that its composition reflects gender diversity and to making meaningful progress in improving female minority representation on its Board. The University is committed to achieving a diverse governing body and welcomes applications from all suitably experienced individuals, particularly those who would further enhance its diversity. In view of the Court’s current lay member balance, applications from women and ethnic minority groups are particularly welcome. All appointments will be made on merit, following a fair and transparent process.