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PROFESSOR PETER MCKIERNAN - Chair of the Board of Governors 

Peter McKiernan joined the board in April 2005 and is also a member of the Learning & Teaching Committee.  Peter is a Professor of Management and Head of School of Management at the University of St Andrews.  His career started in 1977 as Divisional MD and Group FD in UK Mechanical Engineering Sector.  He then went on to be a Director of Management Courses, University of St Andrews and Lecturer in Management.  He is a Director of the Full Time MBA Programme, University of Warwick and Senior Lecturer in Strategy. He is also Chair of the Governing Board, Athletic Union, University of St Andrews.  He has a BA Economics from Lanchester Polytechnic, MA Business Analysis from the University of Lancaster and a PhD Strategy from the University of Surrey. His external interests range from Dean, Fellows College, British Academy of Management, President, European Academy of Management, Fellow, British Academy of Management (FBAM), Companion of the Association of Business Schools, Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA), Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences (AcSS), Member of the Chartered Management Institute (MCMI), to a Non Executive Director for BusinessLabs Group, Aberdeen. His personal interests include football, rugby, cycling, swimming, tai chi, sailing, mountains, theatre especially Shakespeare.

MR GORDON BREWSTER - Board Member 

Gordon was born in Stirling and graduated in 1987 with an Honours Degree in Telecommunications and Electronic Engineering from Napier University going ont to do his Masters of Business Administration at Heriot Watt University.  He then took up an appointment at the University of Stirling within the Computer Services Division as a systems engineer. This work supported teaching and research through the development of embedded microprocessor systems.  A promotion in the early 90’s saw Gordon assume management of IT & the University’s Media Services introducing teaching technologies in lecture theatres and class rooms.

In 2001 Gordon was appointed Director of IT for the Law Society of Scotland.  This was a strategic role responsible for the development of projects and business plans for IT and on line services at the Society. A promotion in 2006 saw Gordon assume responsibility for Central Services encompassing Finance, IT and Facilities at the Society.  Gordon has successfully delivered numerous business systems within the Society for business benefit and improvement.

Gordon is a Non Executive Director of Legal Post which is a private document exchange for the legal profession in Scotland and represents the Society on a technical committee of the Council of Bars and Law Societies in Brussels. He is also a Member of the Institute of Engineering & Technology and a Chartered Engineer.

Gordon is a member of the Carse of Stirling Rotary Club and also enjoys golf and cycling and spending time with his family.

MRS ALISON BRUCE – Clerk to the Board of Governors 

Alison Bruce is the college’s independent Clerk to the Board of Governors with many years’ experience of corporate governance and administration management at a senior level.  Alison has a degree in Business Administration.

MR DAVID CALDER - Board member

David was born and brought up in West Calder, attending West Calder High School and then Edinburgh University graduating with an LLB (Hons), and a Diploma in Legal Practice. He joined a large Edinburgh law firm, as a trainee solicitor and qualified in 1991, working as a solicitor, specialising in commercial litigation.

He then spent some time in New Zealand and while there worked for the Law Commission and was primarily involved in reforming the New Zealand law of evidence. On returning to the UK he worked once again for Burness for a year, before joining Murray Beith Murray, again working as a litigation lawyer specialising in commercial litigation.

He was then made a partner in Murray Beith Murray, before leading a management buy out of the commercial part of Murray Beith Murray's business and in doing so set up a new law firm (MBM Commercial). MBM is a niche commercial law firm specialising in acting for high growth innovative business, their owners and investors.  In 2006 MBM won "Up and Coming Law Firm of the Year" at the Scottish Legal Awards, and in 2008 won "Law Firm of the Year", both at the Scottish Legal Awards, and at the LawNett awards (LawNett is an association of law firms from throughout the UK).

He has lived in West Lothian for most of his life, as have his family for many generations. He has been a director of West Lothian Chamber of Commerce since 2001, and a legal advisor to the West Lothian Council Business Gateway, High Growth Team. In 2007 MBM opened an office in West Lothian, at the Alba Innovation Centre.

David was a Director of West Lothian Chamber of Commerce from 2001 – 2009 and he enjoys running, cycling, swimming and hill walking.

MR GRAHAM CLARK – Academic Staff Member

Graham joined the board in March 2003 as the Teaching Staff member and is also a member of the Audit Committee and the Learning & Teaching Committee. Graham’s career started in the Royal Air Force Aircraft Engineering, Sultan of Oman’s Air Force – Aeronautical Engineer, Sultanate of Oman’s Air Academy – Aeronautical Lecturer, Sultanate of Oman’s Technical School – Engineering Aeronautical Lecturer, Oceanscan Aberdeen – Offshore Survey Engineer, Motorola Queensferry – Photolithography Equipment Engineer and now a lecturer and health & safety officer with the college.  Graham has a BA from Dundee University and his TQFE, and a NEBOSH certificate in Health & Safety.  Graham is also an Associate member of IOSH.  His personal interests are motor sports, music, DIY and skiing.

MS LIZ CONNOLLY - Support Staff Member 

Liz has been a Board member since last year and is the Support Staff member and a member of the Finance & General Purposes Committee.  Liz’s career began working with West Lothian Council, County Printers but has substantially been with West Lothian College for many years.  Liz started with the college as a Training Officer and she now works as a Liaison Officer and Community Head Teacher.  Liz who was born in West Lothian also serves as Secretary/Treasurer on her local board of Trustees.

MS SUE COOK – Board member 

Sue, a new board originally from Montreal, Canada who joined the board in June 2008 is also a member of the Audit Committee.  Sue started her own multimedia business at the age of 21 and the company was voted one of Scotland’s top 5 companies. She then went on to become CEO of the Interactive Media Alliance of Scotland, the industry body and saw it through its merger with two other organisations to form ScotlandIS.  Sue was then appointed Executive Director of the DVD Association Europe and then decided to consult for the interactive media industry part time.  Sue now consults on a freelance basis for small/medium companies and specialises in strategy and communications.  Sue has a Masters in Computer Science from Aberdeen University. Her external interests range from Justice of the Peace for the Sheriffdom of Lothian and Borders, Chairman of Princes Scottish Youth Business Trust (West Lothian), Board Member, West Lothian Chamber of Commerce, West Lothian Schools Appeal Panel,  NHS Scotland Marketing and Communications Committee.  Her personal interests are rock climbing, learning to play golf, fitness, travel, friends and most importantly her family.

MR JAMES FARRELLY – Chair of Learning and Teaching Committee

James joined the board in April 1999 and is also the Chair of the Learning & Teaching Committee.  James has a BA (Hons) from Glasgow Caledonian University, an MSc in Personnel Management from Strathclyde University (Graduate Business School), and a Certificate in Employment Law Heriott Watt University.  His career started with the Ministry of Defence (RNAD Coulport), then moving to NHS Tayside as Workforce Information Manager and on to NHS Lothian, Human Resource Manager.  He is currently with NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde as Head of Human Resources – Diagnostics & Oral Health, with a workforce of over 50,000 staff.  His external interests include previous Chair of the Association of Healthcare Human Resource Management (Scotland).  His personal interests include current affairs, walking, gardening and pottering about.

MR TERRY LAFFERTY – Board member 

Terry joined the board in June 2008 and is also a member of the Finance & General Purposes Committee.  Terry has an MA Hons Economics from Glasgow University. Terry’s career started as a Management Trainee with Silcock Express Ltd and then work as an Assistant Factory Accountant with Metal Box Plc, he then went on to be an Assistant Group Accountant at Cadbury Trebor Basset Ltd. In 1991 he worked with United Distillers Plc with a job title of Assistant Management Accountant this changed to Project Accountant and then on to work with William Grant & Sons Ltd where he began as Project Accountant then changed to Financial Controller, then his role changed again to Project Leader.  In 1999 he became Finance Manager (8 month Interim Assignment working with Lactalis McLelland, as Financial Controller and this again changed in 2004 when he became Financial Controller and Group Treasurer.  From 2006-2009 Terry was Deputy Head of Finance in Bausch & Lomb. From 2009-date Terry is Finance Director of ApplusRTD UKI Ltd.  His external interests are a School board member, Director of Community Trust Company and Business Mentor with the local Council Initiative.  His personal interests include photography, cycling and travelling.

MS MHAIRI LAUGHLIN - Principal & Chief Executive/Board Member

Mhairi joined the board in February 2008 and is a member of the Finance & General Purposes Committee and the Learning & Teaching Committee.  Mhairi has a Masters in Educational Leadership MSc, a BSc Social Science, Post Graduate in Community Education and Post Graduation in Educational Management.  Her career began from working with the Lothian Regional Council as a primary school teacher, then moving to Strathclyde Regional Council as a Youth Worker and then a Community Development Officer.  She joined West Lothian College as a Lecturer of Social Care then promoted to Head of Social Care, and then onto Head of Community Studies.  In 2001 she was promoted to Assistant Principal and finally appointed to Principal & Chief Executive in February 2008.  Mhairi is a Member of Convocation of Heriot Watt University, and served as an associate assessor for HMIe for 8 years.  Her personal interests are walking, reading, working and family.

MR ALEX LINKSTON - Chair of Audit Committee

Alex joined the board in March 2005 and is also the Chair of the Audit Committee.   Alex’s successful career began in 1965 when he joined the then West Lothian County Council as a Trainee Accountant,  then became the youngest student to qualify for membership of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accounting (CIPFA) and was promoted to Accountant then Senior Accountant. He then held positions such as Deputy Director of Finance, Director of Finance, Chief Executive/Director of Finance within West Lothian District Council, prior to being appointed Chief Executive to West Lothian Council, the new unitary Council formed in 1996. His many external interests include a Non Executive Director of the Justice Department, a board member for Edinburgh and Lothian’s Princes Trust and a Non Executive Director for the Institute for System level Integration.   Alex has a BSc Social Science and Hon Fellow from the University of Edinburgh.  Alex is a family man who enjoys travelling, gardening and walking and is a keen animal lover and keeps horses, dogs and cats at his home in the country.

MR ROBERT McKECHNIE - Board member

Robert joined the board in June 2004 and is also a member of the Audit Committee.  Robert started off as an apprentice toolmaker with Ferranti Edinburgh progressing through to Chief Tool Draughtsman for Ferranti, with specific responsibility for all jig and fixture design and manufacturing.  He then went on to be the Deputy Operations Manager for Site Services, and then returned to Manufacturing as a Manufacturing Manager for various single and multi-project functions. Robert is currently a programme manager for Selex Sensors and Airborne Systems. Robert has played a significant role in his local community serving both as a Community Councillor and Chairman of his local Civic week.  His personal interests include golf, and he is an avid Livingston FC fan which he supports as a family group.

MS MORAG McKELVIE – Chair of Finance & General Purposes Committee

Morag McKelvie is originally from Ayrshire and has served on the board since April 2003 and is also a member of the Learning & Teaching Committee. Morag joined NEC Semiconductors (UK) Ltd as a graduate in the Personnel Department, then moved onto a role in training and development and became actively involved in many new training initiatives including the creation of nationally recognised qualifications for the semiconductor industry.  During that time, Morag was promoted to HR Manager. Following the closure of NEC Morag took up the post of HR Manager at JabilCircuit in Livingston, the role involves all aspects of Human Resources directed at meeting the business needs of the company.  Morag has an MA in Arts from Edinburgh University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Personnel Management from Napier University.  Her personal interest includes golf, running and wine tasting.

MS BARBARA REID - Board Member

Barbara was born and brought up in Edinburgh and after a long career in Education, decided to “retire” to pursue other interests. 

Barbara graduated from Edinburgh University with MA in History & Politics and then went into teaching – firstly History & Modern Studies, but quickly moved into the area on Special Educational/Additional Support Needs.  Her continued professional development resulted in a further degree - BA in English Literature and Language from Open University and Diplomas in Special Education, Educational Technology and Special Educational Needs and even a certificate that enabled her to teach students how to ride motor-cycles!!

Barbara started out in Hawick High School and returned to Lothian Region to teach in a Special School for pupils with Social & Emotional Difficulties.  After a few years, established a Special Class for pupils with Moderate Learning Difficulties within a West Lothian Secondary School then moved into Support for Learning eventually becoming a Principal Teacher.   Her most recent post was as a Support Co-ordinator for the City of Edinburgh, appointed to promote and support inclusion. This involved work with schools and the Department of Children & Families to ensure that students with additional support needs were appropriately supported.

Barbara has in the past been a member of a number of national and regional working parties but current external interest is as a panel member with Long Term Fostering and Adoption.

Barbara’s personal interests are two wonderful grandchildren, Genealogy – which can become addictive, History in general, Animal conservation, Bowling, Travel and generally - good food, wine and friends.

MS FIONA STEWART – Board member

Fiona  graduated with BSc Honours Quantity Surveying, Napier University; Chartered Member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (MRICS); Member of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB),  After graduating, Fiona worked as a Quantity Surveyor with various construction companies within the central belt of Scotland working on a variety of construction projects ranging from student residences, office accommodation to sports facilities. Fiona achieved Chartered Surveyor and Building status and then moved away from Quantity Surveying into Project Management, initially working within the Estates Department of the NHS Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. She then moved to the Estates and Buildings Department of the University of Edinburgh where she stayed for eight and a half years. Four years into the role Fiona was promoted to Estate Development Manager, managing the long term estate strategy of the central area of the University’s vast estate and the associated estate development projects ranging from estate disposal strategies, to construction projects including laboratory research and library buildings both refurbishment and new build. In February 2007, Fiona moved to the Facilities Services Department of Edinburgh Napier University as Assistant Director of Facilities Services (Projects Director), leading on their long term estate development plans and major construction projects.

Fiona’s external interests are guest speaker within Edinburgh Napier University’s department of the Built Environment and is a Member of RICS and CIOB.

Fiona’s personal Interests include fitness, travel, reading a good crime thriller, cooking, seeing friends and family.