Board of Management

Born in Dundee, Ken Milroy was educated at Carnoustie High School in Angus. He worked for a year with a surveyors firm in Dundee before taking a place at Moray House College in Edinburgh gaining a Diploma in Youth and Community Work in 1981. He went on to work with the Church of Scotland as a Youth and Community Worker in Hamilton in the early '80s before moving to Grampian Regional Council in 1984 to the post of Community Education Worker. In 1990 he was appointed Assistant Head of the Councils Social Strategy Unit.

In April 1996 Ken left local government to be appointed to his present post as Chief Executive of Aberdeen Foyer, a successful, local charitable company and social enterprise working to prevent and alleviate youth homelessness and unemployment.

Ken is actively involved in a range of groups and organisations at local, national and UK levels. In 2004 he was the Scottish winner in the Ernst and Young, Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Social Entrepreneur category and was made an MBE in the 2006 New Year's Honours for services to disadvantaged people in Scotland.

Dr Ian Heywood started his career making rubber chippings from old tyres in 1980! He then moved on to gain a BSc in Geography followed by a PhD. After a short spell with the Police researching the effectiveness of crime prevention initiatives he became a University Lecturer.

Between 1985–98 he worked at a number of UK and European Universities. During this time he was active in developing UNIGIS a global consortium of universities delivering Geographic Information Systems courses to a wide range of business professionals. Over this period he became more involved in the areas of skills development, distance learning as well as e–Learning.

In 1998 he moved away from Geography and accepted a post at The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen as Director of the Centre for Open and Distance Learning, where he was involved in the design development and delivery of the Virtual Campus.

In 2001 he moved from the University to take up a Directorship with the Aberdeen�based research consultancy BusinessLab. There he led on a number of organisational learning projects for a range of public and private sector organisations before joining Scottish Enterprise Grampian in August 2003 as Director of Skills and Learning.

Dr Heywood is now an independent consultant providing strategic advice and guidance on various aspects of learning and development.

Rob Wallen was born in London and educated at William Ellis Grammar School in Highgate. He achieved a first class BA degree in English and Related Literature from York University, and an MA in Second Language Learning & Teaching from London University, as well as various professional and vocational qualifications.

Before joining Aberdeen College in 1991, Rob had worked in secondary, further and higher education in Egypt, China and England.

Since 1991 held posts as Head of Quality Assurance, Associate Principal (Curriculum and Student Services) and Director of Learning & Teaching, before being appointed to the post of Principal & Chief Executive in 2009.

He was for some years a member of the Board of the Scottish Further Education Unit and of Aberdeen Foyer, and chaired the Beattie Resources for Inclusiveness in Technology and Education committee and the North Forum for Widening Participation. He has been since 2000 a member for the Scottish Qualifications Authority Qualifications Committee.

Lani Baird was born in Cookstown Northern Ireland. At the age of four she moved to the west coast of Scotland to a small village called Ardrishaig for a few years before settling near Brechin in Angus. Lani went to school at Andover Primary in Brechin but before her second year at Brechin High School, found herself moving to Mearns Academy in Laurencekirk where she finished her schooling at the end of her sixth year.

Lani then decided to come to Aberdeen College to do a HND in Fitness, Health and Exercise. After taking a year out, she returned to the College to do Social Sciences which reignited her interests in politics. Soon after, she became involved in the Students' Association where she was the Environmental Officer and a strong activist. After this, she became Vice President Student Support and has since been elected to Student President, where she took up post in August 2011.

On top of this, Lani is a massive fan of sports, playing volleyball and supporting Rangers FC as well as Ireland in the Six Nations. She also enjoys reading, music and socialising with her friends.

David Cobban was born and raised on Royal Deeside until the age of 12, after which he completed his secondary school education at Peterhead Academy. He then graduated with a BSc. Degree in Quantity Surveying (Commendation) from Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology.

He joined McCue & Porter, Chartered Quantity Surveyors, in 1988, becoming an Associate in 1997 and has been a Partner since 2005. David is also a Chartered Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and has held office in the local RICS Area Committees. His professional experience covers the Commercial, Industrial and Residential sectors of the Construction Industry across the North East of Scotland.

David is a member of the Seven Incorporated Trades of Aberdeen (Hammermen Incorporation) as well as being a member of the historic Timber XII organisation and a Burgess of the City of Aberdeen. Former roles have included being a Chapter Director of Business Network International, Past President of Aberdeen Speakers Club and Past President of Aberdeen St. Machar Rotary Club, where he was given the honour of Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International.

His interests centre around his family life, as well as golf, DIY, public speaking and a love of the Scottish countryside, which is centred around the 160 year old family weekend cottage on the outskirts of Ballater.

Brian has resided in Aberdeen for most of his life and was educated at Hilton Academy. His association with Aberdeen College began in 1980 when he attended the then Technical College as an apprentice plumber. Brian then turned his hand to a variety of jobs including road worker, groundsman, janitor and gravedigger. Brian then returned to The Aberdeen College of Further Education in 1991 to complete the NC in Social Sciences before progressing to the HNC in Social Sciences the following year.

After gaining entry to the second year at the University of Aberdeen he completed an Honours Degree in Sociology and immediately began teaching for both Aberdeen College and the Department of Sociology at the University. At the College he served a good pedagogical apprenticeship teaching sociology, psychology, history and communication in a variety of learning contexts such as full time College courses, community outreach, various schools, Cornhill Hospital and Craiginches Prison.

Following a period as Acting Curriculum Manager he formally took up the post of Curriculum Manager for Social Sciences in 2002. As Curriculum Manager he has been proactive in raising the profile of Aberdeen College and the social sciences nationally through SQA Subject Advisory Groups, Qualification Design Teams and through partnerships with the universities. Following restructuring at the College in 2008, Brian has taken up the promoted position of Team Manager: Social Sciences, Highers and Core Skills.

Brian is a keen music and football enthusiast and lives with his partner on the outskirts of Monymusk.

Doug was born, educated and has always resided in the City of Aberdeen. He is married with two grown up sons. After leaving school he undertook a pre-apprenticeship course at the then Aberdeen Technical College. He eventually became a cinema projectionist and then in 1967 joined Aberdeen City Police (later to become Grampian Police). Doug served in the force for 30 years, retiring in 1997. Most of his service was served in the Criminal Investigation Department where he reached the rank of Detective Inspector. During that time Doug worked on serious crimes in Aberdeen and spent one year working on the Piper Alpha Disaster both in body recovery and in the mortuary, eventually giving evidence to the Cullen Enquiry.

Towards the end of his police career Doug was seconded to the Scottish Executive to undertake a social project involving community safety. On conclusion of the project it became apparent there was a need for a charity in Aberdeen that would have community safety as its core function. Members of the local government, private and statutory sector joined forces and a charity known as the Aberdeen Safer Community Trust was created. Doug eventually became its Chief Executive.

He retired from the Trust in late 2009 but remains a Director and Treasurer. Doug is also a member of the Board of Aberdeen College, a Director of its allied training Company ASET, Chair of the area Committee of Aberdeen Victim Support, Vice Chair of Aberdeen Disability Consortium, a Director of an educational theatre company known as Live Wire and more recently has become Chair of the third sector champion, Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations.

Raised in Dundee, Ian was educated at Dundee High School. On leaving school he entered the banking industry serving his apprenticeship and undertaking his early training while working throughout Tayside and Fife. Following study at Dundee College he gained his professional qualifications, MCIBS, in 1976.

In 1981 he relocated to Aberdeen and for the next twenty five years undertook a number of roles within retail, commercial and corporate banking, throughout the North East of Scotland. Thereafter Ian has moved on to enjoy a variety of roles within the public sector, the distribution industry, business consultancy and as a lecturer to senior school pupils on financial matters. Additionally in 2006 he became a director of the wholly owned subsidiary company of Aberdeen College, Aberdeen Skills and Enterprise Training Ltd, which delivers training to predominantly personnel from the worldwide oil and gas industry.

Ian is married with three grown up children and two grandchildren. His non business, voluntary and community interests are wide ranging from embracing motorcycling through to refereeing junior rugby, and much in between.

John was born and brought up in Wick in the North of Scotland before moving to Aberdeen where he studied for both an honours degree and a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Aberdeen. He entered higher education as a lecturer in chemistry at the former Robert Gordon Institute of Technology and subsequently progressed to senior lectureship and then Head of School of Applied Sciences. In this role, John was involved in a range of national activities, including teaching quality assessment, external examining and course development and approval. This contributed to his attaining the award of Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

John was promoted to the role of Assistant Principal/Dean of Faculty of Health and Social Care before progressing to his current role of Senior Vice–Principal and Deputy Vice–Chancellor of The Robert Gordon University (RGU).

John is a member of a number of national committees associated with institutional quality assurance, quality enhancement and widening participation. He is a QAA Institutional Reviewer and is also a member of the Health Professions Council.

Born in Aberdeen and brought up in Stonehaven, Kelly was educated at Mackie Academy. In 1991 she graduated with a BA in Librarianship & Information Studies from Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology.

Kelly began her career at Aberdeen College in 1991, as a Librarian at the Gordon Centre. In 2001, she became Operations Manager for IT Centres and Libraries, and most recently assumed responsibility for the Assessment Centres. Kelly is also involved in undertaking internal quality audits across all College areas.

Throughout this period Kelly has been a committee member for a number of professional organisations. These include; the North East Branch of the Scottish Library & Information Council, Grampian Information and CoLRiC (Council for Learning Resources in Colleges).

Outside of work, Kelly is a keen traveller and gym enthusiast. She also enjoys reading, nature and wildlife.

Born and brought up in Lanarkshire, Maureen Melvin studied at Glasgow University where she gained a BSc (Hons) degree majoring in Biochemistry, then a PhD in Biochemistry. She worked for three years in research laboratories in the USA, at the University of Oregon Medical School and at Harvard Medical School, before coming to Aberdeen as a Research Fellow in the Department of Biochemistry at Aberdeen University.

She was appointed as a Lecturer at The Robert Gordon University in 1981, and subsequently was Head of the School of Life Sciences there for almost nine years. During this time she was involved in the design and development of integrated BSc degree programmes with Aberdeen College. Maureen retired in 2008, and was awarded the title of Emeritus Professor of Life Sciences by the University. Throughout her career she was committed to the development of the skills of students and staff to prepare them for their career aspirations, and she is looking forward to continuing with this as a member of the Board of Management of Aberdeen College.

She has a wide range of interests, including sports, languages, and travel, which she has more time to enjoy now that she has retired.

In 2007, Deirdre was appointed Contracting & Procurement Manager for Shell's European upstream business, moving from the role of Communications Manager for Shell's Exploration & Production business in the UK, that she had held since 2003.

Having gained an Honours degree in Scots law, Deirdre began her career with Shell as a marketing graduate trainee, in its downstream operations. Following several commercial assignments in different parts of the downstream business, including distribution, sales and strategy, Deirdre moved to Shell's upstream business as a Commercial Negotiator, focused on joint venture activity and acquisition and divestments. In 2000, Deirdre was appointed as External Affairs advisor to the MD of Shell Exploration & Production UK.

Deirdre is on the Board of the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce and a Burgess of Aberdeen City.

Married with 2 children, Deirdre spends much of her time standing on the sidelines of rugby pitches. However she also enjoys reading, cycling, is a reluctant skier but has aspirations to be a regular runner!

Peter Murray began his relationship with Aberdeen College in 1978 when he attended the Charlotte Street annex as part of his training as a Heating Engineer. In 1986 in a significant change of career he joined the then Grampian Fire Brigade and began his career as a firefighter.

He has served in many different areas in the fire service including fire safety, training and operations. In 2007 he was appointed as the Assistant Chief Fire Officer where he is responsible for amongst other things continuous improvement, performance management, strategic planning, health, safety and environment, industrial relations and Joint Fire Board governance issues.

Academic success came after leaving school with his most notable achievements being a HNC in Fire Engineering, a BSc in Fire Service studies and an MA in Political Studies from Aberdeen University. He renewed his acquaintance with Aberdeen College in 2007 when he was seconded to the College as part of his participation in the Leaders UK Scheme.

He is an avid supporter of Aberdeen football club and enjoys current affairs and any book which improves his knowledge.

He is married to Fiona with three children a daughter Claire and two sons Christopher and Kyle and one grandson Arran.

An Aberdonian, Adrian attended Cults Primary and Academy. He was recruited into the House of Fraser Management Trainee scheme prior to joining Aberdeen Motors as a Sales Executive.

For close on 30 years, he headed up Adrian Smith Motors, which held the Swedish Saab car franchise for the Grampian Region until the demise of the brand in late 2011. In 1982, Adrian was part of the team which set up Scotia Instrumentation Ltd, now situated in Aberdeen's Science Park, having grown to be the largest independently owned instrumentation specialist organisation in the UK.

Adrian is a director of Aberdeen Skills & Enterprise Training Ltd [ASET], which is a subsidiary company of Aberdeen College. He is Honorary Treasurer and Vice Chair of the Institute of the Motor Industry [IMI], which is the industry Sector Skills Council. He is also Chairman of Grampian Motor Training Trust [GMTT] as well as a Director and Past President of the Scottish Motor Trade Association [SMTA].

Karen Stewart was born in Aberdeen, where she attended Harlaw Academy and Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology. After graduating with a BA in Business Studies and a Diploma in Marketing, she pursued a career in Accountancy. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant with one of the "Big Four" international accountancy firms.

She currently works for one of the largest independent accountancy practices in the UK where her role as Human Resources Director includes recruiting, training and developing staff at all stages of their careers. Her previous role with the firm as an Audit Senior Manager provided a good understanding of various industry sectors including oil and gas, leisure and hospitality, construction and education.

As a working mum with two young daughters, Karen enjoys spending time with her family.