Executive Group
Convener: Professor James Miller
Professor James Miller was elected by his peers to serve as Convener from August 2025.
The Convener is elected every two years by fellow Principals. Together the roles of Convener and Vice Convener help to achieve broad representation across a diverse sector.
Professor Miller has been Principal and Vice Chancellor the University of the West of Scotland since November 2022 and has a substantial track record in higher education leadership having most recently been Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Glasgow Caledonian University (August 2015 to November 2022) and Director of the Open University in Scotland before that.
Since 2022, James has convened the Universities Scotland International Committee, during such time he worked on the development of the Scottish Government’s International Education Strategy and helped steer the sector through the UK Government’s commission of the MAC review and Immigration White Paper. James previously convened Universities Scotland’s Learning and Teaching Committee.
Key Facts
- Principal of: University of the West of Scotland
- Route into university: James has never been a full-time student having completed his registration qualification and the three degrees he holds while in full time employment.
- Academic specialism: James’s academic specialism centres on leadership in higher education, informed by his clinical background and senior roles across universities and healthcare institutions. He has contributed to the academic development of nursing, healthcare leadership and quality management, and leadership studies through teaching, publication, and strategic leadership in a range of higher education settings.
- Career profile: James is a distinguished academic leader and starting his career as a nurse, specialising clinical and healthcare leadership, with a specific interest in quality systems with a career spanning senior roles in higher education, healthcare.
Vice Convener: Sir Paul Grice
Sir Paul Grice was elected by his peers to serve as Vice Convener from August 2022.
The Vice Convener is elected every two years by fellow Principals. Paul is currently in his second term in the role.
Since his appointment at Queen Margaret University, Paul quickly has served as the Convener of our Learning and Teaching Committee from 2020, where he worked closely on issues such as widening access, quality enhancement and skills. Paul is also a member of Universities Scotland’s Governance Group and briefly served as Interim Convener from December 2024 to July 2025.
Sir Paul is passionate about the transformative impact that higher education can have on individuals as an engine for social justice. He sees opportunities across the sector, and wants to build a better understanding within government, its agencies and other stakeholders of the contribution universities make as a result of both their domestic and international work.
Sir Paul is passionate about the transformative impact that higher education can have on individuals as an engine for social justice. He sees opportunities across the sector, and wants to build a better understanding within government, its agencies and other stakeholders of the contribution universities make as a result of both their domestic and international work.
Key Facts
- Principal of: Queen Margaret University.
- Route into university: Paul grew up in York. He has a deep-felt personal commitment to widening participation in higher education having come to university through further education college.
- Academic specialism: Paul has had a number of roles in higher education governance across different institutions. These roles have included a member of the Economic and Social Research Council, board member of Policy Scotland and fellowships of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Centre for Science and Policy.
- Career profile: Paul held the position of Clerk and Chief Executive of the Scottish Parliament from its inception in 1999 until he joined QMU, leading the delivery of all services to the Parliament alongside acting as its principal adviser on procedural and constitutional matters.
Read more about Paul’s career here.
Director: Claire McPherson
Claire McPherson became Director of Universities Scotland in March 2024, joining from the Scottish Government.
Claire has worked in various roles in over a decade of service in the Scottish Government, including: Constitutional Policy and Engagement in the lead up to the 2014 Independence Referendum; Cross Government Strategy and Programme for Government delivery; Deputy Head of First Minister Policy and Delivery Unit; Public Sector Reform; Community Empowerment; Third Sector strategic lead; Population and Migration Strategy.
Prior to the Scottish Government, Claire served as the Deputy Director of Policy at the Scottish Funding Council. She also has ten years in a variety of roles at the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales.
