Executive Group
Convener: Professor James Miller FRSE
Professor James Miller FRSE 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: Martin Boyle
Martin Boyle was elected by his peers to serve as Vice Convener from August 2026.
The Vice Convener is elected every two years by fellow Principals.
Martin became Principal of the Open University in Scotland in April 2025 following a brief stint as Depute Director (Strategy, Planning and Resources). Prior to arriving at the OU in 2024, he was Executive Director of the Glasgow Colleges’ Regional Board, serving as accountable officer for the strategic planning, funding, and monitoring of the Glasgow college system.
Key Facts
- Director of: Open University in Scotland.
- Route into university: Martin was the first in his family to attend university, completing the MA(Hons) English Literature and Language degree and joint Strathclyde University/Glasgow Caledonian University postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
- Academic specialism: Journalism, Media and Education.
- Career profile: Martin previously worked at the Scottish Qualifications Authority and a senior lecturer in journalism and media, before becoming Executive Director of the Glasgow Colleges’ Regional Board and then Depute Director of Strategy, Planning and Resources at the Open University in Scotland.
Vice Convener: Professor Sue Rigby CBE
Professor Sue Rigby CBE was elected by her peers to serve as Vice Convener from 2026.
Sue is the Principal and Vice Chancellor of Edinburgh Napier University, having taken on the role in January 2025. Prior to joining Edinburgh Napier, she served as Vice Chancellor of Bath Spa University for seven years, where she led significant growth, doubling turnover and improving both the Research Excellence Framework (REF) return and National Student Survey (NSS) results. Her leadership also focused on ensuring financial sustainability and diversifying income streams.
Key Facts
- Principal of: Edinburgh Napier University.
- Route into university: Sue grew up in the North Pennines and went to school in the highest market town in England. She graduated with a BSc from the University of Oxford in 1986, followed by a PhD from the University of Cambridge in 1990, specialising in palaeontology.
- Academic specialism: Palaeontology, learning and teaching, cultural funding and strategy.
- Career profile: Sue began her academic career as a palaeontologist, holding teaching and research positions at the Universities of Cambridge, Leicester and Edinburgh, where she progressed into senior management roles including Vice Principal for Learning and Teaching. She later became Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Lincoln.
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.
