Wednesday 31st May 2017, 1:00pm
The SRUC has announced the appointment of two new senior directors to key roles within the organisation.
Colin MacEwan is the new Director of Commercialisation and Innovation and Professor Jamie Newbold is the new Academic Director.
Both will be members of SRUC's Senior Leadership Team and support the delivery of the new strategic vision.
Colin MacEwan is currently head of the Norwich based British Beet Research Organisation (BBRO), a position he has held for the past six years. When he joins SRUC later this summer, he will be responsible for leading the development and implementation of a growth-focused commercialisation strategy.
Jamie Newbold is currently Professor of Animal Science at Aberystwyth University's Institute of Biological and Rural Sciences in Wales, a position he has held since 2003.
Key priorities within Colin's remit include championing an entrepreneurial culture across SRUC; maximising the development of new products, intellectual property and services to attract new customers, partners and investors; and driving effective business diversification and income generation.
There can be no doubt that the future of Scottish agriculture will depend upon its capacity to innovate. I feel privileged to be in the position to help SRUC play a central role in supporting that innovation process and in so doing maintain and enhance Scotland's global reputation as an agricultural nation. SRUC has incredible resources in terms of its people, intellectual property and teaching expertise. I am excited about looking for opportunities for sustainable partnerships that add value to our industry and the SRUC."
"In my career in the agricultural research and advisory sector I've come to realise that success depends on productive partnerships. My role at SRUC will be to actively seek out opportunities for sustainable partnerships that add value to our industry and the SRUC."
When Jamie joins SRUC on 1 September 2017, he will have responsibility for the institution's research and education portfolio. He will focus strongly on integrating research and teaching; growing research income; reinvigorating the education portfolio; and ensuring a close alignment between research and commercialisation.
Priorities for Jamie will include overseeing a UK leading Research Excellence Framework (REF) return by SRUCF in 2022. The REF evaluates the volume and impact of research at the UK's Higher Education Institutions and influences research income. A high performance in the REF will support SRUC's ambition to join the top six ranked schools of agriculture in the world.
Jamie is also tasked with ensuring SRUC delivers 'best in class' Further and Higher Education programmes that maximise student potential.
I am delighted to be joining SRUC at this time. I am convinced of the advantages of linking teaching, research and knowledge exchange within the academic portfolio and I believe that research carried out at SRUC should be a major driver of economic progression within Scotland and beyond."
"A crucial element of explanding SRUC's reach and impact is the need for us to be far more commercial and entrepreneurial, allowing us to maximise opportunities for sustainable growth. We have therefore introduced the new executive leadership role of Director of Commercialisation and Innovation to lead in this important area."
"We are really delighted to have attracted someone of Colin's calibre and experience to the position. We are confident that he will continue to build on his long track record of success and innovation within senior, commercially-focused agricultural roles."
" I am also extremely pleased to be able to confirm a second appointment of cruicial strategic importance to SRUC. As SRUC's new Academic Director, Jamie will bring world class knowledge and experience of the academic environment which will be essential to successfully uniting our research and education activities and ensuring that they are fully integrated with our commercial activities."
Source: SRUC
Roslin Innovation Centre
The University of Edinburgh
Easter Bush Campus
Midlothian EH25 9RG
