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The Governing Council works with the School's management team to develop the high quality all-round education associated with George Watson's College. The Governing Council is assisted by three committees. The Education Committee considers the School's educational standards, results and future strategy and provides the School's Governing Council and management team with good quality debate on each of these issues. The Property Committee considers the demands on the School's 50 acre campus, including repairs and maintenance and the improvement of facilities to meet the requirements of parents, pupils, staff and regulatory agencies. The Finance Committee oversees the School's annual budget, financial planning and strategy to ensure that there are funds available to meet the needs of the School. The Governors are actively involved in the life of the School, attending performances, shadowing staff and pupils, and taking part in some of the many extra-curricular and outdoor activities that take place throughout the school year.
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Mr Alan Hartley, Chairman of Governors
Alan Hartley has been Chairman of Governors since 2009 and is also a Trustee of the George Watson's Family Foundation. Alan served as a Governor of the School from 1999 to 2003, but resigned when he was approached to become Master of the Merchant Company. He is a chartered accountant and was a tax partner with KPMG for many years. He now holds a number of non-executive directorships and trustee positions and is delighted to return as Chairman of Governors once more. Alan was a Foundationer at Watson's and realises the importance of the Family Foundation. His financial background also means he will focus on maintaining the financial strength of the School and best practice governance.
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Mr Graham Reid
Graham Reid, a current Watson's parent, was co-opted by the Governing Council of George Watson's College. He Chairs the Finance Committee and a Trustee of the George Watson's Family Foundation. He seeks to help ensure that the finances of George Watson's College are tightly controlled; that fees and other income are expended to maximise the educational benefit for its pupils; and that sufficient financial resources are also applied to the enhancement of the campus. Graham is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and is Group Finance Director of CALA Group Limited. |
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Miss Elizabeth Smith
Liz considers it an enormous privilege to serve as a Governor at Watson's. She hopes to combine her experiences as a former pupil and former member of staff of the School with her current educational responsibilities as an MSP in order to support Watson's in delivering its proud tradition of excellence both inside and outside the classroom. Liz is Chairman of the Education Committee. |
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Mr Don Young
Don Young is a current parent at GWC and was co-opted to the Governing Council by the Merchant Company Education Board. He is a Trustee of the Merchant Company's Widow's Fund and a member of its Property Committee. Don Chairs the School Property Committee, and seeks to ensure the strategic aims of GWC are supported and challenged on both sound economic and property terms. Don is a Senior Director of BNP Paribas Real Estate, Europe's leading firm of commercial real estate advisors, where he serves on a number of their national executive committees. |
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Mr Alisdair Dewar
Alisdair Dewar was co-opted to the Governing Council by The Merchant Company
Education Board. He is a member of the Finance Committee and has 15
years of experience within the UK Banking sector. Currently he is an
Associate Director of Adam & Company plc.
Alisdair is keen to bring his considerable knowledge of finance to all relevant areas of the School's future projects, ensuring its continued
success now and into the future. |
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Mrs Jacqueline Easson
Jacqueline Easson was co-opted by the Merchant Company Education Board, and is a member of the Property Committee. Following a career in medical research, she founded Macploy Recruitment Consultancy in 1972 and still maintains controlling interest. She was appointed as a member of Lothian Region Children's Panel Advisory Committee in 1995 and has served as Chair of the committees of Edinburgh areas North, West and South. She is also much involved in the Edinburgh Rotary Club. Jacqueline is keen to bring to the School a lifelong interest in career development together with experience and understanding of relationships between academic qualifications and employer expectations. |
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Mrs Jane Hay
Jane Hay was co-opted by the Governing Council of George Watson's College. As a member of the Education Committee, Chairman of the Primary Liaison Group and as a parent, Jane is interested in the quality of education and in the range of wider opportunities available to pupils from P1 to S6. Her focus is on ensuring the best possible educational experience for her own children and therefore for all Watson's pupils. Jane is a senior solicitor with the Scottish Executive, and was recently Chief Executive of the Scottish Law Commission. |
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Mr Matthew MacIver
Matthew MacIver, recently retired as Chief Executive of the General
Teaching Council Matthew has had extensive experience of Scottish
Education including two Headships - Fortrose Academy in Highland Region
and The Royal High School in Edinburgh. He is the Chair Designate of the
University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute. He hopes
he can use his knowledge to the benefit of George Watson's College, a
school with which he has strong ties. |
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Mr Roddy MacLennan
Roddy MacLennan was co-opted to the Governing Council by the Merchant Company Education Board.
Roddy is a Watsonian and a partner of Scottish law firm Tods Murray.
He specialises in structured and property finance and is frequently
involved in the formation, monitoring and review of policy and strategy.
Roddy appreciates the benefits that an all round excellent education can
provide and he hopes that his legal and commercial knowledge and
experience will assist GWC to fulfil its objectives and aspirations. |
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Mr Grant Macrae
Grant Macrae was co-opted by the Governing Council of George Watson's
College. He has been an Assistant on the Master's Court of the Merchant
Company and a member of its Education Board during which time he was
a Governor and member of the Finance Committee of the Erskine Stewart's
Melville Governing Council.
A Chartered Accountant, he has experience of being a trustee of several
charities and is Chairman of the Sick Kids Friends Foundation. He would like to use his experience to help ensure the school's short, medium and long term goals are achieved. |
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Cllr Mark McInnes
A graduate of Politics and Modern History from Edinburgh University and formerly political agent to the Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind MP, Cllr Mark McInnes was appointed to the Council as a member of both the Merchant Company Education Board and the Edinburgh City Council. Mark is very active within the School's local community and is keen to promote Watson's reputation within that community, and to bridge between the school and Edinburgh City Council to ensure that Watson's specific needs are represented. |
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Mr David Stewart
David Stewart is a member of the Governing Council nominated by the Church of Scotland Presbytery of Edinburgh and appointed by The Merchant Company Education Board. David is keen that all pupils should get the best out of their school years to prepare them to contribute fully to society. As a former civil servant, he would like to use his experience of governance and education policy to support and challenge the School's strategy and policy. David is a former pupil and a parent of present and former pupils. He is Chairman of the Senior Liaison Group. |
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