Inverness College UHI welcomes new Principal

Professor O’Neil, who took up the role of principal and chief executive officer on 1^st September, believes the institution can help shape the way the region defines its identify by responding to its needs – both economically and culturally.

In particular, he wants to forge closer links with local government and industry to contribute to an increasingly vibrant economy, with the College at the heart as the main training, education and research provider.

He also wants to see Inverness College UHI play a key role in the development of the ‘internet of things’, land, forestry and freshwater management, sport and culture.

Professor O’Neil, who joins Inverness College UHI after three years as Head of Gray’s School of Art at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, replaces Diane Rawlinson, who has moved to the new role of vice-principal (further education) within the University of the Highlands and Islands.

He was appointed by the Inverness College UHI board of management to lead the institution in the next stage of its transformation, which, in recent years, has seen the College move to a state-of-the-art building, develop its vocational training, increase its higher education provision and expand its already successful research capacity. This has included the establishment of the Rivers and Lochs Institute’s state-of-the art molecular genomics laboratory, which has enabled cutting edge research into freshwater biodiversity, particularly wild fisheries. Centres of research at the College also include the Scottish School of Forestry and the Centre for Remote and Rural Studies, which aims to address issues related to the wellbeing of remote and rural regions.

Professor O’Neil has worked in academic and executive leadership roles and brings with him a wealth of experience in developing tertiary education models, delivering commercial activity and developing high-quality research clusters, making him the ideal candidate to move Inverness College UHI forward in its development. He’s also advised the UK Government on the creation of industrial, governmental and academic partnerships and in 2012 contribute to Lord Michael Heseltine’s economic plan to improve the UK’s ability to create wealth via regional partnerships between local government, industry and education provision.

Professor O’Neil, who was brought up in Wales, said: “It is an honour and a privilege to be leading Inverness College UHI through the next stage of its exciting journey. I see so much potential when I look at the institution and opportunities to bring added value to what we do here as well as the role we can play in the development of Inverness and the Highlands. It is an amazing place to live, work and study, with such culturally confident people. I believe the College has an important part to play in how the region defines itself and promotes itself internationally. We are in the unique position as a College and University, offering both further education and higher education, that we provide the best of both.  We can offer progression routes which allow a young person to come to Inverness College UHI to do their Highers but leave with a PhD. Our students can embark on the most curious of journeys and that’s something quite special.”

He continued: “I also believe there’s a real technological opportunity here in the Highlands because of the sheer size of the region but also its thriving life sciences sector, particularly here at Inverness Campus. We not only have to be at the forefront of research, and that’s something I want to see developed, we also have to be at the centre of discussions around technology and how we, as an education and training provider, help meet the needs and challenges of the region, support our staff and students to become innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs, and enable the region’s economy to grow. People talk about global challenges, but it always begins with local. We can be a global leader in finding solutions and matching them to the ambitions of regions within countries like Scandinavia, America, India and China.”

He is also keen to work with Highland Council to bring sports facilities to Inverness Campus, not only to add to the experience of students attending Inverness College UHI but to cement the College’s role at the heart of the community.

Neil Stewart, chairman of the Inverness College UHI board of management, said: “It is with great excitement that we welcome Professor Chris O’Neil to Inverness College UHI. He has an impressive track record in tertiary education across the UK and beyond, and has been influential in developing many positive and meaningful partnerships with industry, government and civic society throughout his career. He brings with him a vision and energy which will position Inverness College UHI at the heart of the Highlands, as the key education and training provider which meets the needs of the region and the aspirations of its people. He has the ability to empower staff and students, whether they be in further or higher education, to dream big and become inspired, fulfilled and influential people. I and the board wish him every success as he takes Inverness College UHI forward.”

Professor O’Neil studied Fine Art at Wimbledon School of Art and Fine Art and Philosophy at the Royal College of Art, before moving into teaching. His first role was in further education, teaching maths and English to prisoners. He went on to teach at the University of East London and the University for the Creative Arts before moving to Savannah College of Art and Design as Professor of Design and Media. He moved back to Wales to become Head of Cardiff School of Art and Design and Dean of the University of Wales. He also served as an executive member on the Art Council of Wales and oversaw Wales’ position at the Venice Biennale. Later, he was appointed Pro Vice Chancellor at Thames Valley University, which, at the time, was one of the largest institutions in the UK and the first to evolve out of the merger of a higher education and further education institution. He went on to become Professor of Design and Innovation at Birmingham City University, where he ran the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design, built up invaluable partnerships with global brands and worked with businesses to support the region’s manufacturing economy. Three years ago he moved to Gray’s School of Art, where he helped elevate the School up the UK universities art and design league tables.

In his spare time, the father-of-three is a keen supporter of the RNLI and sits on its international development board.