The Chair of University Court is one of the most important positions at the University that students can vote on. The University Court is the governing body of the University and is responsible for the students and staff, financial decisions, and the daily goings-on at the University.
The Chair of University Court is the leader of that body, and ensures the court members work together effectively. The Chair is also responsible for keeping the court connected with its stakeholders, including students and staff.
Voting has opened for the new Chair as Harry Adam’s four-year term comes to an end. There are two candidates in the running for the position:
Hamish Grossart
Stirling Alumni Hamish Grossart is a Scottish businessman with a wide range of past executive positions. He’s headed companies in investment banking, fossil fuels, and IP video surveillance.
He has been a member of the University Court since 2017, chairing the Joint Policy, Planning and Resources Committee. He also sits on the Governance and Nominations Committee.
His aims for his term as Chair are: “greater focus on Stirling’s student experience”; “more support for students experiencing hardship”; and “priority given to health, well-being and sport”.
The University Court Register of Interests notes that he was a member of the Fife Hunt Club, which disbanded in 2023. He is also a member of the British Association for Shooting and Conservation.
He was also embroiled in controversy over his divorce in 2008 which resulted in a £2.3 million settlement to Elaine Grossart.
An archived Scotsman article reports that Mrs Grossart allegedly hired a private investigator to bug her husband’s phone, believing that he was hiding money from her. She alleged that he subjected her to “physical and sexual assault”.
Susan Gordon Hardy
Susan Gordon Hardy is an experienced corporate lawyer with a bachelor’s and master’s in law. She was admitted to practise law in Scotland, England and Wales, Hong Kong and New York. She has sat on the University Court since 2019.
Susan is a member of both the Employment & Discrimination Tribunal and the Freedom of Information Appeals Panel in Guernsey. The Register of Interest outlines that she is a volunteer at the Citizens Advice Bureau, a group offering free legal and financial advice in the UK.
As Chair, she aims to head a strategic plan which “puts People at its heart” and wants to “increase the visibility of what Court is doing and give Court members more meaningful opportunities to hear from students and staff.”
Voting
The election for Chair closes on Friday, February 7 at 12 pm, and all students and staff at the university are eligible to vote. Voting opened yesterday (Monday, February 3). Eligible voters can place their vote through an email sent by takepart@cesvotes.com.
More information on voting and the candidates can be found here.
Featured Image Credit: Brig Newspaper
