Cara Aitchison
Board Member @VisitScotland
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WORK HISTORY
Board Member @VisitScotland
Edinburgh, GB
EDUCATION
Middlesex University
Master of Arts - MA, Gender and Society
Scottish Centre for Physical Education, Movement and Leisure Studies (now University of Edinburgh)
Postgraduate Diploma in Recreation and Leisure Practice
Ladeside Primary School, Larbert
Thank you teachers: Mrs Gilbert, Prentice, Coates, Hill and Miss Walker
Allan's Primary School, Stirling
Listed because primary education is just as important if not more so than university
University of Bristol
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Social Science
University of Greenwich
Certificate in Education
The University of Edinburgh
MA (Hons), Geography
ABOUT CARA AITCHISON
I have extensive executive and non-executive leadership experience in international, UK and devolved nation higher education policy, funding, regulation and governance, including transformational change. After a 36-year career in higher education, including over a decade leading two universities in England and Wales, I now use my experience to leverage education’s value and impact in driving sustainable economies, inclusive societies, and thriving cultures. I am Scottish Government\'s appointed Chair of the Scottish Funding Council, the Non-Departmental Public Body responsible for over £2 billion of funding and regulation of Scotland’s tertiary education and its 43 colleges and universities. I hold current Public Appointments on the Boards of Visit Scotland and The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.I was President and Vice-Chancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University (2016-24), leading the University through the Covid pandemic to deliver transformation, growth and improvement recognised by the award of \'Times Higher Education UK & Ireland University of the Year 2021\'. I was previously Vice-Chancellor and CEO of Plymouth Marjon University (2013-16) and held Professorships at the Universities of Edinburgh, Bedfordshire and UWE Bristol.I have served on the Boards/Councils of: the Higher Education Statistics Agency; Academy of Social Sciences; CBI Wales; Cardiff Capital Region (Economic Growth Board); Plymouth Culture; and Scottish Government Commission on Rural Education. I was Chair of: the UK Research Excellence Framework (REF2014) Sub-Panel in Sport & Exercise Sciences, Leisure & Tourism; the Leisure Studies Association; and World Leisure\'s Commission on Women & Gender. My academic background is in human geography and my funded research and publications focus on sustainable economic development, the cultural economy, and social inclusion. I have led research and consultancy funded by Research Councils, national agencies, local authorities, disability charities and wind energy companies including Renewable Energy Systems Group, the world\'s largest independent renewables company.I hold an MA (Hons) degree in Geography (Edinburgh University), a PhD in Social Science (Bristol University), two further postgraduate degrees and a teaching qualification. I’m a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2025), Learned Society of Wales (2018), Royal Geographical Society (2016), Academy of Social Sciences (2003) and Higher Education Academy (2001) and Honorary Professor at Edinburgh University and Professor Emerita at Cardiff Metropolitan University.
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