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Board of Directors

The HSD Board

Overall responsibility for the administration of the School lies with the Board of Directors, with Board members being elected by bodies within the School and business communities.

David Thomson

Chair of the Board

David Thomson

I was appointed to the Board in August 2020, taking on the role of Chair in March 2024. I am a Director of DC Thomson & Co Ltd., an international media and investment business which has had its roots in Dundee for over 100 years. My three children are all currently being educated at the High School and I am also a former pupil. I am a qualified CA, having trained with PricewaterhouseCoopers in Edinburgh. I spent 3 1/2 years in the Audit Department before moving to the Public Private partnership team and joined DC Thomson in 2003. I previously sat on the V&A Dundee Board where I chaired the Finance & Risk Committee. I currently am a trustee on the V&A Dundee Foundation. I am a non-executive on British Ice Skating and also sit on the Advisory Board for Eden Scotland.

Dr Bill Maxwell

Co-opted Director

Dr Bill Maxwell

I joined the Board in 2019 as a proud FP of the school. After studying Psychology at Oxford and gaining postgraduate degrees at the Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow, I worked as an educational psychologist before joining HM Inspectorate of Education. After a series of roles in HMIE and the Scottish Government's Education Directorate between 2002 and 2008, I became HM Chief Inspector of Education and Training for Wales. Returning to Scotland to head up the Scottish inspectorate in 2010, I then became CEO of Education Scotland, a position I held until 2017. I currently work part-time as an international consultant, supporting projects that promote quality improvement in education systems in Europe and beyond. I am also Convenor of Audit and Risk for the Scottish Care Inspectorate, a member of the Board of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator and a member of the British Council's Scotland Advisory Committee.

Kerry Busfield

Nominated By The Parents' Association

Kerry Busfield

I have worked for NCR for the past 18 years, starting in London, then relocating back to Scotland. I have worked in a number of roles and I am currently HR Leader for the UK & Ireland. I am a highly experienced Human Resources Leader in Compensation, Labour Relations, Management, Interviewing, and Succession Planning with a Masters’ degree from the University of Westminster, with a research focus on Personnel and Development. I have a daughter in F2 at HSD which means I feel I am ideally placed to ensure that the Parent perspective is fully represented both at a whole Board level and in sub-committees and groups. I love to keep active and fit and enjoy lots of family walks with our beloved dog, Archie. I also love to travel the world, visiting as many different places as possible and spending time in London with dear friends.

Katie Hughes

Nominated By The Old Girls' Club

Katie Hughes

I was appointed to the Board in January 2023. I am a dedicated marketing professional, with over 20 years’ experience gained both agency and client side. I am currently Head of Client Services for a global brand and creative agency, I also form part of the leadership team. I previously ran my own successful consultancy for 7 years. I have been fortunate enough to work in almost every sector and am proud of the creative campaigns and results I’ve been involved in. I have a wealth of school marketing experience and have supported the training of school marketing professionals for the Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS). I train other communication professionals and act as a mentor. I am a FP of the School and I am also a current Junior School parent. In my spare time, I’m a keen equestrian and in addition to my horse, I have two mischievous labradoodles.

Garry Westwater

Co-Opted Director

Garry Westwater

I was appointed to the Board in December 2022. Born in St Andrews, I was raised in Fife – though I consider Monifieth as my home these days. My career has spanned several sectors including manufacturing, Government, NHS, management consultancy (Deloitte) and my own company. However, since 1998 my time has been spent in Education. I have worked in several Universities and FE Colleges - and locally with the University of Dundee, Dundee College, and Dundee & Angus Colleges. Presently, I work for Bolton College/University of Bolton as Executive Director of Finance/Group Finance Director Designate, respectively. I hold several Non-Executive Director and Trusteeships also. Outside of work, I spend quality time with my wife, our four children and four granddaughters. My hobbies include travel, theatre and sports – particularly football and golf - and I am a member of Monifieth Golf Club.

Peter Grewar

Nominated By The Old Boys' Club

Peter Grewar

I am a farmer based near Coupar Angus where we specialise in potato and vegetable crops as well as growing cereals and oilseeds. Grewar Farming is a modern agricultural business farming land across Perthshire, Angus and as far North as The Black Isle and Easter Ross. I also currently chair the Board at East of Scotland Farmers, which is an agricultural cooperative whose main purpose is the handling and marketing of nearly 200 members' grain, mainly to supply the whisky industry. Educated at HSD, before further study at both the Scottish Agricultural College and Edinburgh University. My wife Lucy also attended HSD and our 3 children are currently at the school. In my spare time I enjoy skiing, long distance walks and cycling. In June 2021 I walked the 105 mile distance between one of our farms on the Black Isle and our home farm at Coupar Angus, non-stop in a time of 32.5 hours raising money for Cancer Research.

Nial Chapman

Co-Opted Director

Nial Chapman

I was appointed to the board in January 2023. I am the MD of the Altar Group and have over 20 years of management experience, providing integrated digital solutions to a diverse client base across Scotland, the UK, and abroad. I have a record of success in strategic lead generation, opportunity conversion, account management, team leadership, and the creation of digital strategies that cut through and prove transformational for clients. I studied at the University of Aberdeen and obtained a joint honours degree in Computing Science and Psychology, and an MSC in E-Commerce Technology. Before that, I attended Perth Academy. My son recently finished at the school and my daughter is currently in Senior Years.

Bruce Donaldson

Nominated By Nine Trades Of Dundee

Bruce Donaldson

I am excited at the opportunity to contribute and help shape the future direction of the school that I am a former pupil of. On a community level I am the Ex- regional Chair for Young Enterprise Scotland. I am also the current Education Convener and Trustee for The Nine Incorporated Trades of Dundee and as such have a close hand in looking to further the trades involvement in education within the city on a range of levels. I am also a trustee of The Dundee Educational Trust that looks to support students financially through their College and University journey. I have worked locally as a Civil Engineer; worked as a professional musician throughout the UK and Europe; set up a successful food and drink business covering all of Scotland and beyond; and my most recent role as Sector Development Lead for the Science, Engineering, Construction and Land based departments at Dundee and Angus College.

Ian Mathers

Nominated By The Guildry Incorporation Of Dundee

Ian Mathers

I was appointed to the Board in October 2019. A native of Montrose, I retired after nearly 40 years in Corporate Banking holding Senior management positions reporting to Board level within Bank of Scotland and HBOS. I now work part time with owner-managed businesses, acting as mentor to executives as they look to grow their businesses in new and existing markets. Throughout my professional life, I have held several non-executive positions including Chair at Perth College, University of the Highlands & Islands, Vice Chair of Air Service Training (a commercial subsidiary of Perth College) and a Board Member & Chair of Finance Committee at Abertay Housing Association, Dundee. Currently a Trustee of Dundee Disabled Children’s Association and Collector of the Guildry Incorporation of Dundee. Recently stepped down as Vice Chair and Chair of Finance Committee at Leisure & Culture Dundee after 8 years on their Board.

Jean-Christophe Granier

Co-opted Director

Jean-Christophe Granier

I am CEO of Stirling-based revolutionary manufacturer Integrated Graphene. In 2019, I won both the Scottish and UK EY Entrepreneur of the Year “Transformational Leader” awards. I have also served as a mentor for the Saltire Foundation and firmly believe in the importance of collaboration with colleagues and our customers to ensure that we are best able to meet their needs. My wife is a former pupil of HSD and both our children are here too. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing golf and supporting my favourite football team Manchester United.

Ian Simpson

Co-opted Director

Ian Simpson

I have recently joined the Board at High School of Dundee and was formerly responsible for Estates and Campus Services at neighbouring Abertay University. I am a Chartered Quantity Surveyor by profession and hold an LLM in Construction Law. Prior to joining Abertay University, I was Projects Manager for Fife Council’s PPP schools building programme, leading on the new build development of two secondary and ten primary schools across Fife. My career has focused almost exclusively on the development and operation of educational buildings and has included part-time secondments with Dundee College, advising on the £47 million redevelopment of their Gardyne Campus, and Fife College, where I advised on the business case for their £90m West Fife Campus project. I have experience in non-executive positions as an elected Court member at the University, as a director of the charity Solar Cities Scotland and as a co-opted member of the Finance and Risk Committees of Design Dundee Ltd, the delivery vehicle for the V&A Dundee.

Dr Joe Morrow

Ex Officio Director

Dr Joe Morrow

For 35 years I been actively involved in the community and civic life in Scotland. I have been a member of the Faculty of Advocates for some years now, previous to which he was a solicitor both in private practice and in the voluntary sector. I am currently employed as President of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland and formerly President of the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland. I was appointed Lord Lyon King of Arms in 2014, King’s Counsel in 2015 and given an honorary Doctor of Laws by Edinburgh Napier University in 2016. I have served as a Justice of the Peace for the City of Dundee, sitting from 1984 till 2002. I am a Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem and was Chancellor of the Priory of Scotland. I am present Vice Lord Lieutenant of the City of Dundee and was elected Lord Dean in 2022. In July 2018 he was invested as a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Her Majesty The Late Queen at the Palace of Hoyroodhouse Edinburgh.

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The High School of Dundee is a charity, registered in Scotland under the following nomenclature: Corporation of The High School of Dundee (SC011522), High School of Dundee Foundation (SC030842) and High School of Dundee Scholarship Fund (SC011441)

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