Edinburgh Universities Development Plans 2015

THREE of Edinburgh’s leading university figures will be presenting their development/investment plans for the next couple of years!

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Event Format

• 1530 – 1600; Registration
• 1600 – 1645; Networking with Wine, Beer and Soft Drinks
• 1645 – 1815; Speaker Presentations
• 1815 – 1900; Networking with Hot Food, Wine, Beer and Soft Drinks
• 1930 – 2200; After Event Dinner (INVITE ONLY)

Speakers

Gary Jebb, Director of Estates & Buildings; The University of Edinburgh

Estates and Buildings provides a stimulating working and learning environment appropriate to the needs of a leading international centre of excellence. To achieve this we spend some £60m capital expenditure a year on major new builds or large refurbishments.

David Wright, Head of Projects; Heriot Watt University

Before joining Heriot Watt University David had 30 years’ experience in commercial architecture and project management in the major new-build and refurbishment sectors. His early career developed through travelling and working abroad as a site based architect. On returning to the UK he established a commercial architecture practice in Edinburgh and Glasgow. He was thereafter a founding director of Synergie Group, a project management and multi-disciplinary built environment consultancy, established initially in Inverness and expanding to Aberdeen and Glasgow. David was responsible for major project programmes for public sector clients across Scotland.

As Head of Capital Projects & Planning at  Heriot Watt University since 2013, he is responsible for a portfolio of projects across all campuses including New Residences ( £52M), National Performance Centre for Sport (30M), New Research Buildings (+£21M), a range of major refurbishment projects and the 2015  Edinburgh Campus Masterplan.

The University is about to commence a major programme of refurbishment and new-build projects to modernise the current stock of 1970/1980`s buildings on the Edinburgh Campus. Further development of the Malaysia and Dubai campuses is also envisaged.

Dr Roddy Yarr, Environment & Energy Manager; University of St Andrews

Roddy Yarr is a Chartered environmental expert implementing practical energy and sustainability solutions.

Roddy graduated with a first class honours degree in Geology from Queens University, Belfast where he was the first recipient of the Cunningham Award for Excellence, awarded by the Geological Survey of Ireland.  After completing a PhD in Geochemistry at the University of St Andrews, he started work with British Coal Opencast as a Geologist in the Scottish coalfields. In this role, Roddy identified the need for improved management of environmental issues associated with mining operations and was appointed Environment Officer with responsibility for compliance of the operational Scottish British Coal sites in 1992.  At the end of 1993, Roddy moved into environmental management, first as an environmental consultant based in London and then as Water Quality Manager with BAA Heathrow.

After a move to BAA Scottish Airports based in Glasgow in 1996, and with responsibility for Sustainability Management at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen Airports, Roddy completed a part time Masters in Environmental Studies at the University of Strathclyde.  In 2005, Roddy became Environment and Energy Manager at the University of St Andrews where he established a team to identify ways to deliver improved environment, energy and sustainable development performance.  As a result of this work, the University is now recognised as a sustainability leader with an enviable reputation within the higher education sector in the UK and overseas.

Roddy’s collaborative style, his passion and practical approach to sustainable development mean that he is able to identify and implement solutions that generate improved sustainability performance by reducing resource use, cutting carbon emissions and saving on costs, positively influencing a change in behaviours as a result.