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Alan St Clair Gibson

Alan St Clair Gibson

Aberdeen,United Kingdom

Summary

I have worked in the academic field for more than thirty years, and have an established reputation both as a world-leading researcher in my own right, and a change-enacting leader, who in a variety of leadership roles, including Head of Department, Head of a School of Medicine, Associate Dean and Executive Dean, has developed a strong understanding of education / teaching and research requirements in the higher education environment, financial good practice and strategic financial planning in complex staff and infrastructure environments, has turned around under-performing academic teams and enhanced the capacity of already well performing teams using a combination of a systems and processes approach to enhancing University capacity and growth, a charismatic presence and inherent leadership skills, the ability to encourage and channel the focus the staff in my teams to work at their highest levels, and a strategic understanding of both the UK and international education and research environments. I have left each position I have previously worked at with both significantly improved financial stability and income generation, research, teaching and external engagement profile and activity level, and with the appreciation of the senior management and respect and friendship of my leadership colleagues and staff I manage.

Overview

34
34
years of professional experience
1997
1997
years of post-secondary education

Work history

Director of the Institute of Applied Health Sciences

University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen
01.2024 - 08.2025
  • Company Overview: The Institute of Applied Health Sciences is part of the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition whose medical training program is currently ranked number one in the UK by the Guardian UK, and the University is ranked 12th in the UK by the same source.
  • Managing 13 different research groups and around 270 staff who examine individual clinical, social and societal health issues using complex data analysis.
  • Increasing income generation and world standing. The team generates around 35 million pounds of research income and has produced some world leading research on cancer diagnosis using artificial intelligence, optimizing treatment of dementia, management of optimizing treatment for couple infertility and female birth injuries, and a host of other clinical problems, and has collaborators and research projects on the go in multiple international sites, with multiple international partners.
  • The Institute of Applied Health Sciences is part of the School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition whose medical training program is currently ranked number one in the UK by the Guardian UK, and the University is ranked 12th in the UK by the same source.

Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Health Sciences

University of Hull
Hull
01.2020 - 12.2023
  • Company Overview: The Faculty of Health Sciences includes the Hull York Medical School and the Schools / Departments of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, Psychology, Social Work and Welfare, Nursing, Midwifery, Paramedical, Perioperative and Advance Practice, and Sport, Health and Exercise Science.
  • Managing the Research business of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Hull.
  • Managing research income generation for the faculty, which in three years has increased from an average of around £3 million in my first year in the role to over £10 million in the current academic year to date, with over £40 million of bids submitted, a significant improvement.
  • Engaging with research councils and external local and regional partners to work with our research team to do so.
  • Managing and supporting all seven departments in their REF preparation, working through Directors of Research to share good practices in: supporting researchers through formative feedback on research outputs, including particularly support for 4
  • Outputs; ensuring that departments have robust systems to evaluate REF quality of outputs appropriate to their discipline, drawing on externality where appropriate; supporting the development of impact case studies for REF 2022; supporting the development of future impact pipelines; supporting increasing citations and publication strategies; supporting capacity building and leadership in areas that need to enhance research activity.
  • The Faculty of Health Sciences includes the Hull York Medical School and the Schools / Departments of Biomedical and Forensic Sciences, Psychology, Social Work and Welfare, Nursing, Midwifery, Paramedical, Perioperative and Advance Practice, and Sport, Health and Exercise Science.

Deputy Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Science and Health

University of Essex
Colchester
01.2017 - 12.2020
  • Company Overview: The Faculty of Science and Health includes the Schools / Departments of Biological Sciences, Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Psychology, Health and Social Care, Sport and Rehabilitation Sciences and Mathematical Sciences.
  • Managing the Research and Enterprise business of the Faculty of Health and Science at the University of Essex.
  • Managing and supporting all six departments in their REF preparation, working through Directors of Research to share good practices in: supporting researchers through formative feedback on research outputs, including particularly support for 4
  • Outputs; ensuring that departments have robust systems to evaluate REF quality of outputs appropriate to their discipline, drawing on externality where appropriate; supporting the development of impact case studies for REF 2021; supporting the development of future impact pipelines; supporting increasing citations and publication strategies; supporting capacity building and leadership in areas that need to enhance research activity.
  • Manage interdisciplinary working and grant/project idea development, ensuring all staff utilize fully the faculties investments in strategic equipment and infrastructure.
  • Leading on the development of specific research projects, at a range of scales, including with non-traditional funding partners, and industrial / commercial engagement.
  • Support Departments with “area reviews” to identify opportunities for research over the coming decade (across the next strategic plan period, 2019-2025) and developing strategies to ensure the faculty is placed to meet those.
  • Support Technician development with respect to engagement with the Science Council “Technician Commitment” manifesto.
  • Developing and optimizing the structure, systems and processes of the Faculty Research Support and Development infrastructure and team.
  • The Faculty of Science and Health includes the Schools / Departments of Biological Sciences, Computer Science and Electronic Engineering, Psychology, Health and Social Care, Sport and Rehabilitation Sciences and Mathematical Sciences.

Inaugural Dean of the Faculty of Health, Sport and Human Performance

University of Waikato
Hamilton
01.2016 - 12.2017
  • Company Overview: The Faculty of Health, Sport and Human Performance operates on three different campuses and sites, including management structures, operational and estates structures, new academic courses and a research and business development structure.
  • Developing and lead a new Faculty of Health, Sport and Human Performance at the University of Waikato.
  • Developing a five-year strategic planning for management, estates and business development, and academic course development for the new Faculty.
  • Developing an entire Faculty infrastructure, including management structures, research, teaching, financial management, estates development, and lead the Faculty through the developmental process.
  • Developing a new suite of Health based academic courses, including potentially incorporating a new medical school.
  • Developing community engagement and placement capacity with all of local community health and sport groups, the District Health Board and regional hospitals and community care centers.
  • Developing international links and business.
  • Managing the transition of a group of staff from the Faculty of Education into the new Faculty of Health, Sport and Human Performance.
  • Managing staff working across 3 different geographic sites – Hamilton, Cambridge and Tauranga based campuses.
  • Managing all human resources and committee structures – both their development and working capacity - in the new Faculty.
  • As part of the University Senior Management Team assisting with managing the development and efficiency of all academic structures and procedures across the University.
  • The Faculty of Health, Sport and Human Performance operates on three different campuses and sites, including management structures, operational and estates structures, new academic courses and a research and business development structure.

Head of School of Medicine and Professor of Medicine

University of Free State
Bloemfontein
01.2014 - 12.2016
  • Company Overview: The School of Medicine is one of South Africa’s top 5 Medical Schools with 28 academic and administrative departments and more than 600 staff.
  • Leading and managing the strategic and operational development of one of South Africa’s top 5 Medical Schools.
  • Provide leadership for 28 Academic and Service Departments and the Heads of these Departments which collectively made up the School of Medicine.
  • Managing the performance and development of approximately 500 academic, clinical and administrative staff across all Departments in the School of Medicine.
  • Providing strategic and operational direction to the learning and teaching, research, clinical platform, business engagement and international spheres of business of the School of Medicine.
  • Working with County / Provincial Ministers and Ministers of Health in Department Health in developing the teaching and learning curriculum and clinical platform for both undergraduate medical students and postgraduate registrar training to maintain it in line with national imperatives.
  • Working with Hospital Chief Executive Officers across a number of hospitals in the Province / County to maintain and enhance the clinical training platform.
  • Working with the Health Professional Council of South, and South African Council of Deans to set policy and guidelines for Medical Training and Governance of Clinical Practice in South Africa.
  • Creating staff development and leadership programs to enhance staff productivity and grow future academic leaders.
  • Developing relationships with existing international University and Government partners as external medical training sites.
  • Promoting and assisting in the strategic development of the internationally recognized Research Centers present in the School of Medicine.
  • Engaging with Senior University Management in maintaining human resources, disciplinary procedures, administrative processes, student records through the School of Medicine.
  • Chairing or being a member of a number of University Management Committees (e.g. University Senate, Faculty Management Committee, School of Medicine Executive Committee, School of Medicine Heads of Department Committee).
  • Transforming the School of Medicine staff profile in line with National requirements and agenda.
  • Planning the Estates and Equipment development strategy for the School of Medicine, including that for the Animal Unit of the School of Medicine.
  • Enhancing the Marketing, Branding and Alumni positioning of the School of Medicine.
  • Developing alumni links and donor funding income generation.
  • Developing a Health, Wellness, Exercise and Sport strategy for the entire University working in conjunction with the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Operations).
  • The School of Medicine is one of South Africa’s top 5 Medical Schools with 28 academic and administrative departments and more than 600 staff.

Head of Department and Director of Research

Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne
01.2006 - 12.2014
  • Company Overview: The Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation is part of the School of Health and Life Sciences.
  • Leading and managing the strategic and operational direction of the Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, School of Health and Life Sciences.
  • Managing the performance and development of approximately 70 staff members in the Department, and the academic development of approximately 1514 undergraduate students, 40 PhD students, and 50 MSc students.
  • Provide strategic and operational direction to the learning and teaching, research, business and enterprise and international spheres of business of the Department.
  • Managing the budget and income generation capacity of the Department, of approximately £10 million annual revenue.
  • Managing the operational function of two international University programs and franchises in Hong Kong and Malaysia.
  • Managing the operational function and development of short courses and national course franchises including those with Lawn Tennis Association (UK), UK Rowing and UK Volleyball.
  • Managing and developing the relationship with the NHS (UK) required for the successful running of the Physiotherapy hospital-based teaching courses.
  • Managing Department staff based on two separate campuses.
  • Managing staff through a major University wide operational transformation, where the Department was created as a new entity from three separate University Departments.
  • Being a member of the Senior Management Team of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, assisting the Dean manage a faculty consisting of 13,000 students.
  • The Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation is part of the School of Health and Life Sciences.

Postdoctoral Fellow, Senior Research Associate and Associate Professor

University of Cape Town
Cape Town
01.1997 - 12.2006
  • Company Overview: The Department of Human Biology and MRC Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine are part of the Faculty of Health Sciences.
  • Developing research teams which produced some of the most highly cited research produced in the Sport and Exercise Science field.
  • Co-authoring two novel theories of integrative control of activity, the Central Governor and Integrative Governor theories, which are two of the most well-known theories in contemporary exercise science and physiology.
  • The Department of Human Biology and MRC Research Unit of Exercise Science and Sports Medicine are part of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Demonstrator, General Anatomy

University of Cape Town
Cape Town
01.1993 - 12.1996

Medical Officer, General Surgery

Greys Hospital
Natal
07.1992 - 12.1992

Internship

Edendale Hospital
Natal
06.1991 - 05.1992

Education

MD -

University of Cape Town
Cape Town
01.1998 - 01.2002

PhD -

University of Cape Town
Cape Town
01.1993 - 01.1997

MBChB -

University of Cape Town
Cape Town
01.1985 - 01.1990

NSC (Higher Grade) -

Westville Boys High School
Durban
12.1984

Skills

  • Budget control aptitude
  • Effective mentoring
  • Performance metrics tracking
  • Leadership acumen
  • Financial literacy
  • Staff development
  • Strategies and goals

Marital status

Married, Kate Sylvia Gordon (née Kelly), Luke Phillip, 2005-08-31, Helen Ruby, 2008-03-31

Personal Information

  • Title: Director, Institute of Applied Health Sciences
  • Date of birth: 7th September 1966
  • Nationality: British (United Kingdom); South African
  • Marital status: Married

Timeline

Director of the Institute of Applied Health Sciences

University of Aberdeen
01.2024 - 08.2025

Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Health Sciences

University of Hull
01.2020 - 12.2023

Deputy Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Science and Health

University of Essex
01.2017 - 12.2020

Inaugural Dean of the Faculty of Health, Sport and Human Performance

University of Waikato
01.2016 - 12.2017

Head of School of Medicine and Professor of Medicine

University of Free State
01.2014 - 12.2016

Head of Department and Director of Research

Northumbria University
01.2006 - 12.2014

MD -

University of Cape Town
01.1998 - 01.2002

Postdoctoral Fellow, Senior Research Associate and Associate Professor

University of Cape Town
01.1997 - 12.2006

Demonstrator, General Anatomy

University of Cape Town
01.1993 - 12.1996

PhD -

University of Cape Town
01.1993 - 01.1997

Medical Officer, General Surgery

Greys Hospital
07.1992 - 12.1992

Internship

Edendale Hospital
06.1991 - 05.1992

MBChB -

University of Cape Town
01.1985 - 01.1990

NSC (Higher Grade) -

Westville Boys High School

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Alan St Clair Gibson