John Minto
Ayr,UK
Summary
Award winning project manager with 30 years of international project and programme leadership/management experience with both businesses and humanitarian organisations. My work has been recognised through Fellowships with the UK Royal Society and the UK Higher Education Authority. I am also a Member of the Association for Project Management
Overview
41
41
years of professional experience
2013
2013
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
Full time Permanent Lecturer in Project Management
University of the West of Scotland
Paisley, Scotland
01.2024 - 04.2025
- Lecturer on the University’s Association for Project Management accredited MSc in Project Management
- Taught a range of subjects and been a Module Coordinator for Sustainability and Organisational Strategy and Case Studies in Project Management
- Supervised almost 100 postgraduate dissertation students
- Member of the University’s Centre for African Research on Enterprise and Economic Development (CAREED)
- Research interests include developing ways in which projects can capture value added to contribute towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Co-authoring a chapter for a Cambridge University Press book on the role project management can play in the delivery of SDGs, to be published in 2026
- Made a number of Conference presentations related to this important theme
- University’s link tutor with Lincoln University of Business and Management in the UAE which delivers the UWS MSc on a franchise basis
Project Consultant
01.2017 - 12.2019
- Led or been involved in a number of major initiatives to mainstream mental health into NGO and business operations
- Included a funded (by ForumSyd Sweden) mental health project in Somaliland which has been running since 2012
- Provided technical support as the project hands over to the Somaliland Ministry of Health
Managing Director
Gede Foundation
Maitama
01.2013 - 12.2017
- Responsible for the writing and delivery of a major restructuring project aimed at transitioning the Foundation from direct HIV-AIDS service delivery to advocacy related to mental health
- Liaison responsibility with a wide range of stakeholders including Basic Needs, Duke Global Health Institute, Catholic Relief Services, FHI360, the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, King’s College London and the Government of Nigeria
- Co-Chaired the Mental Health Working Group of the Government of Nigeria
- Resulted in the inclusion of mental health into Nigeria’s National HIV-AIDS Strategy 2017-2020
- Recognised, in 2016, by IHVN with an Award for 'significant contributions to the study of mental health among HIV positive patients in Nigeria.'
Business Analyst
01.2012 - 12.2013
- Conducted a business analysis of the investment portfolios and strategic decisions held and made by the Plateau State Investment Corporation (Nigeria)
- Worked as a consultant to the CEO of Superior Milling, Zambia, a major producer of milled maize then in turnaround
- Advised largely on leadership, working capital acquisition, strategy and change management
Project Lead
Darlana University
01.2011 - 12.2013
- Company Overview: A leading technical University located in northern Sweden
- Engaged as project lead to support them in evolving their operational and recruitment base from one being focused solely on Sweden to one with an increasingly international focus, especially in terms of working in east and central Africa
- A leading technical University located in northern Sweden
Senior Country Director
Marie Stopes International (Nigeria)
Abuja
01.2008 - 12.2010
- Tasked with developing and implementing a major UK Aid project aimed at market penetration strategies for a new nationwide initiative related to the promotion and distribution of sexual and reproductive health commodities and services
- Responsible for all project start up activities, including senior level engagement with the Government of Nigeria (Ministry of Health)
- Included membership of the National Sexual and Reproductive Health Technical Working Group
Senior Country Director
Concern Worldwide Burundi
Bujumbura
01.2005 - 12.2008
- Responsible for designing and managing appropriate large and multisectoral projects related to the evolution of the country programme from 'emergency to development' following the end of the civil war
- Included a major multi annual and multi-million dollar 'child survival' award from USAID
- Overall, in charge of designing and implementing a major change management and leadership initiative
Assistant Country Director
Concern Worldwide Rwanda
Kigali
01.2001 - 12.2005
- Responsible for developing projects related to the evolution of all support services in line with the overall country programme which was transitioning significantly post the 1994 genocide and its aftermath
- From 2003, direct line management of a range of major projects including DFID’s flagship post conflict microfinance initiative and a prison feeding programme
Senior Administrator
School of Oriental and African Studies
London
01.1998 - 12.2001
- Responsible for the design of an appropriate discrete project related to the engagement of major academic partners in the USA and China
- Resulted in significant competitive advantage gains in terms of both reputation and an increase in postgraduate student recruitment over a three year period
- Responsibility for all protocols related to student progression through postgraduate programmes within the Department
Director of Administration
Richmond, the American International University in London
London
01.1995 - 12.1998
- Responsible for all activities related to student recruitment and enrolment on a newly established MBA programme
- Major responsibility for the writing of a strategic plan covering ways in which the programme could establish – and niche market - itself in a highly competitive operating environment
- Partnership work with major higher education institutions in China, France, Germany, Russia and the USA
Project Manager
American International School of Abuja
Abuja
01.1991 - 12.1995
- First ever Project Manager responsible for establishing Abuja’s first International School
- Involved liaison work with the US Department of State and the Government of Nigeria
- Designed an appropriate growth strategy, all Team recruitment and management systems
- AISA is now one of West Africa’s leading international schools
Teacher of English as a Foreign Language, Economics and History
English School of Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
01.1985 - 12.1991
- Director of Studies for the Senior Division responsible for all timetabling and senior school management issues related to Ethiopia’s largest international school
- Volunteer work with the Ministry of Education on a major literacy programme launched in 1986
Lecturer in Modern Social Economic History
University of Bophuthatswana
Mafeking
01.1984 - 12.1985
- Responsible for delivering undergraduate and postgraduate courses along with the supervision of postgraduate dissertations
- Experience of developing key course modules related to postgraduate research methods
Education
MBA - Project Management
Wales
MSC - Environmental Management
London
MA - Modern Social History
Lancaster
BA (Hons 2:1) - English and History
Northumbria
Certificate - Financial accounting and reporting
Open University
Certificate - Excel
New Skills Academy
Certificate - Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Practitioner
The Academy of Modern Psychology
Certificate - The Fundamentals of Skilled Helping
Gerard Egan Udemy
Certificate - Transactional Analysis
UK Centre of Excellence
Certificate - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Kent
Certification
- Open University Open Learn Financial accounting and reporting, 10/2021
- Beginners Excel Certificate, 2019
- Certified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Practitioner, 2018
- The Fundamentals of Skilled Helping, 2018
- Certificate in Transactional Analysis, 2018
- Certificate in Teaching English as a Foreign Language, 1986
Custom
- Peer reviewed research into mental disorders and people living with HIV AIDS, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5457576/
- Peer reviewed research into the cultural adaptation of mental health screening tools, https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/global-mental-health/article/adapting-culturally-appropriate-mental-health-screening-tools-for-use-among-conflictaffected-and-other-vulnerable-adolescents-in-nigeria/56D0751E1B8ACB7F9EC1842A4CF92985
- Author of two key articles on mental health in low and middle income countries for 'CBT Today', http://www.babcp.com/files/CBT-Today/cbt-today-december-2017.pdf, http://www.babcp.com/files/CBT-Today/cbt-today-may-2018.pdf
Personal Information
- Place of birth: County Durham
- Date of birth: 01/11/62
- Nationality: UK
Timeline
Full time Permanent Lecturer in Project Management
University of the West of Scotland
01.2024 - 04.2025
Project Consultant
01.2017 - 12.2019
Managing Director
Gede Foundation
01.2013 - 12.2017
Business Analyst
01.2012 - 12.2013
Project Lead
Darlana University
01.2011 - 12.2013
Senior Country Director
Marie Stopes International (Nigeria)
01.2008 - 12.2010
Senior Country Director
Concern Worldwide Burundi
01.2005 - 12.2008
Assistant Country Director
Concern Worldwide Rwanda
01.2001 - 12.2005
Senior Administrator
School of Oriental and African Studies
01.1998 - 12.2001
Director of Administration
Richmond, the American International University in London
01.1995 - 12.1998
Project Manager
American International School of Abuja
01.1991 - 12.1995
Teacher of English as a Foreign Language, Economics and History
English School of Addis Ababa
01.1985 - 12.1991
Lecturer in Modern Social Economic History
University of Bophuthatswana
01.1984 - 12.1985
MSC - Environmental Management
London
MA - Modern Social History
Lancaster
BA (Hons 2:1) - English and History
Northumbria
Certificate - Financial accounting and reporting
Open University
Certificate - Excel
New Skills Academy
Certificate - Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Practitioner
The Academy of Modern Psychology
Certificate - The Fundamentals of Skilled Helping
Gerard Egan Udemy
Certificate - Transactional Analysis
UK Centre of Excellence
Certificate - Teaching English as a Foreign Language
Kent
MBA - Project Management
Wales
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