Professor Sir Gerry McCormac

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac. Trustee since May 2022

Professor Sir Gerry McCormac became Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Stirling in May 2010. He is a scientist with research interests in both space physics and carbon dating.

His early career was spent at the University of Michigan, where he worked on the NASA Dynamics Explorer satellite program.  He subsequently headed up the high-precision carbon dating facility at Queen’s University Belfast. He became Pro-Vice Chancellor at Queen’s in 2001 to 2010, with responsibility for Academic and Financial Planning, Economic Development and External Affairs.

In 2020, Sir Gerry took on the role of Convener of Universities Scotland. He served as Vice Convener of Universities Scotland between 2016 and 2020 and is an active member of Universities UK.   He is also a former Vice Convener of Universities Scotland Funding Policy Group (FPG), a board member of UCEA and chairman of the UCEA Scottish Committee.  He is a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries (FSA), the Higher Education Academy (HEA) and the Royal Society of Arts, Commerce and Manufacturers(FRSA). He chaired a review of teacher employment in Scotland for the Scottish Government in 2011. In 2015/16 he served as an advisor to the NI Government during the merger of departments that created the Department for the Economy (DfE).

Professor McCormac was knighted in the New Year’s Honours List 2021, for services to education and to the economy.