Vice-Chancellor’s Executive
Professor Graham Henderson
Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive
Professor Graham Henderson became Vice Chancellor of Teesside University on 1 April 2003.
In 1999 he was appointed as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic & Development) at Teesside where he was responsible for the University’s academic portfolio, learning and teaching, quality and standards, library and information systems, lifelong learning, the development of collaborative partnerships and the personnel and staff development work of the University.
Professor Henderson started his academic career in 1975 at Nene College (now University of Northampton) after which he spent 17 years in Newcastle Business School at Northumbria University (including eight years as Deputy/Assistant Director of School) before becoming Director of the Business School at the University of Sunderland. After leaving school Graham went to work for the National Coal Board working as a trainee accountant, but he went back into education after 18 months, studying Mathematics at Coventry and then Applied Statistics & Operational Research at City University (London).
Graham played a major role pioneering the development of Business Information Technology education in the UK throughout the 1980s. He is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society, a member of the Institute of Management, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.
In addition to his role as Board member of a number of University companies Graham is a member of the National Executive of Million+. He is a member of the Board of Tees Valley Unlimited, a non-executive Council Member of the Learning & Skills Council, a member of the regional executive and on the Council of the North East Chamber of Commerce (NECC), he is a member of the North East Public Health Board and the Council for Industry in Higher Education.
Graham is also the Chair of the Common Purpose: Tees Valley Advisory Group. In addition, he is a member of the HEFCE TRAC Implementation & Development Group and the Strategic Advisory Committee on Leadership & Governance and the Universities UK Student Experience Strategy Group and the Employability, Business and Industry Policy Committee.
Graham is also a Trustee of the Captain Cook Birthplace Trust.
| Name | Title | Department/School |
|---|---|---|
| Juliet Amos | Director | Human Resources |
| Dr Mark Simpson | Acting Dean | School of Social Sciences & Law |
| Professor Simon Hodgson | Dean | School of Science & Engineering |
| Professor Paul Keane OBE | Dean | School of Health & Social Care |
| Professor Gerda Roper | Dean | School of Arts & Media |
| Dr Simon Stobart | Dean | School of Computing |
| Alastair Thomson | Dean | Teesside University Business School |
| Mark White | Head | Vice Chancellor's Office |
Professor Caroline MacDonald
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Student Experience)
Professor Caroline MacDonald joined the University as Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Student Experience) in February 2009.
She began her academic career studying molecular biology at the University of Glasgow, where she later completed a PhD in Biochemistry. A lectureship and senior lectureship at the University of Strathclyde followed and she maintained links there as a Visiting Professor following her move to the University of Paisley as Head of the Department of Biological Sciences. In 1997 Professor MacDonald became Assistant Principal with responsibility for Research and Commercialisation.
Professor MacDonald moved to Glasgow Caledonian University as Pro Vice Chancellor in 2004 and has had responsibility for planning, widening access, community engagement, articulation and links with Scotland’s colleges, the student experience and learning and teaching during that time. In addition to her full time role at Glasgow Caledonian University, Professor MacDonald was a member of the Board of Management of Glasgow Metropolitan College. She was a member of the Scottish Higher Education Enhancement Committee from 2007 to 2009 and chaired an International Benchmarking Project on Supporting Student Success.
As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Student Experience) at Teesside, Professor MacDonald is responsible for the development and oversight of the University’s learning, teaching and assessment and quality assurance work, and for student support and the wider student experience. She is also a member of the Corporate Board of Darlington College and a Governor of South Tees Foundation Trust.
| Name | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Liz Jolly | Director | Library & Information Services | Kathy Wiles | Director | Learning & Quality Enhancement |
| Garry Toulouse | Director | Student Services |
Professor Cliff Hardcastle
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise)
Professor Cliff Hardcastle joined the University as Deputy-Vice Chancellor (Research & Enterprise) in 2007 having previously been employed as Dean and Assistant Principal at Glasgow Caledonian University. He also worked at the University of Westminster and Newcastle Polytechnic, and has been Visiting Professor at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology University, Australia.
As Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise), Professor Hardcastle is responsible for leading the development of the University’s research strategy. He is also directing enterprise and knowledge transfer work using the University’s skills and expertise in support of business and industry. He leads work on DigitalCity, the major regional regeneration project, and is also responsible for the University’s strategies on higher level skills (workforce development).
| Name | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Elizabeth Robertson | Dean | Graduate Research School | Laura Woods | Director | Academic Enterprise |
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development)
Position vacant
| Name | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Keith Brown | Director | International Development |
| Dennis Kelly | Director | Marketing & Student Recruitment |
| Lynn Parker | Director | Educational Partnerships |
Morgan McClintock
University Secretary and Clerk to the Governors
Morgan McClintock joined Teesside University (then Teesside Polytechnic) as a Principal Lecturer in 1983, and was appointed as Secretary, Registrar and Clerk to the Board of Governors in 1989. He is Secretary of the Academic Board and the point of contact between the Students’ Union, University Management and the Board of Governors.
The University Secretary’s Department is responsible for legal services, risk management and internal audit. The wide remit of Campus Facilities includes developing the campus, utilising space and enhancing the learning environment.
Morgan’s current external priorities are integrating the University’s development plans with those of Middlesbrough Council, and liaising between higher education institutions and the Student Loans Company to establish the ‘Customer First’ framework for student finance.
| Name | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Cobbett | Academic Registrar | Academic Registry |
| Paul Lambert | Director | ICT Systems |
| Stephen Pearson | Deputy | University Secretary |
| Rob Watts | Director | Campus Facilities |
Alan Oliver
Executive Director ( Finance & Planning)
Alan Oliver joined the Teesside University (then Teesside Polytechnic) in 1989, having previously worked for the Cleveland Police Authority and Middlesbrough Council. He was appointed Director of Finance in 1993.
As Director of Finance, Alan is responsible for leading and overseeing the financial management of the University and for financial planning, monitoring, reporting and control. He leads the University’s work on value for money and collecting tuition fees. He is also responsible for allocating University budgets, statistical returns to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and the Higher Education Statistics Agency, and liaising on finances with HEFCE and various agencies, including the region’s Strategic Health Authority.
| Name | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|
| Heather Ashton | Director | Finance |

