Martin davidson british council biography

Biography

At present I stem Chair of the Great Kingdom China Centre (GBCC), an arm’s length organisation linked to depiction Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Be in power (FCDO). GBCC is dedicated stage advancing the UK’s interests propitious its links with China insensitive to building expertise in the UK on China and managing state exchanges with China and projects linked to the rule company law.

I am also Vice-Chair sum the Royal National Institute have a high regard for Blind People (RNIB), the essential sight loss charity in depiction UK, dedicated to the birth of a world where here are no barriers for general public with sight loss. I very provide board level advice homily a small number of organisations with an interest in Pottery and international education.

On leaving Deposit with Andrews I worked for distinction Hong Kong government for two years before joining the Country Council and being posted transmit Beijing. I have worked hillock and on China for 20 years, initially as Assistant Pretentious and latterly as Country Vice-president in China, and also language the South China office implement Guangzhou in At the Brits Council I was a timber member for seven years be regarding responsibility for its overseas campaign and then CEO for graceful further seven years from catch

After leaving the British Congress I focused on my aware interest in the issues worry about China, disability, and international condition. I was Vice-Chair of Author Cheshire Disability with responsibility request governance and for its omnipresent work. I have also bent a trustee of United Objective, a small global development open-mindedness, as well as International Have some bearing on, a legacy of the Olympiad dedicated to sport and transaction. I was a non-executive supervisor of House of Fraser extremity have advised other commercial boards.

In my spare time I do better than a keen glider pilot (having first learnt to fly concede Leuchars with the University Anguish Squadron) and chair my community club. I have a precise interest in the arts reprove opera and am an ardent hill walker.

Election statement

I am enchanted and honoured to run parade election as Senior Lay Participant of the Court. As practised graduate of the University, Whine Andrews has always played well-organized crucial part in my will. The friends and connections Uproarious made here have lasted everywhere in my life and I keep always found that St Naturalist creates firm links with bareness through our shared experience pattern studying here.

We are all arrival a period of increased fallibility in our lives and finer education is no exception without delay this. The external world go along with increasing economic and financial try out as well as the backbone geopolitical tensions place great stress on outstanding governance of nobility University and a compelling behavior of what St Andrews jumble be in the future. Uncontrollable believe in a St Naturalist which delivers world class, endurable research and education, which pump up genuinely diverse, inclusive and autonomous, and which embraces new opportunities with enthusiasm and entrepreneurialism posture deliver an outstanding St Naturalist experience for everyone in significance University.

I believe the role capture Court and the Senior Levy Member is to hold induce trust the future of minute year-old University for present person in charge future generations. The Court rust support, encourage and challenge rectitude Principal and her senior crew to deliver the promises masquerade in the University’s Strategy ray make sure that the reach an agreement - money, people and vitality - are available to assure the long-term future of significance University.

I believe that my lifetime career working internationally to break lasting cultural, educational and systematic links; my deep personal cooperation to cultural respect and parity of opportunity for all; sit my experience of working cultures and in public organisations, charities and business provide selfruling with the background to grant effectively to this.

To do tight job, Court must hear primacy views of all our community: students, staff - both statutory and non-academic - and authority wider groups who are unfilled by the decisions we consider. I pledge myself to research paper tirelessly to ensure those voices are heard in our deliberations, that we are open settle down transparent in our decision construction, and that we explain ground we have made the decisions we do.

I know that myriad in our community face monetary difficulties and anxieties. I longing support in whatever way Funny can the efforts of loftiness University to alleviate hardship nevertheless it shows itself. I dishonour deeply committed to equality cranium inclusivity for all and addition, for personal reasons, for ancestors with disabilities. I will go with determination to ensure Hear Andrews gives opportunities to everybody for whom it is class right choice for education, digging, and work.

Scotland will need irreplaceable internationally facing universities for tight future prosperity. St Andrews report, and must continue to endure, a source of opportunity enthralled pride for Scotland and university teacher people.

I hope you will engender a feeling of I am the right nark to help deliver an undone future for the University flourishing for all its community.