Angela Scott appointed Principal and Vice-Chancellor

Angela Scott has been appointed Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee and will take up the post from 19 October 2026.

Mrs Scott is currently Chief Executive of Aberdeen City Council, a post she has held for 12 years. She brings extensive experience of institutional recovery, financial sustainability, and large-scale transformation across complex public services. 

Her appointment was confirmed by Court, the University’s governing body, this afternoon. Mrs Scott was chosen by a selection panel featuring representatives of Court, Dundee University Students’ Association (DUSA), the campus Trade Unions, and both professional services and academic staff, as well as an external member in the form of the Principal of another Scottish university. Colleagues were also invited to participate in stakeholder group sessions with shortlisted candidates.

Esther Roberton, Chair of Court, said, “We are delighted to appoint Angela as our new Principal and Vice-Chancellor. She comes to us as the University seeks to rebuild after a traumatic period and I am sure Angela is the right person to lead that recovery.

“Universities across Scotland continue to face significant challenges and Angela has demonstrated her ability to steer an organisation confidently through severe external pressures. She brings values-driven leadership, vision and financial discipline, all of which will be critical to the development of a new University strategy to guide its direction over the next five years.

“I must also pay tribute to Professor Nigel Seaton, our Interim Principal and Vice-Chancellor, who has been pivotal to our survival, taking difficult decisions and leading the University through its gravest crisis. 

“Nigel came out of retirement to provide support to the interim leadership before being propelled to the position of leading the University through its gravest crisis. Over the last year, he and the team have risen to the challenges facing the University and taken the difficult decisions required if we are to be finally sustainable once more.”

Mrs Scott said, “"I am deeply honoured to have been appointed Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Dundee.

“This appointment is particularly meaningful to me because Dundee is my home city. I know first-hand the transformative power of education and the opportunities it can create. My own experience inspired a lifelong commitment to public service and a belief that education remains one of the most powerful forces for changing lives.

“The University of Dundee has a remarkable history and a well-earned international reputation for excellence in education, research and innovation. I look forward to working with staff, students, alumni and partners to build on those strengths.

“While the University has faced significant challenges in recent years, I am confident in its future. By building on the achievements of generations of staff and students, we have an opportunity to strengthen and renew the University for the long term, ensuring it continues to make a positive difference locally, nationally and internationally.

“It is an extraordinary privilege to return to Dundee to lead one of the city's most important institutions. I am excited to begin working with the University community to shape the next chapter in its distinguished history."

In her role at Aberdeen City Council, Mrs Scott was responsible for the overall performance, governance, financial sustainability and strategic direction of an organisation with a budget of more than £1 billion. She designed and implemented a new Target Operating Model, reshaped organisational culture, accountability and resource alignment to deal with a £260 million funding gap over a decade while protecting core services.

Under her leadership, Aberdeen City Council was recognised nationally as Council of the Year in 2020, reflecting successful institutional recovery, strengthened governance and service performance. She worked closely with Aberdeen’s two universities while heading up the city council as well as with the Scottish and UK governments, and major industry partners.

Immediately prior to taking on her current role, Mrs Scott was Director of Corporate Governance at Aberdeen City Council. Earlier in her career she worked in corporate finance and capital accounting roles across local government, building early expertise in public finance, governance, and infrastructure investment.

She then worked for GlaxoSmithKline before joining the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA), eventually becoming Head of CIPFA across the devolved nations. In that role, she provided advice and support to the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly on public finance, stewardship, and accountability. 

Mrs Scott was born and raised in Dundee and holds a degree in Commerce from Abertay University. She is a former Vice-Chair of both the NIHR Public Health Prioritisation Committee (2016–2020) and the NHS Tayside Board 

She has chaired or led a range of regional governance bodies spanning resilience, economic development, infrastructure, education, health, and shared services. These include the North of Scotland Regional Resilience Partnership, Hub North Strategic Territory Partnership Board, and the Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee.

Mrs Scott has also chaired the North-east Suicide Prevention Oversight Group and founded and chairs the Aberdeen Health Determinants Research Collaborative, which integrates academic research, public health policy and service redesign.