The function of the International Advisory Board is to provide independent, external and commercially orientated advice to the University of Edinburgh Business School.

The principal point of contact between the School and the Advisory Board is via the Dean and the Dean’s Executive Assistant.

Members of the Executive Team have a standing invitation to meetings of the Advisory Board, in order to ensure tight linkage between the School's external members and the Team running the School on a daily basis.

External members

Judith Everett

Judith Everett

Chair of the International Advisory Board, Chief of Staff at Arup

Chinelo Anohu-Amazu

Chinelo Anohu-Amazu

Head of the Africa Investment Forum (AIF), immediate past Director General and CEO of National Pension Commission (PenCom), Nigeria

Liz McAreavey

Liz McAreavey

Chief Executive, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce

Joanne O'Callaghan

Joanne O'Callaghan

Financial services lawyer, former Head of Global Services Legal, State Street, Boston

Philip Rycroft

Philip Rycroft

Director, Philip Rycroft Consultancy Ltd. Former Permanent Secretary, Department for Exiting the European Union

Ian Walker

Ian Walker

Previously Global Lead Partnerships and External Affairs for Global Surgery at Johnson & Johnson

Deanna Zhang

Deanna Zhang

Investment Director at Circulatory Capital

Ritesh Kotak

Ritesh Kotak

Tech Analyst, Lawyer, Media Contributor

Sabine Vinck

Sabine Vinck

Client Partner and Leadership Advisory at Spencer Stuart

Functions of the Advisory Board

To advise and assist the Dean and School Executive on areas such as:

  1. Developing the School goals of leadership in research and leadership in learning through deepening corporate engagement for industry related research and to enhance the student experience.
  2. Developing a presence within networks of practice, nationally and internationally.
  3. New ideas and developments, acting as a sounding board and constructively challenging assumptions and the operating routines of the School where appropriate.
  4. Actively promoting the School's research, programmes and student body across a wide range of networks.

The Board meets twice a year with individual members engaged in School activities between meetings. The board's composition aims to be diverse in terms of gender, geographic spread and industry sector/type representation to reflect the breadth of the Business School's teaching and research themes.