Karina McTeague

Hear from the candidate and then register to attend the Hustings to ask your questions.

I’m Karina McTeague. I’m standing for election as the Chair of your Court.

Here’s a bit about myself, before I get on to the more important subject of what I will bring to you - the students, staff and Court members of GCU - if you elect me.

Who I am

I’m Glasgow born and bred. I carry that heritage with pride wherever my career takes me.

People often remark that I have a varied and unusual career path – not that I particularly planned it that way! I’ve been a lawyer, a banker, a regulator, and a payments technology executive - in Scotland, England and the US. My career has, primarily, been in large, complex organisations operating at executive and board level including at Lloyds Banking Group, Visa, and the Department for Business and Trade. I now sit on the Boards of a WealthTech and Specialty Insurer.

I have championed equality, diversity and inclusionthroughout my career:

Co-founder of a Foundation that promotes greater representation of women in senior positions in the Scottish legal profession, for which I have been awarded an Honorary Doctorate.
Ambassador for Women on Boards and mentor to a diversity of young people at formative stages of their careers.
Reverse Mentoring Programme supporting better understanding of issues facing ethnic minorities.
Executive Sponsor for Mental Health and Wellbeing, which began to profile perceptions of neurodiversity.

Why I’m attracted to GCU as Chair of its Court

GCU is an exceptional university:

Its mission of University for the Common Good;
Its tangible commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion – especially to widening access to education; and
Its commercial acumen.

These all attract me to the role of Chair of GCU’s Court, underlined by two facts about me:

My strongest motivator is to be of service in the interests of society; and
My background as “first in my family” to go to university.

I have had tremendous opportunities through my education. I will find it personally fulfilling to support the Principal and Vice-Chancellor and his Executive to deliver education and research for the Common Good, reaching a greater diversity of students; in some small way giving back to society some of the benefits I’ve enjoyed through my own educational advantages.

I’ve had the real pleasure of meeting a number of your staff, students and Court members in the last few weeks who demonstrate the power of GCU’s blend of academic and vocational, research and applied science, commercial and educational – whilst staying true to GCU’s values. I’m particularly impressed that, for GCU, education does not start or stop at the University: its outreach to schools and employers, its focus on work-based education, and its support for students transitioning to the workplace are standout. Especially in this current economic and political environment, it’s remarkable that GCU delivers all this along with strong financial results.

GCU epitomises Education Made Useful which aligns with my own inherent pragmatism and practicality.

What I will bring as Chair of the Court

If you elect me, my commitment is to provide leadership in service of you - GCU’s students, staff and Court members - to support you and GCU in its mission for the Common Good.

In practical terms, this means I will bring:

My skills and experience:

As a member of Executive Committees of large complex companies, and a Non-Executive Director/ Chair on a variety of boards and Audit and Risk Committees, I have the strategic, operational and financial knowledge and experience required for a modern, values-driven university that must navigate and balance different societal, commercial and political demands.
I am a commercial, strategic and future thinker. I look for opportunities and I anticipate market changes.
I am an experienced Chair in private and not for profit organisations. Governance and integrity are key strengths of mine. I promote transparency and open communication as vital elements of trusted governance.
The Chair of Court has an important role to play as an ambassador, to promote GCU’s brand and deliver key messages. I see myself as a partner with the Executive to get the best outcomes for GCU through deepening relationships with existing stakeholders, and forging new relationships. Especially in light of the Scottish government’s education reform programme, and wider economic changes, I will bring my experience of sectoral policy development and implementation by engaging with key influencers including funders, politicians, civil servants, and university peers and associations to reinforce GCU’s economic and societal value.

My personality

I am a naturally collaborative, inclusive and constructive leader. I am characteristically calm, focused and measured.
I am known for being polite, tactful and diplomatic, with a low ego and empathetic listening style. This encourages constructive dialogue.
As an experienced Chair, I encourage people to speak up in formal and informal settings. I prioritise making myself accessible, and drawing on different perspectives through networking.
I seek to build consensus through full and frank discussion. I also understand intractable trade-offs and how to make fine judgement calls - applying a “first principles”, values-based approach, balancing the interests of all relevant stakeholders.

What will I focus on?

GCU is successful – looking at its current finances, student recruitment and other performance measures. But it is rightly positioning itself for tough times ahead.

If I have the privilege of stepping into Rob Woodard’s successful shoes, I will continue to lead an effective Court to support GCU’s strategy. I will seek to add value under three headings:

Opportunities for new revenue sources and research
Wellbeing and mental health
Communication: Visible, listening and responding. An ambassador for GCU’s value to society and the economy.

Please vote for me

This is a tremendously exciting time for GCU. I would be privileged to be part of its ongoing and increasing success as a role model for modern universities, in service of the Common Good for Glasgow, Scotland and beyond.