Dr Gillian Murray, VEC Director and co-founder of the Virtual Engineering Centre (VEC), will be leaving the University and the VEC to take up a new position as Deputy Principal (Enterprise and Business) at Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh.
Gillian has been instrumental in the development of the VEC from a European Funded ERDF Programme, 2010-2013, initially set up to support the Aerospace sector, into the establishment of a nationally recognised centre for Virtual Engineering and Digital Innovation. Gillian has encouraged a multi-disciplinary approach to supporting industry and forged cross-sector working with the VEC now working in new sectors including Automotive and Transport; Medical; Energy and FMCG.
Recently, Gillian has played a key regional role in securing the LCR 4.0 European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) project, a collaboration between the University of Liverpool through the VEC, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool LEP, Hartree Centre STFC and Sensor City which will support SME’s in the region to embrace and effectively employ digital technologies within their organisations to drive competitiveness and growth
Professor Ken Badcock, Executive Pro-Vice Chancellor, Faculty of Science and Engineering stated, “Not only has Gillian has been key to the growth and success of the VEC since its inception, she has energised the digital focus that the University has as one of its core themes. She has played an important role both regionally and nationally and we will be extremely sorry to see her go. We wish her continued success in her new strategic role at Heriot Watt”.
Gillian said, “I’ve been privileged to have been involved and built the VEC from a small programme into a flourishing organisation, with facilities in Daresbury, Liverpool, London and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, all supporting digital innovation within many large and small companies across a range of sectors.
The VEC is in its strongest position since inception, and with the recently awarded new ERDF programme, I am sure it will go from strength to strength. I was determined that the digital expertise we have developed at the VEC, should continue to support our strong SME base in the region and this project will serve to reinforce this vision.
A key strength of the VEC has been collaboration and I’m looking forward to staying in touch and expanding the VEC’s links through future collaborative opportunities with Heriot Watt University.”
