Principal, Dundee & Angus College

Born in Portadown, Northern Ireland, Simon was educated at Portadown College and left Northern Ireland in 2001 to attend the University of Abertay Dundee, where he obtained a BSc (Hons) in Business Computing. Following a number of IT related roles, Simon moved into lecturing at Dundee College in 2008, specialising in Computer Network Management and Cisco Administration.

In November 2010 Simon was promoted to the role of Curriculum Manager in Computing at Dundee College and has remained in Academic Management since, becoming Vice Principal Curriculum & Attainment in 2016 within the now merged Dundee & Angus College and more recently securing the role of Principal in August 2020. 

Simon is involved in several national groups and boards including Chairing the Energy Skills Partnership (ESP) board and previously board membership roles within the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS), WEA Scotland and Dundee Science Centre. Simon also Chairs the Data Lab Skills advisory board and holds advisory positions on the SDS Digital Economy board and ScotlandIS Digital Skills board.

Finally, Simon is the Vice Chair of the Scottish College Principals group and represents the college sector as a lead Principal for both Digital and the Climate Emergency.