Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas takes the helm as institution prepares to unveil ambitious ‘Strategy 2035’.
Edinburgh, UK – Heriot-Watt University has marked a significant leadership transition this week with the appointment of Professor Nola Hewitt-Dundas as its new Principal and Vice-Chancellor. Professor Hewitt-Dundas makes history as the first woman to hold the prestigious role since the institution’s founding in 1821.
Professor Hewitt-Dundas joins Heriot-Watt from Queen’s University Belfast, where she served as Pro-Vice-Chancellor and held a professorship in Innovation Management and Policy. An internationally recognised academic, her expertise lies in innovation and science policy, with a research focus on innovation ecosystems, business innovation micro-economics, and effective university-business collaboration. Her career also includes advising national and international organisations and a position on the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Board, underscoring her extensive experience in senior university leadership, global engagement, governance, innovation, and research.
The appointment comes at a pivotal time for Heriot-Watt as it prepares to launch its comprehensive ‘Strategy 2035’ in October. This ambitious institutional strategy is set to define the university’s direction and aspirations for the coming decade, emphasising flexible lifelong learning, a large-scale virtual campus, strategic partnerships, and research aimed at addressing real-world challenges. It also places a strong focus on employability, sustainability, and operational excellence.
Bruce Pritchard, Chair of Court at Heriot-Watt University, highlighted Professor Hewitt-Dundas’s qualifications for leading this strategic shift. “Professor Hewitt-Dundas brings a distinguished record in research and a deep understanding of how universities turn ideas into real benefit for communities and society,” he stated. Mr Pritchard further remarked on the historic nature of her appointment, adding, “It is a privilege to welcome someone of her calibre, and a historic milestone for us, with Professor Hewitt-Dundas becoming the first woman to hold the post in our history. With Strategy 2035, we have a clear sense of direction and ambition, and in Professor Hewitt-Dundas we have the leader to deliver it.”
Professor Hewitt-Dundas herself expressed her enthusiasm for the role, acknowledging the university’s long-standing impact. “This is a remarkable university where for over 200 years Heriot-Watt has responded to the needs of industry and society through world-class education, pioneering research and real-world impact,” she said. She added, “Heriot-Watt has always believed that education should be practical, useful, and open to anyone with the drive to use it. Our new strategy builds on that legacy, setting our direction for the next decade.”
Reflecting on the university’s distinctive approach, Professor Hewitt-Dundas commented, “This is an institution where we push the frontiers in disciplinary and interdisciplinary research. But what makes this distinctive is the strong ethos of innovation and entrepreneurship. And that’s evident in our graduate start-ups, our academic spin-outs, and our technology transfer with our partners.” She articulated a vision for collective progress, stating, “Together with colleagues, students, our alumni and partners we have an extraordinary opportunity to build on our strengths, to broaden our impact and to shape the next chapter of Heriot-Watt’s story.”
Professor Hewitt-Dundas succeeds Professor Richard A. Williams, who steps down at the end of September 2026 after an eleven-year tenure. During his leadership, Professor Williams, an accomplished engineer and innovator, notably strengthened Heriot-Watt’s global presence and its international reputation for research and innovation. Professor Williams was appointed an OBE in 2009 for his services to science and engineering.
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The transition in leadership occurs within a dynamic UK higher education landscape. The sector has experienced significant turnover in Vice-Chancellor positions, with over a quarter of Universities UK members anticipating a change in leadership during 2025 or 2026. This trend reflects the increasing complexities faced by universities, including financial pressures, evolving student recruitment patterns, and heightened regulatory scrutiny. A report by GatenbySanderson and the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) indicates that the average tenure for a Vice-Chancellor is around 5.5 years, mirroring that of FTSE 100 CEOs.
Heriot-Watt University, established in Edinburgh in 1821 as the world’s first mechanics’ institute, received its royal charter as a university in 1966, making it the eighth-oldest higher education institution in the UK. Today, it operates a global network of campuses across Scotland (Edinburgh, Scottish Borders, and Orkney), Dubai, and Malaysia. The university is highly regarded for its industry-focused education and research excellence, with 86.8% of its research classified as world-leading or internationally excellent by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021. It is also recognised for strong graduate outcomes, ranking first in Scotland and second in the UK, with nearly 90% of graduates in employment or further education within 15 months.
