Second term for Funding Council Chair

The Minister for Further Education, Higher Education and Science, Richard Lochhead, has announced that Mike Cantlay has been reappointed as Chair of the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) for a further four years.

First appointed SFC Chair in October 2017, Mr Cantlay is currently also Chair of NatureScot (formerly Scottish Natural Heritage). He has previously held other senior public offices, including Chair of VisitScotland; Chair of Scottish Enterprise Forth Valley; and Chair of Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. Mr Cantlay studied at the University of Strathclyde and has an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Stirling. He was made an OBE in 2014 for services to tourism.

Welcoming the news, Karen Watt, Chief Executive of the Scottish Funding Council, said:

“During Mike’s first term in office, the Scottish Funding Council has risen to many challenges in order to sustain Scotland’s world-leading system of tertiary education, research and innovation.

“Mike’s experience in both the private sector and in public sectors has been an invaluable asset throughout. I am delighted that Mike will remain as Chair of SFC as we face the task of supporting Scotland’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and considering the future for students, research and innovation, and sustainable institutions.”