Explore the Stirling University Remunerations Committee, its members, and their qualifications amid scrutiny over pay increases for the Principal, Professor McCormac.
The university’s Remunerations Committee sets his pay. They believe it fits the job’s size. The committee’s members and qualifications are questioned. Let’s explore the situation further.
The Remunerations Committee reviews salaries yearly, including the principal’s. Six people are currently on the committee. They are also on the university court. That is Stirling University’s governing body. The court manages resources and strategy and decides on big developments.
The court chair got £21,605 in 2023-24. They received £22,000 the year before. Court members also get reimbursed expenses. Students nicknamed McCormac “greedy Gerry.” He’s been at Stirling University since 2010.
The university employs about 1,652 full-time staff. This includes academic and admin roles. The median wage is £45,053. McCormac earns nine times more than that. Many make less than the median wage.
Thirty staff earn between £100,000 and £229,999. This excludes pension contributions. Every pay bracket has at least one person, except the £180,000-£189,999 bracket is vacant. Ten people earn £130,000 to £139,999 each year; three were in that bracket in 2023. Six staff earn £140,000 to £149,999 yearly, up from three.
Susan Gordon Hardy chairs the Remunerations Committee. She’s been the court’s vice-chair since 2019. She is an experienced corporate lawyer and advisor. She studied law and worked in London and Hong Kong. She advises fund management groups. She’s on other committees and a pension trustee.
Harry Adam chairs the university court since 2021. He was a court member for 17 years. He joined the Remunerations Committee in 2012. He studied at Stirling, earning a BA in 1980. He worked in human resources. Now, he chairs an audit committee for ConstructionSkills and participates in several other university committees.
Leen Ali is the Students’ Union president, elected in 2023 and again last year. She is also a union trustee. Ali is from Sudan and studies sociology. She is on the Remunerations Committee. She also participates in other university committees.
Hamish Grossart is a Stirling alumnus and businessman. He worked in retail, oil, gas, and banking and has boardroom experience. Grossart became a court member in 2017. Besides the Remuneration Committee, he is on other university committees.
Dr. Mary Allison is a university court member and participates in the Remuneration Committee. She worked in sports, fitness, and healthcare. She also worked with charities. She earned a PhD from Edinburgh in 2021.
Gary Fleming is a trade union representative. He represents staff on the university court. He’s also Unison’s Stirling University secretary and participates in the Remunerations Committee.
