Strategic Business Development Team
Direct links to university expertise
We are a group of business professionals working closely with our Business Development Managers based in each of Glasgow Caledonian University's academic schools.
Hamish Dingwall, Director of Research, Innovation and Enterprise
T: 0141 331 3910
E: Hamish.Dingwall@gcu.ac.uk
After graduating with a BSc Hons in Human Physiology from Aberdeen University, Hamish worked in research before joining the oil and gas industry and working for a number of SMEs in this sector over a period of ten years.
On completion of an MBA at Edinburgh University, he joined the then Scottish Development Agency (now Scottish Enterprise) in 1990, working on technology transfer, company development, internationalisation and a variety of infrastructure projects. In 1996, he became Director of Energy at Scottish Enterprise, responsible for the national and international operations of the organisation.
In 2001, Hamish joined the World Bank Group based in Washington DC, leading a private sector development team responsible for stimulating entrepreneurship and job creation in developing countries on a global basis.
After a period of being a self-employed advisor in sustainable development he joined Glasgow Caledonian University in 2009 as Director of Research, Innovation and Enterprise, to strengthen the university’s business partnerships with external clients for mutual benefit.
Dr Andy McNair, Strategic Business Development 
T: 0141 331 8609
E: Andrew.McNair@gcu.ac.uk
Andy studied Chemistry at Strathclyde University, going on to complete a PhD in hydrogel polymers and drug delivery.
He joined Biocompatibles Ltd in London, leading the formation of the Cardiovascular Division's Drug Delivery Group, later sold as part of a £160m deal with Abbott Laboratories. Andy led the initial product development of what is now Dexamet TM, the second commercially available drug-eluting stent launched.
He came back to Scotland to work with AorTech on the product development of a synthetic tri-leaflet heart valve, a project that also involved the universities of Leeds and Liverpool, Glasgow Royal Infirmary and CSIRO in Australia.
Andy then joined to Connect Scotland, a business development and technology networking company with affiliations throughout Europe, the USA and Asia. He held positions of Regional Director, Director and latterly Managing Director during 9 years with the company and had specific responsibility for Connect's work with life science and medtech companies.
Fiona Stewart-Knight, Strategic Business Development 
T: 0141 331 3189
E: Fiona.Stewartknight@gcu.ac.uk
Since completing a BA Joint Honours in French and Marketing at the University of Strathclyde in 1996 Fiona has developed extensive experience in international strategic marketing and business development.
Working in a bi-lingual capacity her commercial experience spans the computing, drinks and electronics industries. She has worked with global organisations such as, Digital Equipment Corp., Burn Stewart Distillers Plc, DIAGEO and Coilcraft Europe Ltd.
In 2000, she joined Coilcraft, a global manufacturer of passive magnetics as a Business Development Executive, fostering long-term strategic partnerships that led to significant long-term design wins, volume orders and revenue success. Responsible for the strategic analysis of the European division, Fiona worked as European Exhibitions Manager for the duration of her time with Coilcraft.
Fiona specialises in international market screening and identifying new business opportunities; creating intra and cross industry strategic alliances; optimising routes to market and building brand equity; building profitable and sustainable customer portfolios; and negotiating annual global accounts, contracts and logistics agreements.
Fiona Ramsay, Digital and Offline Marketing Executive
T: 0141 331 3125
E: Fiona.Ramsay@gcu.ac.uk
Fiona spent ten years working in journalism before joining the Applied Knowledge Exchange as Digital and Offline Marketing Executive in November 2009. She worked for several years on Haymarket Publishing titles, most recently covering the vibrant digital marketing arena as Digital Editor for Marketing magazine.
Previously, Fiona worked on specialist business titles spanning television production, the telecommunications sector, and bookselling and publishing. She has an MA in Investigative Journalism from Nottingham Trent University and an MA in English Literature from The University of Edinburgh.
Janette McAlpine, Knowledge Transfer Manager 
T: 0141 331 8877
E: Janette.Mcalpine@gcu.ac.uk
Janette McAlpine is the Knowledge Transfer Manager at Glasgow Caledonian University, helping our expert academics work together with businesses using innovative funding solutions such as Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, Innovation Vouchers, and governmental funding streams such as the Technology Strategy Board and SPIRIT. Janette also works closely with Interface, the knowledge connection tool for businesses and Universities to develop collaborative opportunities with a wide range of organisations from the private and public sectors.
Carol Chisholm, Corporate Business Development Administrator 
T: 0141 331 3189
E: appliedknowledgeexchange@gcu.ac.uk
Carol’s career has been within the financial sector at Clydesdale Bank, James Finlay Investment Management Limited, Scottish Mutual Assurance, before the take over by Abbey National, and finally Banco Santander.
She has also worked in the oil industry as International PA to senior managers within BP and has covered all aspects of secretarial, administration and events management. Carol joined Glasgow Caledonian University as a Corporate Business Development Administrator within the Applied Knowledge Exchange in September 2007.