The Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference

Professor Jim McDonald is responsible for the day-to-day management of the University and is also responsible to the University Court for the finances of the University. He was appointed Principal in November 2008 and took up his post in March 2009. He started his Strathclyde career as an undergraduate, before studying for an MSc and PhD in Power Engineering and Power System Economic.

Jim McDonald returned to the University in 1984 after eight years in industry and held several academic positions in the department of Electronic & Electrical Engineering including Head of Department, ultimately taking up the post of Rolls Royce Professor of Electrical Power Systems in 1994. Under his leadership it has grown into the largest group of its kind in Europe with a £30m research portfolio. He has also been involved in the creation of six University spin-out companies, one of which was awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise.

He was promoted to Deputy Principal in August 2006 with a focus on research enhancement and business development. In October 2006 he was appointed Director of the Glasgow Research Partnership in Engineering (GRPE), part of an £80m collaborative pooling funded by the Scottish Funding Council. As part of the Scottish Engineering research pool, he acts as Chairman of the Energy Technology Partnership.

He is actively involved in advising government, industry and commerce and holds a number of public posts including: Main Board Director - Scottish Enterprise; Member - Scottish Science Advisory Committee (SSAC); Member - UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) - Energy Excellence Board; Chairman - Saltire Prize Technical Advisory Board; Member - Scottish Enterprise Aerospace, Marine and Defence Industrial Advisory Board.

Jim McDonald has also been responsible for overseeing the organisation of Strathclyde 100, a network of successful entrepreneurs, and the development of the new centre for sports & health, as well as being one of the driving forces behind the Excellence Agenda. He has a strong personal commitment to supporting gifted young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to enter Higher Education. He is an Adviser to the Robertson Trust, which allocates scholarships, and has played a leading role in the Careers Scotland/NASA Space School and the IET Power Academy, which have similar aims.