Officers  |  Past Presidents  |  Elected Members  |  Co-opted Members  |  Founding President  |  Governance

Officers

President

Prof Sarah Brown

University of Sheffield

 

Prof. Sarah Brown is a professor of economics at the University of Sheffield and has been with the institution since 2005. Her research interests include labour economics, household finances, and intergenerational attitudes. She is a Research Fellow at the IZA and an Associate Fellow at the Sheffield Political Economy Research Institute (SPERI). Currently, she serves as the President of the Scottish Economic Society and a Managing Editor of the Bulletin of Economic Research.

President-Elect

Dr Tanya Wilson

University of Glasgow

 

Dr. Tanya Wilson is a senior lecturer in economics at the University of Glasgow and an associate at the School of Health & Wellbeing. Her research focuses on family economics, exploring topics such as the impact of local labour market conditions on domestic violence and the influence of education on early motherhood, juvenile crime, and marital sorting.

Secretary

Dr Harminder Battu

University of Aberdeen

 

Dr. Harminder Battu is the Dean for International Student Pathways and a reader in economics at the University of Aberdeen Business School. His research interests include educational mismatch, labour market outcomes, and the effects of cultural and educational diversity on wages. He is the honorary secretary of the Society.

Treasurer

Prof Lindsey Macmillan

UCL Institute of Education

 

Prof. Lindsey Macmillan is the founding director of the Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities (CEPEO) at University College London and a research fellow in the Education and Skills sector at the Institute for Fiscal Studies. Her research focuses on educational inequalities, intergenerational income mobility, and the role of family background in access to and progression within occupations. She is an elected member of the Scottish Economic Society Council and co-editor of Education Economics.

Past Presidents

Charles Nolan (2020 - 2023)

Prof. Charles Nolan is the Bonar MacFie Chair in Economics at the University of Glasgow and a member of the Macroeconomics research cluster. His research interests include monetary policy, macroeconomics, banking, fiscal policy, and macroprudential issues.

 

Matthias Klaes (2017 - 2020)

Prof. Matthias Klaes is a visiting lecturer at the Vinson Centre, University of Buckingham. His research interests include economic governance, transaction costs, online financial intermediation, and economic methodology. He is the current President of the Scottish Economic Society and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and the Institute for Leadership and Management.

 

Anne Gasteen (2014 - 2017)

Dr. Anne Gasteen is a research fellow at the University of Stirling and a former senior lecturer in economics at GCU Glasgow, where she worked from 2004 to 2018. Her research interests include various aspects of economics with a focus on education and gender. She served as the first woman President of the Scottish Economic Society from 2014 to 2017.

 

Klaus Beckmann (2011 - 2014)

Prof. Klaus Beckmann is the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs in Accounting & Finance at the University of South Dakota. His research interests include international asset pricing, banking, and real estate finance. He specializes in finance and has extensive expertise in banking.

 

Robert Wright (2008 - 2011)

Prof. Robert Wright is the Milne Visiting Professor at the University of Western Australia and co-chair of the Implementation Group for a project on reducing informal employment in rural Uzbekistan. His research interests include population economics, labour economics, education economics, inequality and poverty, finance, and applied econometrics. He is also an Affiliate of the Adam Smith Business School and an Associate Tutor in the School of Education at the University of Glasgow.

 

Martin Chalkley (2005 - 2008)

Prof. Martin Chalkley is a professor of economics at the University of York. His research interests include economics of public services, health economics, and labour economics. He is an editor of the Scottish Journal of Political Economy and an associate editor of the Bulletin of Economic Research.

 

Bob Elliot (2002 - 2005)

Prof. Bob Elliott is an emeritus professor with the Health Economics Research Unit at the University of Aberdeen. His research focuses on health economics, labour economics, and public policy. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and has held visiting positions at several universities worldwide. Prof. Elliott has served as a Commissioner on the Low Pay Commission and coordinated the EC Framework 7 research project MUNROS, examining healthcare reform and the roles of health professionals.

 

Gavin Reid (1999 - 2002)

Prof. Gavin Reid is an emeritus professor at the University of Aberdeen and an honorary professor of economics at the University of St Andrews. His research interests include industrial organization, entrepreneurship, venture capital, small firms, innovation, R&D, intellectual property, information systems, risk appraisal, and financial structure. He is the founder and former director of the Centre for Research into Industry, Enterprise, Finance, and the Firm (CRIEFF) at the University of St Andrews and has published extensively in leading academic journals.

 

Paul Hare (1996 - 1999)

Prof. Paul Hare is a professor emeritus of economics at Heriot-Watt University, where he has been a faculty member since 1985. His research focuses on the economies of Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, microeconomic policy, investment, trade policy, and private sector development. He founded the Centre for Economic Reform and Transformation (CERT) and has worked on projects funded by the EU, World Bank, IMF, ESRC, and EBRD.

 

Laurie Hunter (1993 - 1996)

Sir Laurence Colvin Hunter is an emeritus professor and honorary senior research fellow in the School of Business and Management at the University of Glasgow where he was Professor of Applied Economics, 1970 to 2003. He was Vice-Principal, 1982 to 1986; Director of External Relations from 1987 to 1990 and Director of the Business School from 1996 until 1999.. His research and teaching focus on labour economics, industrial relations, and human resource management. He has held numerous public appointments, including serving on the Court of Inquiry into the Miners' Strike and the Royal Commission on Legal Services in Scotland, and was knighted in 1995 for his services.

Elected Members

Prof Jaap Bos, Maastricht University

Prof Jaap Bos is a professor of banking and finance at the Maastricht University School of Business and Economics. He is an applied economist with a focus on problems related to productivity and efficiency measurement. His research interests include banking performance, market power, and efficiency in financial services.

 

Dr Conrad Copeland, UCL

Dr. Conrad Copeland is a research fellow at University College London and Deputy Director for Investment Performance and Analysis at the Department for Business and Trade. He is an international macroeconomist interested in the geography of trade and financial flows, focusing on trade frictions, market access, and currency areas.

 

Prof Jeanette Findlay, University of Glasgow

Prof. Jeanette Findlay is a professor of economics at the University of Glasgow. Her research focuses on applied microeconomics, including skills and education, gender and work, poverty and inequality, and aspects of industrial economics. She is also a REF Lead in Impact for the Adam Smith Business School and serves as President of UCU Scotland.

 

Dr Christopher Lally, Nottingham Trent University

Dr. Christopher Lalley is a senior lecturer in economics at Nottingham Trent University . His research primarily focuses on labour economics, particularly returns to education, education expansion, income inequality, and wage returns from higher education initiatives.

 

Dr Hector Rufrancos

Dr. Hector Rufrancos is senior lecturer in economics at the University of Stirling School of Management. His research focuses on using applied econometrics to explore the interactions between policy, institutions, and individuals, and their implications for living standards and well-being. He also serves as the Undergraduate Economics Programme Director, PhD convenor for the Economics Division, SGPE Summer School Director.

 

Prof Daniel Schnitzlein, Leibniz University Hannover and Innside Statistics

Dr. Daniel Schnitzlein is an adjunct professor at the Institute of Labor Economics at Leibniz University Hannover. His research focuses on quantitative data analysis, statistical consulting, and survey design, particularly in the context of labor economics and wealth inequality. He is the founder and managing director of Innside Statistics and the principal investigator of the DFG-funded project on the intergenerational reproduction of wealth inequality in Germany.

 

Prof Heiko Stüber, University of Applied Labour Studies (UALS Schwerin Campus)

Prof. Heiko Stüber is a professor of economics at the University of Applied Labour Studies (Hochschule der Bundesagentur für Arbeit - HdBA). His research focuses on labor economics, including topics such as job security, wage rigidity, and the effects of economic cycles on employment. He is affiliated with the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, the Institute for Employment Research, the Institute of Labor Economics, and the Labor and Socio-Economic Research Center.

 

Prof Alex Trew, University of Glasgow

Prof. Alex Trew is a professor of economics at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow. His research interests include economic growth, economic geography, economic history, and financial development. He is affiliated with CESifo and IZA.

 

Dr Justine Wood, Loughborough University

Dr. Justine Wood is a senior lecturer in business economics at Loughborough University. Her research interests include central bank transparency, monetary policy, financial economics, the economics of education, and the history of economic thought.

 

Prof Gill Wyness, Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities, UCL Institute of Education

Prof. Gill Wyness is a professor of economics and deputy director of the Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities (CEPEO) at the UCL Institute of Education. She specialises in applied economics, focusing on the economics of higher education, particularly inequalities in university participation and attainment, higher education finance, and the impacts of information and guidance. She is also a Research Associate at the Centre for Economic Performance at LSE.

 

Prof Alexandros Zangelidis, University of Aberdeen

Prof. Alexandros Zangelidis is a professor of economics at the University of Aberdeen, where he has been a faculty member since 2003. His research interests include labour economics and health economics, focusing on human capital, labour supply, well-being, socio-economic inequality, and healthcare utilisation. He has led several funded projects and played a key role in establishing the Scottish Eyecare for Everyone (SEE) network, a collaboration aimed at improving eye care through research-informed policy.

Co-opted Members

Dr Anthoulla Phella, Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow, Local Organiser 2025 Annual Conference

Dr. Anthoulla Phella is a lecturer in econometrics at the Adam Smith Business School, University of Glasgow, and a member of the macroeconomics research cluster. Her research focuses on time series econometrics and applied macroeconomics, with a particular interest in macro-at-risk projects and climate econometrics. She is also an associate of Climate Econometrics at Nuffield College, University of Oxford.

 

Prof Alvin Birdi, Economic Network, University of Bristol

Prof. Alvin Birdi is the Director of the Economics Network and a professor of economics education at the University of Bristol. His research focuses on education innovation and enhancement. He sits on the Council of the Scottish Economic Society, chairs the Education Committee of the European Economic Association, and is a member of the editorial board of the International Review of Economics Education.

 

Dr Gary Gillespie, Chief Economic Adviser to the Scottish Government

Prof. Gary Gillespie is the Director and Chief Economic Adviser to the Scottish Government, a position he has held since 2011. His responsibilities include providing economic advice to the First Minister and ministers, publishing regular economic assessments, and leading engagement on the Wellbeing Economy Government network. He is also an Honorary Professor at Glasgow Caledonian University, Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde and Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences.

 

Mr Mark Moore, Teachers of Economics, Dollar Academy

Mark Moore is the Head of the Business Education Department at Dollar Academy, where he has been teaching since 2005. He specializes in the teaching of economics, covering levels from Intermediate Two up to Advanced Higher.

 

Ashley Lait, Economics Observatory & Economics Network, University of Bristol

Ms Ashley Lait  serves as a Senior Research Fellow and Economics Network Manager. In her role, she coordinates events, manages publications, conducts research on economics teaching and learning, and supports various thematic projects aimed at disseminating good practices in higher education economics. Additionally, she serves as the Research Editor at the Economics Observatory, leading both regional work and the ECO magazine.

 

Emma Congreve, Deputy Director, Fraser of Allander Institute

Ms Emma Congreve is a senior knowledge exchange fellow and deputy director at the Fraser of Allander Institute. Her work focuses on policy analysis across various social and economic policy areas, with particular expertise in economic policy relating to low-income households. Emma is an experienced economist, having previously worked as a senior economist at the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and as an economic adviser within the Scottish Government.

Founding President

J. Shield Nicholson (1897 - 1903)

J. Shield Nicholson was a professor of political economy at the University of Edinburgh, serving from 1880 until 1925 . His research interests included the effects of machinery on wages, monetary problems, and the history of the English Corn Laws. He was the first President of the Scottish Society of Economists from 1897 to 1903 and was awarded the Guy Medal in Silver by the Royal Statistical Society in 1918.

Governance

The Scottish Economic Society (SES) is governed by a Council comprising elected officers, past presidents, elected members, and co-opted members. The Council is responsible for the strategic direction and overall governance of the Society, ensuring that SES fulfills its mission to promote the study and teaching of economics in Scotland.

Council Structure

  • Officers: The core executive team, including the President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer.
  • Elected Members: Individuals elected by the membership to represent a broad spectrum of expertise in economics.
  • Co-opted Members: Appointed to provide specific skills or represent key stakeholder groups.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • President: Leads the Council and represents SES at official functions.
  • President-Elect: Supports the President and prepares to assume the presidency.
  • Secretary: Manages administrative functions and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • Treasurer: Oversees financial management and budgeting.
  • Council Members: Contribute to policy development, strategic planning, and implementation of initiatives.

Decision-Making Process

Decisions are made collectively by the Council through regular meetings and consultations. The Council ensures transparency and accountability in its operations and decision-making processes.

Committees

The Council may establish committees to focus on specific areas such as membership, events, education, and publications. These committees report back to the Council and help to implement the Society's strategic objectives.

At present there are three committees

The committee on Student Teacher outreach chaired by Justine Wood, members include Sarah Brown, Tanya Wilson and Hector Rufrancos

The committee on appointments seeks to work on SES nominations to other learned societies including the Academy of Social Sciences, this is chaired by Sarah Brown members include Tanya Wilson and Hector Rufrancos

The committee on sustainability seeks to make the activities of the society more sustainable, it is chaired by Gill Wyness, members include Conrad Copeland, Ashley Lait, Tanya Wilson, Justine Wood and Hector Rufrancos

Compliance and Ethics

SES adheres to high standards of governance, ethics, and compliance. The Society follows principles of transparency, accountability, and integrity in all its operations. Council members are expected to disclose any conflicts of interest and to act in the best interests of the Society.

Contact

For more information about the governance of the Scottish Economic Society, please contact us using the below postal address or contact form.

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Postal Address

Scottish Economic Society 
c/o Dr. Harminder Battu (Hon. Sec.) 
Department of Economics, Business School 
King's College, University of Aberdeen 
AB24 3QY 
Scotland