PROF
PETRA
WEND
W
HEN PROFESSOR
PETRA WEND FRSE
retired as Principal
and Vice-Chancellor of
QMU at the end of July, it
truly felt like the end of an
era. Professor Wend was at
the helm of the institution
for a decade, joining us two
years after we moved to our
current campus.
Under her leadership, the University leapt up the rankings in terms of
research excellence and greatly expanded the range and depth of such
work. It nurtured and expanded on its local and national partnerships
and connections alongside growing its international footprint and
outlook.
Indeed, a committed internationalist, Professor Wend has worked
consistently throughout her career as an academic to cross borders,
geographically and socially, in order to realise the full potential of the
institutions with which she has been associated.
While Professor Wend was Principal, QMU won the top award in the
Outstanding Leadership and Management Team category of the Times
Higher Education Leadership and Management Awards 2012. In March
2015, she was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Edinburgh,
in recognition of her inspirational leadership in higher education (FRSE).
Although she had never lived or worked in Scotland before joining
QMU, she soon established herself firmly here both in the higher
education sector and in broader civic life. In addition to her role at
QMU, she has been a member or chair of a significant number of
national and international boards. These roles include the Chair of
the National Implementation Board for Teaching Scotland’s Future, a
Commissioner on the Commission on Widening Access, Vice-Convener
of Universities Scotland, member of the Council of the Royal Society
of Edinburgh and also their Education Committee, Director on the
Board of the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, Chair of
the Common Purpose Edinburgh Advisory Group, and membership
of the British Council Scotland Advisory Committee. She is Chair of
the Global Universities Leaders’ Council. She is also a member of the
Council of the University of Hamburg.
Professor Wend delighted in engaging with students, alumni and
friends of the University. Just one example of this was the financial
support that she personally gave to student projects through the Vice-
Chancellor’s fund that she established.
Commenting on her retirement, she said: “These last ten years at QMU
have been the best of my professional life. I know that I will really miss
the University but I also think that QMU, like any organisation, will benefit
from a fresh perspective and new leadership after a period of ten years.
“With Sir Paul Grice taking up the role of Principal and Vice-Chancellor,
I know that QMU will go from strength to strength, led by someone with
such relevant and extensive experience, such a strong reputation and
such a high profile. I look forward to following your successes from afar.”
Dr Frances Dow, CBE, Chair of the Court of QMU said: “Throughout
her time at QMU, Professor Wend provided inspirational, insightful,
people focused and practical leadership. She has nurtured QMU’s
commitment to social justice, our emphasis on excellent teaching
and research, and our success in innovation and entrepreneurship. I
have greatly enjoyed working with her and witnessing her indefatigable
energy in securing a strong place for the University within the Scottish
higher education sector, and a position of influence globally.” ❒
8
QMYOU / Principal Appreciation
Tumbling
into Cirque
du Soleil
Q
MU GRADUATE,
Paul McGinley,
is Director of
Performance Medicine
with world famous
attraction, Cirque du
Soleil.
Paul studied physi-
otherapy at QMU in the
nineties, graduating
in 1999, and worked
in a variety of posts in
Scotland before landing
this exciting role with Cirque du Soleil. He is now based
in Canada where he supports approximately 1,400 artists
performing across the globe.
Can you tell us a bit about where you’re from and what
inspired you to come QMU for study?
Home is North Berwick, though Edinburgh is really
where I feel I'm from nowadays. I saw my sister studying
physiotherapy and realised that it was the profession
that would enable me to balance my desire for better
understanding of human biology and medicine with my
interest in sports.
QMU (then Queen Margaret College) was local to me, and
therefore the most practical route to achieving my career
goals. It also enabled me to maintain many of my other
interests (piping with my local band, playing rugby with
the same team, and staying connected with friends). We
were based in the Leith campus and this was very new,
and easy to access.
After graduation, can you tell a little about where your
career has taken you?
I started working in the NHS, as is most common for
physiotherapists, and began to doubt whether sport was
actually for me. I realised I loved intensive care work, and
was able to enjoy a diverse range of work environments
through rotations as a Junior Physiotherapist.
However, an opportunity came up for a post at Hibernian
Football Club where they were creating an Academy
Physiotherapist post. I reached out, met with the head
physio and after due process, was given this role. I loved
it! For me, it was exciting having more time to spend with
patients, with such a daily variety of cases and work-day
structure. At the end of each week there were matches
which gave you a gauge on how successful your work
had been.