Deputy Lieutenants of Aberdeen

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Donella is a Vice Principal for Economic Development at Robert Gordon University – Donella, a native of the Isle of Skye, completed a BSc in Biology at Aberdeen University and trained as a primary teacher at the then Northern College, Aberdeen.

Her first senior leadership role post-graduation was as Manager for a land and visitor centre- owning charitable trust providing experience of the hospitality and tourism sector. She then embarked on an enterprise-focussed career, often working at the intersection between higher education and business.

She joined RGU in late 2012 to support the University to develop its commercial portfolio and business engagement after being CEO of an award-winning media and software company on Skye for 18 years.  Now, as Vice Principal of Economic Development, Donella champions the University’s work to stimulate economic development in the region, nationally and internationally, and in supporting businesses and other organisations to be more successful.

She is a member of a number of committees and boards including the Scottish Funding Council’s Skills, Enhancement, Access and Learning Committee; and, closer to home, the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce Policy Group and Prosper’s North Committee. She has also worked extensively with international partners, with particular experience in Japan; Mexico and Colombia; and Algeria and Nigeria. 

Originally from Fife, Gillian has lived in Aberdeen for more than 24 years.  A wife, mother and granny, she is involved with several local charities and organisations, participating in various events throughout the year.

Her Christian faith is her mainstay in life and she is actively involved in various church events, including camps for children and teenagers and helping in a local care home.

She is also a Director of the Marcliffe Hotel and actively involved in the day to day running of the business.

Graeme was born and educated in Banff, where he spent the first 10 years of his working life as a fisherman and a part owner of a family fishing boat. He entered Robert Gordon University as a mature student and graduated BA (Hons) in Business Studies in 1994.  He qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1997 and spent 10 years with Anderson, Anderson and Brown, a well-known accountancy practice. He then worked as a Group Finance Director with two well-known local Aberdeen businesses in the construction sector for 15 years.

Graeme has lived in Aberdeen for 35 years and is married with two children. He is a past Governor of Albyn School (6 Years) where he chaired the Finance and Remuneration committee and he is a member of the Church of Scotland at Craigiebuckler Church, where he was the Gift Aid Convenor for ten years.     

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Hector is originally from Secunderabad, India but during his teen years, he has lived in Ethiopia and Nigeria due to family relocation. He came to Aberdeen in 1978 to complete his graduate studies after which he has had a long academic career as a statistician within both, University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University.

His doctorate in Practical Theology has inspired his current interest in addressing inequalities, disadvantage and discrimination through striving for social change. He is currently Vice Chairman of Grampian Regional Equalities Council (GREC) where his main role is policy development on tackling racism and improving social cohesion. He is an avid reader with a special interest in colonial history. Consequently, he has a deep concern for its apparent absence in school curricula which he hopes to incorporate in his policy development role at GREC.

His Christian faith is central to his work in exposing and articulating structural issues that contribute to inequality and prejudice. With a keen interest in charitable work, he has in the past chaired a small Scottish charity (India Ministries Fellowship) that supported three educational projects in South India set up to improve educational attainment of Dalit children.

Ian Ord is a founder of Fifth Ring, the Aberdeen-born agency that has grown over thirty years into one of the most successful global players in B2B marketing. Ian's career has centred on helping client businesses grow and internationalise, while supporting the wider ecosystem of entrepreneurs shaping Scotland’s future.

Beyond business, Ian has been involved with Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre in Aberdeen for over fifteen years, serving as Chairman and helping to guide the charity’s development in the region. Over many years, Ian has supported UCAN, a urological cancer charity in the city His broader charitable work reflects a philosophy of practical philanthropy: focused, hands-on support that strengthens communities, improves wellbeing and creates lasting benefit. His work in developing Education and Industry partnerships in the city has been replicated across Scotland and beyond.

A passionate advocate for sport, Ian champions its role in developing young people. From local initiatives to international projects in golf and cycling, he supports programmes that build resilience, confidence and opportunity for the next generation. His belief in the connection between physical activity, mental health and community cohesion continues to inform much of his charitable work.

Isabel was born in Banff but spent her early childhood years living on the Isle of Mull until the death of her father when she was nine. Her mother moved back to Banff in order to gain employment as a nurse and, after attending primary school in Tobermory, Isabel moved to Banff Academy for secondary schooling.

Isabel gained an Honours Degree in French and German from Aberdeen University in 1977 prior to completing her Diploma in Education in 1978. In 1989 she completed her Master of Education degree, also at Aberdeen University.

She started teaching in Speyside High School, Aberlour, in 1978 and spent five years there before doing a teaching exchange to Beloit, Wisconsin, USA, where she taught at a Junior High School. Isabel returned to Speyside High, then spent six months in Westhill Academy and in August 1985 she was appointed as Principal Teacher of Modern Languages at Powis Academy, which became St Machar Academy after the merger with Hilton Academy in 1988.

In 1994 she became Assistant Head Teacher and then Depute Head Teach after the second merger with Linksfield Academy and subsequently became Head Teacher of St Machar Academy in January 2006 until she retired in January 2016.

During her time at St Machar her main focus was always learning and teaching, positive behaviour management, support for pupils and offering high quality professional learning for staff. Early in her Headship St Machar Academy was chosen as a School of Ambition, a programme which set in motion many of the learning opportunities offered to pupils.  They were able to offer all S2 pupils the opportunity to go to an Outward Bound course at Loch Eil and worked with Columba 1400 in Staffin, Isle of Skye, to promote leadership to young people. As a result of this, the school developed their own Leadership Academy run by staff who worked with S3 pupils. St Machar became an Eco school, developed excellent links with local companies and were able to increase the learning experiences on offer to pupils in order to increase self esteem, awareness and to raise attainment.

Isabel was also a teacher representative on the Board of Engineering at Aberdeen University for a number of years. This proved to be interesting work and enabled Isabel to provide a useful link between my Head Teacher colleagues in Aberdeen and the Engineering Board. She also served on a national Steering Group which saw Police Scotland, Universities and Colleges and the NHS work together to develop the Prevent Strategy in Scotland with regard to radicalisation.

Isabel married her husband, Peter Campbell, himself a former Head Teacher, in 1987. Peter very sadly died in November 2016 aged 63. They have two children, Iona, a trainee anaesthetist and a son, Calum, an environmental consultant. Isabel also have a beautiful granddaughter who was born in 2022.

Isabel's hobbies are gardening and floristry. She completed a professional floristry course in 2017 and raises money through her floristry for Alzheimer’s Research UK in memory of her husband.

She is an active member of her local Church of Scotland. She serves as a Street Pastor and is part of the management team. Isabel is also a member of the Culter in Bloom group.

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Having spent nearly 30 years working in media and marketing, Morven recently changed career and took up a position with a new charity in Aberdeen – still to be launched – called All Life Chances. 

In her new role, she is responsible for providing strategic direction and marketing advice to existing charities and community groups that support local children, young people and their families, particularly those living in the city’s priority neighbourhoods. 

Morven is also the founder since 2019 of Celebrate Aberdeen, a voluntary initiative aimed at shining a light on the city’s third sector which comprises a city centre parade, annual awards dinner and a mental health and networking event. She is a mum of three and a fan of all things sports-related.

Myles is the Co-Founder and Director of local charity, Gathimba Edward Foundation (GEF) which supports children in Kenya and north-east Scotland. Along with fellow Co-Founder Gideon Gathimba, who he first met in 2009 at the opening of Aberdeen Sports Village, Myles is a successful athlete who has won three Scottish 1,500m titles and finished 135th in the 2024 London Marathon in a time of 2 hours 28 minutes. Gideon is a former Kenyan international athlete and 4x1,500m relay world record holder. Their shared love of athletics brought them together as friends, and in 2014 GEF was born following an inspirational visit to a children’s home. Through their education, shelter and wellbeing programmes, the charity aims to build a brighter future and improve the quality of life for children and their families in Kenya and north-east Scotland. As of 2025, they have supported over 700 children and built 69 new homes.  

Myles is married with two young daughters.

Rita has been a Burgess of the City of Aberdeen for 23 years and she is also an Assessor for the Burgess. 

A former Head of Economic Development at Aberdeen City Council for 8 years with a reputation for delivery and a successful track record in business development, international trade development, marketing and events management.

A graduate in hotel management with experience of working abroad. Detailed knowledge of the tourism industry in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire which she now applies in her current role as a self-employed Tour Guide covering the Northeast of Scotland, where she offers the tours for French and Spanish visitors as she speaks fluent. 

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