Tom McAra

Tom McAra left school at 16 years of age to work in a bookmakers where the highlight was managing the late and great Jock Stein’s credit account. He joined the civil service in 1975 and worked in Department of Industry, Crown Agents, Home Office, Economic and Social Research Council, Scottish Funding Council and Census Office doing a range of finance, procurement and policy-related work.

He joined the University of Glasgow as Purchasing Manager in 1996 and was promoted to Head of Procurement in year 2000. (He admits that he never went to university but qualified through Open University and other part time courses.)

As part of a very wide remit in the university he is University Travel Manager.

The other members of the board are Jonathan Green of JMP Consultants, Jeannette Harrison of the University of Nottingham, Gary Horton of the Cabinet Office, Tony Pilcher of Pilcher Associates, Duncan Spokes of the Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation and Dr Jacqui Wilkinson of Be Engaged.