Professor Chris Pearce Appointed Chair of SPEERI
Professor Chris Pearce
SPEERI is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Chris Pearce as its new Chair.
Professor Pearce is Vice Principal (Research & Knowledge Exchange) at the University of Glasgow and has been a member of the Scottish Research Partnership in Engineering (SRPe) Board since 2020 and of the SPEERI Board since its establishment in January 2025.
He takes on the role at an important stage in SPEERI’s development. Formed in January 2025 through the strategic integration of the Energy Technology Partnership (ETP) and the Scottish Research Partnership in Engineering (SRPe), two of Scotland’s long-established research partnerships, SPEERI provides a national platform bringing together the energy and engineering expertise of Scotland’s universities, working collaboratively with industry and government.
“SPEERI has a critical role to play as a national platform bringing the energy and engineering expertise of Scotland’s universities together with industry and government.”
With his extensive experience in research, knowledge exchange and university-industry collaboration, Professor Pearce will help build on this strong foundation and further develop SPEERI’s role in addressing the energy and engineering challenges that will shape Scotland’s future.
Professor Chris Pearce said:
“At a time when secure, affordable and sustainable energy and resilient infrastructure are central to Scotland’s future prosperity, SPEERI has a critical role to play as a national platform bringing the energy and engineering expertise of Scotland’s universities together with industry and government.
“It is a privilege to take on the role of Chair, and I would like to thank Professor Sir Jim McDonald for the vision, leadership and commitment he has shown over many years in building Scotland’s energy and engineering research partnerships and ultimately bringing them together as SPEERI. I am delighted that we will continue to benefit from his experience and insight as Strategic Adviser.”
Professor Pearce succeeds Professor Sir Jim McDonald KT, GBE, Chair of Scottish Enterprise, and Emeritus Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde, who has led Scotland’s energy and engineering research partnerships for almost two decades.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald KT, GBE
Sir Jim became Chair of ETP at its inception in 2008, took on the Chair of SRPe in 2014, and became Chair of SPEERI when the two partnerships came together in January 2025. During this time, his leadership, commitment and influence have helped shape ETP, SRPe and SPEERI, as well as the wider culture of collaboration across Scotland’s university research and innovation community.
His contribution has been particularly significant in bringing ETP and SRPe together to create SPEERI, establishing a stronger platform for collaboration and creating new opportunities to attract funding, partnerships and investment into Scottish higher education research and innovation.
While stepping down as Chair, Sir Jim will continue to support SPEERI as Strategic Adviser, ensuring that the organisation can continue to benefit from his considerable experience, knowledge and insight.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald said:
“It has been both a privilege and pleasure to have worked so closely with the Scottish Universities’ energy and engineering research and innovation communities.
“The commitment from the various executives in ETP and SRPe – originating from the Research Pooling system – coupled with the many Board members and thematic research leaders has created a productive and supportive approach to collaboration that has differentiated Scotland for almost twenty years; this has been noted and supported by Scottish and UK government departments alongside many key agencies including SFC, Scottish Enterprise, SDS and UKRI.
“I am confident that SPEERI will make great progress with Professor Chris Pearce as our new Chair, our excellent Chief Executive Claire Ordoyno, the Board members from across our Universities and the many academics so well engaged in our workstreams.”
“I was delighted when the engineering and energy leadership groups agreed to merge ETP and SRPe to create SPEERI which now provides a platform for ongoing collaboration and helps create opportunities to attract funding and partners into Scottish HE research and innovation activities. SPEERI will provide support both within key research themes and increasingly in cross thematic areas where we can address challenges in energy technologies, health technology, resilient & sustainable infrastructure, manufacturing, automation & robotics and the underpinning policy and societal issues that these impact.
“Finally, I am confident that SPEERI will make great progress with Professor Chris Pearce as our new Chair, our excellent Chief Executive Claire Ordoyno, the Board members from across our Universities and the many academics so well engaged in our workstreams. I wish SPEERI every success and I look forward to continue to work with my colleagues as appropriate in a new advisory capacity.”
The organisation is immensely grateful to Sir Jim for his exceptional leadership and contribution over almost 20 years, and is delighted that his experience and insight will continue to benefit SPEERI in his new role as Strategic Adviser.
