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Chamber and committees

Professor Sir Geoff Palmer OBE CD appointed the new Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University

  • Submitted by: Foysol Choudhury, Lothian, Scottish Labour.
  • Date lodged: Wednesday, 26 May 2021
  • Motion reference: S6M-00139

That the Parliament congratulates Professor Sir Geoff Palmer OBE CD on becoming the new Chancellor of Heriot-Watt University; notes that he is of the Windrush generation and came to Scotland in 1964 to study and later to work, gaining his PhD and DSc degree from the University of Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt University respectively; recognises that he is a renowned research scientist who invented the revolutionary barley abrasion process, promoted Scottish grain in China, and has taught many successful brewers and distillers; further notes that, as well as holding a number of honorary degrees, he was Scotland’s first black professor and was the first European resident to be honoured with the American Society of Brewing Chemists’ Award of Distinction, considered to be the “Nobel prize” in the world of brewing, and acknowledges that, in addition to being well known for his community, human rights and history work, including his appointment as the first ambassador for the Robert Burns World Federation, he has served as a board member and Chair of many organisations, was recently made a Commander of Distinction by the Government of Jamaica and is the first Honorary Consul for Jamaica in Scotland.


Supported by: Colin Beattie, Neil Bibby, Sarah Boyack, Miles Briggs, Finlay Carson, Maggie Chapman, Bob Doris, Annabelle Ewing, Neil Gray, Bill Kidd, Monica Lennon, Richard Leonard, Ruth Maguire, Liam McArthur, Paul McLennan, Stuart McMillan, Carol Mochan, Alex Rowley, Colin Smyth, Collette Stevenson, Kaukab Stewart, Paul Sweeney, Michelle Thomson, Evelyn Tweed, Martin Whitfield