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Newcastle University Business School (NUBS) has announced Fiona Cruikshank, Managing Director of The Specials Laboratory, as the 2007/2008 David Goldman Visiting Professor of Business Innovation.
The annual appointment of the Goldman Visiting Professor recognises a prominent business figure in the field of business innovation. John Leopold, Acting Director & Head of Newcastle University Business School, comments:
“As a successful entrepreneur and MD of The Specials Laboratory – one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of unlicensed medicines – Fiona is an obvious choice for this position. Having been awarded North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 2003, she has an excellent knowledge base upon which to draw and we welcome the opportunity to share this knowledge with our students.”
The role of Visiting Goldman Professor involves working within the school to provide leadership and mentoring to its students and faculty, as well as delivering the David Goldman Business School lecture at the annual dinner which will take place this November the 8th at 6pm at the Research Beehive, Newcastle University.
As a registered pharmacist, Fiona has over 20 years of experience in the field of pharmaceutical manufacturing. After more than ten years working across the UK in community pharmacies, hospitals and in industry, she moved back to her native North East and set up her own business, The Specials Laboratory, in 1999.
On her appointment, Fiona comments: “This position allows me to pass on the business knowledge and experience I have gained over many years to the business professionals of tomorrow. As an active supporter of the local knowledge economy, I feel it is very important to invest in the future and also a privilege to play a role in the educational development of young people in our region”.
The David Goldman Visiting Professorship in Business Innovation and The David Goldman Chair in Business Innovation (currently held by Professor David Charles) is named in memory of the founder of SAGE plc, an entrepreneur who was also committed to the educational development of young people.
Fiona Cruickshank is the fifth holder of the post of Visiting Professor, and follows Paul Callaghan, founder of the Sunderland-based technology and communications company, Leighton Group.
