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New Director at Interface Announced

8th June 2022

Interface is delighted to announce the appointment of its new Director, Amelia Whitelaw, who will take up the role in August.

Amelia Whitelaw is currently the Executive Director of the Wheeler Institute for Business and Development at London Business School (LBS).  The Wheeler Institute seeks to apply business expertise and research to social and economic challenges in developing countries.  Amelia brings to her leadership position success with leading academic institutions in developing, promoting and implementing multi-organisational and international collaborative programmes.

Amelia has been working with LBS since November 2011.  In her roles at LBS, as the former Executive Director of Global Outreach and Director Global Experiences, she leveraged the School’s work and networks to increase the profile of the School, to generate interest in degree programmes, and to create unique learning experiences.  In collaboration with faculty, senior alumni and business leaders, Amelia established the experiential learning programme that allowed students practical application in live settings, the contextualisation of business knowledge and experience, and increased exposure to developing countries and micro trends. Prior to joining LBS, she provided the vice chancellor and other senior executives of The Australian National University (ANU) with strategic, operational and policy support in developing its international programme.  Amelia was also representing the ANU on the east coast of the US and developed the management framework for the secretariat of the International Alliance of Research Universities.  This alliance has been highly productive in developing a portfolio of global summer programmes for students, strong research programmes and improving benchmarking across institutions.

Amelia graduated from The University of Edinburgh Business School with a MBA with distinction, and holds a Bachelor of Arts.

Professor Andrea Nolan, Chair of the Interface Strategic Board, said: “The Board and Team at Interface are looking forward to Amelia joining us in August.  Her breadth of knowledge and experience in the global arena will help Interface to realise their ambition, extend their reach and impact through continuing productive partnerships between academia and businesses, communities and social innovators, to achieve economic and societal impacts at a local, regional and global level.”

Amelia said: “I am very excited to lead this successful Scottish model that demonstrates how world-leading research can be purposeful and impactful.  I firmly believe that business has the potential to improve lives and livelihoods.  This is an incredible opportunity to engage and contribute to business and Scottish academic partnerships that have the potential not only to improve livelihoods but also to impact positively environmental sustainability, health improvement, growth of local communities and international development.”