Management Structure

Project Steering Committee (PSC)

The Project Steering Committee (PSC) is the highest level of governance in the project and is primarily responsible for overseeing the progress of the project and reacting to any strategic problems.

The PSC predominately comprises university senior managers with responsibility for research, and will be strengthened by representation from industry, external research institutes and European partnering organisations, representatives from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and relevant local authorities.

The PSC meets three times a year. The PSC is chaired by Professor Neil Simco, Vice-Principal (Research and Impact).

Scientific Advisory Board (SAB)

The Scientific Advisory Board (previously known as the Technical Steering Group) is primarily responsible for monitoring the technical content and ensuring that the project is constantly striving towards excellence. The role of the SAB is to provide the MERIKA project team with independent, impartial scientific advice on an ongoing basis. The SAB should be regularly briefed of the progress of MERIKA and its associated activities. The SAB may provide feedback and ideas to accelerate the development of MERIKA and inform its strategic direction. This may include providing suggestions on knowledge transfer and dissemination, mobility and networking, and on the scope and choice of research topics being pursued in the context of latest developments and opportunities worldwide (including Horizon 2020).

The SAB meets twice a year. The SAB is chaired by Professor Alistair Borthwick, University of Edinburgh.

MERIKA Management Team (MMT)

The MERIKA Management Team (MMT) is comprised of the Project Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Manager, Project Administration Officer, Theme Leaders and university's Head of Knowledge Exchange. The MMT meets monthly, and is responsible for dealing with operational issues, milestone and deliverable quality monitoring, and project management oversight.

Project Office (PO)

The MERIKA Project Office (PO) is responsible for the day-to-day management of the project and will ensure that it is delivered on time, to budget and to the required quality standard within agreed specifications. The PO ensures the project is effectively resourced and manages relationships with a wide range of groups (including all project contributors).

The PO is also responsible for managing the work of consultants, allocating and utilising resources in an efficient manner and maintaining a cooperative, motivated and successful team.

Based out of the university's Executive Office, the PO comprises the Project Knowledge Exchange and Innovation Manager (PKEIM), Damian Collins, and the Project Administration Officer (PAO), Morgane Artacho.