UofG Technicians

On 15th December 2025, the University of Glasgow hosted its annual Technician Commitment Celebratory Event at the Advanced Research Centre (ARC), bringing together technical staff and champions to reflect on achievements and future priorities.

The event opened with a Welcome Address from Ali Salik, Technician Commitment Coordinator, who shared sector-wide updates on the Technician Commitment and highlighted the University’s continued leadership in advancing recognition and career development for technical professionals.

Lynsey Johnston, Co-Chair of the Technician Commitment Champions Network (TCCN), followed with an overview of the network’s activities throughout 2025, showcasing collaborative initiatives and community engagement.

Two inspiring presentations featured technician-led InFrame projects:

• Tabea Gerlach provided progress updates on the SRTP (Scottish Research Technicians’ Professional) Academy, a flagship programme supporting technical career development across Scotland.
• Claire Wilson shared updates on RELAX (Recognising Leadership and Expertise in Technical Professionals), a project focused on celebrating technical leadership.

A major highlight of the event was the launch of the long-awaited Technician EDI Report. Members of the EDI Subcommittee, Jennifer Cassels and Nikki Paul, presented an overview of the report and its recommendations. Katie Farrell, Head of EDI, endorsed the report and expressed her commitment to working with the technical community to implement its findings. Physical copies were distributed at the event, and a digital version is available here: 15 Dec 2025 TCCN EDI Report.

Senior Vice Principal, Professor Frank Coton, thanked the EDI Subcommittee for their outstanding work and presented awards to the contributors:

• Jennifer Cassels, School of Cancer Sciences, MVLS
• Nikki R. Paul, CRUK Scotland Institute, MVLS
• Helen Kinch, SUERC, CoSE
• Euan Stobbs, School of Chemistry, CoSE
• Leo Combs, School of Physics and Astronomy, CoSE
• Allan McVie, School of Psychology & Neuroscience, MVLS

The event concluded with the announcement of this year’s James Watt Technician Prize. Out of six strong nominations, Jennifer Cassels was named the winner and received her award during the ceremony.

Professor Coton closed the event with heartfelt remarks, noting this would be his final appearance at the annual celebration as he prepares for retirement next year. He praised the exceptional contributions and skills of the University’s technical staff, emphasising their vital role in research and innovation.