We will be joined by Professor Rita Marcella the Dean of Aberdeen Business School to discuss the role of education in business. Rita was born in Peterhead and first came to Aberdeen to study for her undergraduate degree at Aberdeen University, before going on to complete a postgraduate diploma at what was then RGIT, followed later by a doctorate. Following early experience in the oil industry Rita has spent most of her career in various academic roles at RGU, with a period as Head of School at Northumbria University in Newcastle. The time in England was a great opportunity to experience a dynamic and successful regional approach to enhancing the community. She returned to RGU in January 2004 and took up her present role as Dean of Faculty at the Aberdeen Business School.

Rita has a number of personal research interests which include political communication, citizenship information and gender issues in the cultural industries.

Rita is also involved in a number of external activities: as Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research Council Panel 6; member of the Grampian Racial Equality Council; member of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry Committee for the North East; a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute; member of the Management Development Committee of the CMI; and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Library and Information Professionals.