School Leadership Team

Section leads

Horticultural Innovation

Ruth Vichos
Horticultural Innovation Section Lead at the SRUC School of Natural and Social Sciences

Ruth drives innovation in horticultural education. As Senior Lecturer, she’s shaped curriculum, led public engagement, and appeared on BBC’s Beechgrove Garden. Her leadership will champion collaboration, sustainable solutions, and smart use of technology such as vertical farming to boost horticultural impact across Scotland and beyond.

Agricultural Systems

Phil Wrigglesworth & Kairsty Topp (Co-Leads)
Agricultural Systems section co-leads at the SRUC School of Natural and Social Sciences

Kairsty specialises in climate change modelling and interdisciplinary science. Phil has led development of the agriculture programme, focused on graduate skill development. Together, they drive integration across education and research, while mentoring staff and expanding the portfolio.

Kairsty Topp's Expert profile

 

Business

Fiona Malone
Business section lead at the SRUC School of Natural and Social Sciences

Fiona brings experience from both public and private sectors, with a focus on applied education and industry engagement. She builds on existing strengths, such as RICS accreditation, and novel delivery methods including online learning and graduate apprenticeships. This section includes our suite of Business related masters degrees. Fiona is committed to fostering collaboration across sections to unlock new opportunities.

Natural Capital

Cath Seeds
Natural Capital Section Lead at the SRUC School of Natural and Social Sciences

Cath champions inclusive, innovative education. Nominated for the THE Award for Innovation, they bring recognised creativity and impact to their practice. Their leadership will raise the profile of natural capital, driving research across our core themes to influence policy and industry. Future graduates will benefit from an enhanced suite of tertiary programmes, preparing the next generation for nature‑focused careers.

Social Sciences

Luiza Toma
Social Sciences Section Lead at the SRUC School of Natural and Social Sciences

Luiza's career is rooted in behavioural and economic modelling. Her collaborative work across SRUC’s research and consultancy teams has shaped her understanding of diverse research interests. This section includes world leading Masters teaching, as well as one of the largest groups of social scientists and economists working on land use change, agriculture and rural economy in the UK.