Duncan Inglis Cameron
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Duncan Inglis Cameron
Early life
Born in
Cameron's first step into working within a university came in 1952, when he was appointed an assistant accountant of the University of Edinburgh remaining there for 13 years. In 1965 he took up the position of Secretary at the, then new, Heriot-Watt University.
University Secretary of Heriot-Watt
Heriot Watt University gained its royal charter in 1967 and became one of the UK's new technological universities. Cameron served as the university's Secretary for 25 years until his retirement in 1992. During this time, he worked with five principals, two acting principals, four chairmen of court and two chancellors.
Cameron's legacies at the university include:
- In 1967, initiating one of the first chairs in accountancy and finance, an innovative approach for training graduate-level accountants.
- Between 1969 and 1992, he played a key role in the transfer of Heriot-Watt's campus from its city location to a new campus at Riccarton, an ambitious and successful plan involving negotiations with the University Grants Committee.
- developing strategies for the transfer of technology and techniques into industry, resulting in entities such as Unilink, the pioneering industrial liaison unit, dedicated technology transfer units including the Institute of Offshore Engineering, Computer Applications Services, the Medical Laser Unit, the Marine Science Unit and the opening of the first UK university research park in 1971.[1]
- Heriot-Watt's reputation as 'Norway's University in Scotland' was largely due to Cameron's work in establishing links with Norway. He was later recognised for his achievements by the King of Norway.
- From 1967 to 1990, he represented Heriot-Watt's interests on the Universities Central Council on Admissions.
Achievements outside work
Cameron contributed much to society outside of his work with Heriot-Watt. His work to strengthen Scotland's historical links with Norway were honoured with the
From 1983 to 1988 he served as chairman of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society and from 1989, became an honorary fellow. In the 1991 New Year Honours he was awarded an OBE by the Queen and the following year, in 1991, the honorary degree of Doctor of the University was conferred on him by Heriot-Watt University. His obituary was published in The Scotsman on Tuesday 6 June 2006.