70
Ian Nickerson, HND Electrical and Electronic
Engineering, 1970 (MBA 1998)
What part did Edinburgh Napier play in helping you
shape your career?
“When I was 19 my future brother-in-law worked
for building services consultants Steensen Varming
Mulcahy who were responsible for services design
in hospitals including Nine Wells in Dundee and the
Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. He introduced me to
the senior partner of the business who agreed to
employ me on condition that I undertook an HND
at Napier; the following week I was enrolled on the
HND course.
“My HND was extremely valuable in my early career
where the technical knowledge was essential.
My distance learning MBA has broadened my
perspective to other industries and markets and
given me a great insight into the higher level
corporate picture. I am a great believer in the
building and motivation of teams in both sport
and business to achieve success, and the range
of courses together with the sports facilities at
Edinburgh Napier helped encourage this philosophy.
“In my view there is little difference between
sport and business – success in both is all about
outmanoeuvring your competitors – and winning!”
What has been your greatest personal achievement?
“Sport – in particular rugby – has been a big part of
my life. I played whilst I was at Edinburgh Napier and
I also played with Boroughmuir, Edinburgh District,
Dunfermline and Aberdeenshire, who I captained.
I continued playing senior rugby until the age of
45 and had the dubious privilege of playing in the
same team as my two sons on a couple of occasions.
My early sports career really taught me about the
importance of teams and how different people react
to different motivations and different situations.
“I was a company director at the age of 33. I have
held numerous MD and CEO positions in major
organisations such as Cape, Maersk and Bilfinger.
I have also chaired and directed subsidiary and
Joint Venture companies in Canada, USA, Trinidad,
Azerbaijan, Australia, Singapore and Thailand.
I have always been very optimistic about life in
general and I think the early years of work further
developed this. People learn from trying new things
which inevitably leads to some mistakes—but trying
new things and taking opportunities has worked
well for me—with far more up’s than downs. I think
my sports experiences have also contributed to this
ethos. Whenever I have had a sports injury my body
has always healed; this has taught me that things
tend to fix themselves, if you stay positive.”
What is your favourite memory of your time at
Edinburgh Napier?
“It was always clear to me that Napier was
extremely communicative with its students. The fact
that the class of 1970 is still effectively together
is testament to the camaraderie built within both
the formal courses and the sports and social scene.
Many, many parties were had during our time at
Napier – great days!
“I am currently President of the 3dB, a club founded
in 1970 by the HND3(b) Electrical & Electronic
Engineering class of 1969/70 and selected students
and members of staff. Our purpose was to maintain
friendships, technical links and contacts – an AGM
and dinner has been held every year since.”
Who was your favourite lecturer?
“There were a number of lecturers who really stood
out for me; Archie Maclean, of course, and also
Robin Henderson, who was a lecturer in Maths,
and Ronnie Small, who was Head of PE. Ronnie and
I had a lot in common sports wise. There was also
an Electrical Engineering lecturer Jim Govan, a
cricketer, who was great!”
Did you meet you partner at Napier?
“I actually met my partner when I was doing the
Christmas Post whilst in my year at Heriot-Watt.
We were both allocated to assist the same Postie.
We were married in August 1970, and 43 years later
we are still happily together.”