Our People

Graeme Morrison joined Dollar Academy (his alma mater) as Head of Finance in 2022, before becoming Bursar/Chief Operating Officer in January 2024. Graeme’s primary responsibilities are for all of the non-academic aspects of the school including finance, campus development and maintenance, legal matters, and strategic decision making.

Born in Hong Kong, he attended the Academy as a boarder in McNabb House and was Deputy Head Boy in Form VI. After leaving school, Graeme enjoyed a successful career as a professional rugby player, representing Glasgow Warriors from 2003-2013, a period during which he also earned  35 international caps for Scotland. Following his retirement from rugby, Graeme trained and qualified as a chartered accountant, working with both RBS and Johnston Carmichael, where he specialised in Corporate Finance.

Graeme is married to Sarah and they have three children who attend the Academy.

Robin Pyper joined Dollar Academy in 2023. His primary responsibility as Deputy Rector is for the smooth and efficient day-to-day running of the whole school, as well as contributing to the strategic development of the Academy. Additionally, he has overall responsibility for boarding at Dollar and is responsible for our Co-Curricular provision, including our numerous trips and tours.

Robin studied GCSEs and A-levels at Gordonstoun School and then Sports Science at Leeds University. He gained his Qualified Teacher Status through the University of Warwick while working at Bloxham School, Oxfordshire. He then went on to be Housemaster at Merchiston Castle School. In 2017 he moved to Lord Wandsworth College, first as Houseparent, then Deputy Head Pastoral and Designated Safeguarding Lead. During his time at Lord Wandsworth he obtained a Masters in Education Leadership from the University of Exeter.

He is married to Rachael, who is a Music teacher; they have two daughters, who are pupils at Dollar, and a lively cocker spaniel named Walter. He is a runner of ultra-marathons, remains keen on playing hockey and cricket (when time permits), and supporting all forms of artistic endeavour.

Elizabeth Langley joined Dollar Academy in 2008 as an English teacher.  In 2013 she became Head of PSE and is now the Assistant Rector in charge of Forms IV, V and VI as well as having overall responsibility for pupil health and wellbeing. She is also the Child Protection Co-ordinator for the whole school.

She began her teaching career in the English department at Viewforth High School in Kirkcaldy before moving to George Watson’s College in Edinburgh for six years, where she was also a Head of Year. Elizabeth loves the great outdoors and tries to contribute to the school’s Duke of Edinburgh programme whenever she can.

Vicky Mason joined Dollar Academy as Head of Mathematics in 2012 and was appointed to the role of Assistant Rector in August 2020. As Assistant Rector she has overall responsibility for professional learning, UCAS and data protection. She is also the SQA Head of Centre and oversees guidance matters in Form III.

Born and raised in North Yorkshire, Vicky studied Maths and Statistics at The University of St Andrews. After a brief career as a chartered accountant in London and a spell as a statistician with British Telecom, Vicky trained as a Maths teacher in Hertfordshire and began her teaching career in Harpenden in 2001 before moving to Scotland in 2005.

Karen Miller joined Dollar Academy in August 2015. She has extensive experience as a Head of Geography and Head of Year. As Assistant Rector, she is responsible for curriculum, tracking and monitoring and reports. She is the SQA Head of Centre with oversight for all external and internal examinations including prelims and the post-results service. She oversees guidance matters in Form III year and provides subject choice information for all year groups at key points in the Senior School.

Her teaching career has taken her to schools across the UK: in both boarding and day schools, from the ultra-orthodox to the strictly non-denominational. Always passionate about education beyond the classroom, she has led pupil expeditions to Poland, Honduras, China, Vietnam and Antarctica.

Kate MacNish joined Dollar Academy in 2024 as Head of Prep and Junior School and Assistant Rector. She also plays a significant role in Admissions and has overall responsibility for Form I.

Kate is a former pupil of Dollar Academy and has degrees from Dundee, Strathclyde, and Stirling universities. She has a strong track record in education as both a highly effective classroom practitioner and successful headteacher – she lead both Kincardine-in-Menteith and Thornhill primary schools before joining Dollar.

Professor McEwen joined the Board in 1994, originally as the University of Glasgow elected Governor. He has been Chair of Governors since 2015. He initially entered General Practice, but then moved into academic public health and has held posts in the Universities of Dundee, Nottingham, London and Glasgow. He was appointed to a Chair in Public Health at Kings College, London before moving to the Henry Mechan Chair of Public Health in the University of Glasgow. He is now Emeritus Professor in Public Health and has undertaken consultancy work for WHO, the British Council and other international universities and organisations. His interests lie in public health regulation, health services research and measures of outcome in health care.

After winning a scholarship to Dollar, Jacqueline Smith went on to study at Oxford. She has been an Executive Producer at BBC Television, making factual programmes such as ‘Horizon’ and ‘Trust Me, I’m a Doctor’. Her work has reached audiences that number in the millions and has won several awards, including BAFTA and RTS. She was the founder and director of an independent video and events production company. She joined the Board in 2009 and is currently one of the Vice-Chairs, in addition to being the Academy’s consultant on the FIDA project.

Professor Morris is currently Bishop Wardlaw Professor of Chemistry at St Andrews. He also holds a joint position at the Charles University in Prague. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE), the Learned Society of Wales (FLSW), and the Academia Europaea (MAE). He has been a Governor at Dollar Academy since 2000, is currently one of the Vice-Chairs and was appointed Chair-Elect in November 2023 to succeed Professor Jim McEwen in November 2024.

After working in the City for various merchant banks Mr Buchanan left London to take over the family hotel business in North Yorkshire. He also founded a renewable energy business and, since 2013, has been running an engineering business that funds, installs and operates large scale industrial biomass boilers for various blue-chip companies. The company is also pioneering community district heating using forest waste. He joined the Board in 2015.

Mrs Burt’s early career was as a Physical Therapist specialising in severe neurological trauma. Latterly, she was a co-founder of an expert witness company. She was, for a time, the DAPA representative and has insight, as a parent, of both the day and the boarding experience at Dollar. As a health professional her focus has been the promotion of wellbeing. She joined the Board in 2002.

Formerly the Commercial & Marketing Director at Maclay & Co Ltd in Alloa, Denis has been a self-employed business consultant for the last 20 years. A former chairman of DAPA, he was recently elected as a councillor for Clackmannanshire East. He joined the Board in December 2020.

Prior to retirement in 2020, Mr Dearden worked as a Senior Manager with a 40-year career in Financial Services. Specialising in Audit, Risk Management and Sensitive Investigations Mr Dearden worked closely with Regulators and Law Enforcement both in the UK and overseas. Family connections at Dollar provide him with a clear understanding of the school and its ethos. He joined the Board in November 2021.

Mrs Gladwin is the Managing Director of a start up company helping people with memory issues stay safe, and is also involved in cancer research support.  She originally trained in hospitality and has worked in several different industries. Mrs Gladwin is currently the Session Clerk for Dollar Parish Church, and joined the Board in 2019.

Mrs Heath has worked mainly in finance and IT project management and in both the private and public sectors. She is now training to be a yoga instructor. She joined the Board in 2015.

Mr Kitson was Head of House, McNabb Boarding House, during his time at Dollar. He joined the Board in 2017.

Mrs McIntosh is a Chartered Accountant and Chartered Tax Adviser with over 30 years’ experience in private practice. She is currently a partner and Head of Tax for Scotland with a top 10 UK Accountancy practice. A graduate of Edinburgh University, she also has an international sporting background and was awarded an MBE for services to sport in 1995. She joined the Board in 2019.

After training as a primary teacher, Mrs Mustard settled in Morayshire where her husband farms. Alongside her involvement in the family business, she has wide experience of teaching in both the state and independent sectors. She joined Dollar Academy’s Board of Governors in 2020.

Mrs Weir is a former oncology and radiotherapy specialist. She has had a long-standing association with the school, as a parent, and was first appointed to the Board in 2011 as the Dollar Academy Parents Association elected Governor. She was re-appointed in 2019 as an Adviser, and then as  a Governor in May 2023.

Mr White is a Director of the family firm of John White & Son (Weighing Machines) Ltd, Scotland’s oldest family business, founded in 1715. He is a Board Member and Office-Bearer of the UK Weighing Federation, and Chairman of Daima Energy operating in Scotland & East Africa. He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. He joined the Board in 2012.