Ewan Andrew and Norman Murray are to co-chair a committee to assist in raising £35m to build a Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling at Heriot- Watt University.
How the new centre would look
The appointment of Andrew, Diageo’s president of global supply chain and procurement and chief sustainability officer, signifies the continuation of a long and fruitful association between the global beverage company and the university.
Murray is a Heriot-Watt alumnus and was appointed an honorary professor. He is also an alumnus of the Harvard Business School, a past president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, and a former chairman of the British Venture Capital Association. He was chairman of the premium spirits company The Edrington Group and served as senior independent director at Greene King. He is a Freeman of the City of London and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He was awarded a CBE for services to the arts in 2022.
The Centre for Sustainable Brewing and Distilling (CSBD) would embrace the latest low carbon technologies and sustainable practices so the university can evolve its world-renowned teaching and research to meet the challenges of the future.
This teaching now includes its first MSc in sustainable brewing and distilling. This maintains its status as the world’s leading educational establishment whose undergraduate and graduate courses have breathed new life into brewing and distilling in Scotland, the UK, and globally.
“Heriot-Watt has set an ambitious but important goal, and its achievement will benefit not only the university, but also the wider brewing and distilling industry, as it works toward a more sustainable future,” said Andrew.
“The centre will provide the facilities and expertise needed to develop practical, sustainable solutions, and equip the next generation with the skills our industry needs. I look forward to working with Norman Murray, our fellow committee members, and Heriot-Watt University to help turn this vision into reality, building a world-class hub for innovation that future-proofs one of Scotland’s most important industries for decades to come.”
Murray added: “Heriot-Watt has been a centre of educational excellence for brewing and distilling since 1903. But it was its unique International Centre for Brewing and Distilling, established over 35 years ago, which changed the face of teaching and research. It achieved this through fierce ambition and a dedication to academic excellence.
“It is that ambition which provides us with huge momentum as we look to help the university raise the funds it needs to build the CSBD. I look forward to working with Ewan and the fundraising committee to achieve that goal — and we will.”
