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Professor Peter Strachan

Post Nominals BA(Hons)[First Class] PhD PGCTLT
Biography Professor Strachan is the co-Leader of the Energy, Sustainability and Society Research Group at the Aberdeen Business School. He has a keen interest in research ethics, Chairing the Aberdeen Business School Research Ethics Committee. Professor Strachan further serves on the Research Committee at the Aberdeen Business School.

Professor Strachan's research focus for the past 30 years has been on the theoretical, business and public policy aspects of sustainability management and energy transitions.

He has an extensive publication record. Over the years Professor Strachan has had work returned in four separate Research Excellence Framework (REF) exercises; most recently REF21. In supporting the development of this work, funding has been secured from the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and Innovate UK.

Passionate about research and in training the next generation of researchers, Professor Strachan is currently supervising a large and thriving group of doctoral students at the Aberdeen Business School. He has previously supervised to successful completion 22 doctoral students.

Starting his career at the Robert Gordon University in 1993 as a Project Manager in the then School of Public Administration and Law, Professor Strachan's contribution to research and professional practice was recognised by the University when he was awarded the titles of Senior Lecturer in 2003, Reader in 2006 and, Professor in 2009.

Professor Strachan was subsequently appointed to the role of Strategy and Policy Group Lead at Aberdeen Business School’s Department of Management in 2010. In his subject leader role, he fundamentally transformed the Strategy and Policy Group to have as its core focus international management in the energy sector. Professor Strachan was responsible for the leadership and management of 20 academic staff including setting strategic objectives and planning staff teaching and research activities, and staff resources. Further, it involved the quality assurance of modules delivered by Strategy and Policy staff and the review and update of the portfolio of Strategy and Policy modules offered across the Aberdeen Business School.

Contributing to professional practice external to RGU, Professor Strachan was invited as part of the State Visit of the President of Mexico to the United Kingdom in 2015, to be an expert contributor on energy transition to the Carbon Trust’s closed special session on the opportunities of Building a Sustainable Energy Economy in the UK and in Mexico, held in conjunction with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. This event led to the signing of a high-level collaboration agreement.

He has further provided policy support to the governments of Cyprus and Scotland, which in Scotland culminated in a presentation to the First Minister in 2015. As an invited expert and keynote speaker Professor Strachan presented in 2016 to a special session of The All Parliamentary Group on Unconventional Oil and Gas at the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, London.

Professor Strachan has written numerous opinion pieces covering a variety of energy topics including renewable energy, oil and gas management and nuclear power for news outlets, and has contributed to television and radio.

In 2018, an Onalytica survey placed Professor Strachan in the Top 100 world-wide social media influencers on the Future of Energy. In the same year he was placed second in the University of Bath’s #ThinkList: Top 20 Most Influential Thinkers on Responsible Business in Social Media. In October 2021, Professor Strachan was ranked #2 in the Top 10 #SDGInfluencers in social media. In May 2023, an Onalytica survey ranked Professor Strachan in the Top 50 Influencers to follow in the Who's Who in Sustainability.

Professor Strachan has become a member of Reuters Executive Speaking Faculty contributing to two high profile energy transition events which were broadcast live in Europe and the United States.

Professor Strachan serves on the Editorial Boards of 5 international peer reviewed journals.
Research Interests With a specific interest in energy policy, environmental planning and management, community ownership models, and the social acceptance of energy transitions, Professor Strachan has published many books, reports, journal articles and media opinion pieces on these and related topics.
Teaching and Learning BS4329 Business and Innovation
BSM823 Capstone
BSM2051 Consultancy Project
BS1109 Economics
BS3963 Evidencing Employability
BSM8748 Global Business Environment
BS3112 Literature Review
BS4289 Research Methods
BS4203 Thesis

Principal and 2nd Supervisor - Numerous Doctoral Students
Scopus Author ID 7004042624