Let's say hello to...
Captain of the Union Plane
Hi, I’m Darrin, I have been the CEO of Heriot-Watt Student Union since 2020. Think of me as the captain of a plane crew. My job? Making sure we take off and land safely while supporting the incredible team making it happen.
Originally from Oxford (*insert my favourite dad-joke here*, I was born there at an early age), I’ve called Edinburgh home for over 20 years. I moved here for a job, much to the dismay of my children who were persuaded with horse-riding lessons and Ninja Turtles figurines. Now, they can’t imagine living elsewhere.
Before the Union, I worked in financial services and education. Though I realised I wanted to be somewhere smaller, where I could actually know people’s names, make change happen in days, not decades. My typical day? My calendar might look empty in the morning, but by midday I’m deep in strategy, staff support, campaign brainstorming. I love that we don’t do hierarchy for hierarchy’s sake. People just walk into my office for a chat. That openness allows us to represent students properly and respond fast when it matters.
Taking care of our people is what I’m especially proud of. Delivering our new pay and reward philosophy was huge. It took 18 months to develop, but it’s transformed how we support our staff from salaries to benefits. Of all our values, I love brave and empowering. It takes a lot to try out new ideas, my role is about allowing others to try things knowing I’ve got their back. An example is the Advice Hub revamp. I created the opportunity, they ran with it, creating a new structure to be soon presented at a national conference. That’s the magic of empowerment.
Outside of work, I’m a full-on F1 fan (ironically, I only drive electric cars). I love travelling, trying new restaurants, spending time with my family, especially my grandson. I also enjoy the occasional football match, though don’t ask me to explain the offside rule.
And here’s my fun fact: years ago, I was supposed to be on BBC Radio. I ended up on BBC Breakfast instead… only to be cut off halfway through because a whale had appeared in the Thames. The producer shouted, “Get him off, there’s a whale in the river!” I got back to the office to a standing ovation. Upstaged by a whale. Classic.
Ways to get in touch with me...