Gillian Docherty
Gillian Docherty | |
|---|---|
| Alma mater | University of Glasgow; honorary doctorate from Robert Gordon University |
| Occupation(s) | Computer scientist, executive leader |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Known for | CEO of The Data Lab (2015–2022); Chair of Scotland's AI Alliance; President of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce; Chief Commercial Officer at University of Strathclyde |
| Awards | CEO of the Year (ScotlandIS Digital Technology Awards, 2017); Digital Leader for the UK (2018); Outstanding Achievement Award (Scotland’s Women in Technology Awards, 2019); Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE, 2019); Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (2024) |
Gillian Docherty is a prominent British computer scientist and executive leader. She holds the position of Chief Commercial Officer at the University of Strathclyde and presides over the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.[1] Between 2015 and 2022, she led The Data Lab, Scotland’s innovation hub specializing in data science and artificial intelligence, as its CEO. In 2021, she was appointed as the first Chair of Scotland's AI Alliance, spearheading the rollout of the national AI Strategy.
Education
Docherty completed her undergraduate studies in computer science at the University of Glasgow and was awarded an honorary doctorate in technology by Robert Gordon University.[1]
Career
Beginning her career at IBM in 1993, Docherty accumulated 22 years of experience across various sectors including technical sales, financial services, hardware, and software.[2] She rose to a senior executive role within IBM UK, where she managed software solutions tailored for Scottish clients.[3]
In June 2015, she assumed the role of CEO at The Data Lab, established in 2014 to stimulate data-driven innovation throughout Scotland. By 2018, the organisation had executed over 100 projects, generating an estimated £100 million in additional economic value for Scotland.[4] The Data Lab maintains operational centres in Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh, and Glasgow, having secured more than £25 million in funding from entities such as the Scottish Funding Council, Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, and Highland and Islands Enterprise.[5] Under Docherty’s guidance, The Data Lab introduced an MSc programme in data science in 2015 and expanded its student intake twofold by 2016 to satisfy increasing industry requirements.[6]
Docherty has delivered keynote addresses at significant industry forums including the Big Data Analytics conference and Glasgow Business Summit.[7] In 2017, she presented a TEDx talk entitled 2037 - Who's leading? Who's following?[8] That same year, she earned the CEO of the Year accolade at the ScotlandIS Digital Technology Awards.[9]
Currently serving as President of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce—having formerly been Deputy President—she took on the Chief Commercial Officer role at the University of Strathclyde in 2022.[1] Additionally, Docherty provides mentorship to startup ventures and acts as a trustee for Beyonder Involve Charity.[1]
Awards and recognition
In 2017, Docherty was acknowledged among The Scotsman's most influential women in technology and ranked within the top ten most impactful data professionals across the UK. She was honored as Digital Leader for the UK in 2018 and received an Outstanding Achievement Award at Scotland’s Women in Technology Awards in 2019. That year also saw her appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contributions to information technology and business. In 2024, she was inducted as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Personal
Docherty is married and has a daughter who appeared alongside her during a TEDx presentation.
References
- British computer specialists
- British computer scientists
- British computer programmers
- Scottish computer scientists
- Alumni of the University of Glasgow
- British women chief executives
- British women computer scientists
- Living people
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- British chief executives
- People associated with the University of Strathclyde
- IBM people
- Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh