Notable alumni of Heriot-Watt University

Scottish novelist and writer (1918–2006)

Irvine Welsh

short story writer · b. 1958

Scottish writer

Kygo

recording artist · b. 1991

Norwegian DJ and music producer

Hassan Ali Khayre

politician · b. 1968

Prime Minister of Somalia

James Nasmyth

mechanical engineer · 1808–1890

Scottish mechanical engineer and inventor (1808–1890)

Greg Wise

film actor · b. 1966

English actor

Graham Watson

politician · b. 1956

British politician (Liberal Democrat) (born 1956)

Scottish athlete

Henry McLeish

association football player · b. 1948

former First Minister of Scotland (born 1948)

Jock Clear

engineer · b. 1963

British engineer

British sailor

John Thomson

world traveler · 1837–1921

Scottish photographer, geographer, and traveller (1837–1921)

Maria Gordon

paleontologist · 1864–1939

Scottish geologist (1864-1939)

Nivetha Pethuraj

model · b. 1990

Indian film actor and model

Trygve Reenskaug

computer scientist · 1930–2024

Norwegian computer scientist (1930–2024)

Kirsty Smith

association football player · b. 1994

Scottish footballer

Scottish chemist

Gordon Shedden

racing automobile driver · b. 1979

British racecar driver

Saada Salum

minister · b. 1975

Tanzanian politician

Ruaridh Mollica

actor · b. 2001

Scottish-Italian actor (born 1998/1999)

Ugandan accountant, businesswoman, bank executive, and educator

Sarah Boyack

politician · b. 1961

Scottish politician (born 1961)

Jack Ross

association football player · b. 1976

Scottish footballer

Suraj Abdurrahman

military officer · 1954–2015

Nigerian general (1954-2015)

Chris Whitty

epidemiologist · b. 1966

British physician and epidemiologist

Fiona Hyslop

politician · b. 1964

Scottish politician (born 1964)

Stefan Müller

university teacher · b. 1962

German mathematician

Brian Monteith

politician · b. 1958

British politician (born 1958)

Austrian mathematician and physicist

Henning Skumsvoll

politician · b. 1947

Norwegian politician

Gary Younge

journalist · b. 1969

British journalist

Arthur Woodburn

politician · 1890–1978

British politician (1890-1978)

Swazi alpine skier

Lee Jones

rugby union player · b. 1988

Scottish rugby union player

Ugandan statistician and bank executive

Scottish architect

Australian-English architect

Lisa Kearney

judoka · b. 1989

Irish judoka

Alison Suttie

politician · b. 1968

British political consultant (born 1968)

Colin Clark

farmer · b. 1969

Scottish politician (born 1969)

Richard Thomson

council member · b. 1976

Member of Parliament for Gordon

Ugandan investment banker and corporate executive

Irma Sluis

sign language interpreter · b. 1971

Dutch sign language interpreter

Ugandan banker & management consultant

mathematician

Bernard Dacorogna

university teacher · b. 1953

Swiss mathematician

Sarah J. Tabrizi

biologist

British neurologist and neuroscientist

British engineer

Archy Kirkwood, Baron Kirkwood of Kirkhope

politician · b. 1946

British politician (born 1946)

Adam Crozier

chief executive officer · b. 1964

Scottish businessman

British Labour Party politician (1944–2000)

businessperson

Geoff Palmer

writer · 1940–2025

Jamaican-British academic and human rights activist (1940–2025)

Norwegian politician

British engineer

Norwegian business leader

David A. B. Miller

academic · b. 1954

British physicist

Robin M. Hochstrasser

university teacher · 1931–2013

Scottish chemist

Abduljalil Khalil

mechanical engineer · b. 1961

Bahraini politician (born 1961)

Henry Musasizi

accountant · b. 1981

Ugandan certified public accountant & politician

Luke Crosbie

rugby union player · b. 1997

Scottish rugby union player

Eyitayo Ogunmola

entrepreneur · b. 1988

Nigerian social entrepreneur

Mohammed Al Barwani

businessperson · b. 1952

Omani billionaire businessman

Irish field hockey player (1987-)

Mike Watson, Baron Watson of Invergowrie

trade unionist · b. 1949

British politician (born 1949)

Icelandic politician (1947–2021)

Joanne Yeoh

lecturer · b. 1977

Malaysian violinist

Malaysian politician

Liam Burns

trade unionist · b. 1985

British trade unionist

banker

Hilde C. Bjørnland

economist · b. 1966

Norwegian professor

Paul Rooney

conceptual artist · b. 1967

British artist

Qatari novelist and playwright

Welsh businessman

Evelyn Tweed

politician · b. 1967

Scottish politician

Ugandan businesswoman and corporate executive

Stuart Bradie

chief executive officer · b. 1966

British businessman

Robert Adam

botanist · 1885–1967

Scottish photographer and botanist (1885-1967)

association football player (born 1986)

Canadian-born entrepreneur

President and Chief Executive Officer - Equinor ASA

Rosa Arias Álvarez

Counsellor Delegate · b. 1978

Chemical Engineer and Master in Energy

Michelle Ballantyne

politician · b. 1962

Scottish politician

Harry Melville

chemist · 1908–2000

British chemist, academic, and academic administrator