Elisabeth (Lisa) Kerr is a British business leader. After a career in commercial radio, in 2016 she was appointed principal of

Gordonstoun Gordonstoun School ( ) is an elite co-educational Private school (United Kingdom), private school for boarding and day pupils in Moray, Scotland. Two generations of British royalty were educated at Gordonstoun, including Prince Philip, Duke of Ed ...

. She was the first female principal in the school’s history. Kerr is also a Deputy

Lord-Lieutenant A lord-lieutenant ( ) is the British monarch's personal representative in each lieutenancy area of the United Kingdom. Historically, each lieutenant was responsible for organising the county's militia. In 1871, the lieutenant's responsibility o ...

Moray Moray ( ; or ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with a coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland. Its council is based in Elgin, the area' ...

Early life and education

Elisabeth Margaret Kerr was born on the 17th of November 1972 in

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

to Andrew Rogerson Kerr and Janet (Jennifer) Kerr. Her father was a music advisor for Lothian region, a music teacher, and a retired football player for Partick Thistle F.C. Her mother was a headteacher and a lecturer at

The University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

. Kerr grew up in

Pencaitland Pencaitland is a village in East Lothian, Scotland, about south-east of Edinburgh, south-west of Haddington, and east of Ormiston. The land where the village lies is said to have been granted by William the Lion to Calum Cormack in 1169, ...

, and has one brother. Kerr attended Broughton High School, Edinburgh, and the

City of Edinburgh Music School The City of Edinburgh Music School (TCoEMS) is a state-maintained music school in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded as the Lothian Specialist Music School in 1980, it changed its name in 1996 when Lothian Regional Council was dissolved into four sep ...

before studying Music at the

University of York The University of York (abbreviated as or ''York'' for Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a public Collegiate university, collegiate research university in York, England. Established in 1963, the university has expanded to more than thir ...

Early career

Her early career was in the commercial radio industry. She was a presenter and producer for Classic FM and

Radio Forth Radio Forth is a group of two Independent Local Radio stations serving Edinburgh, Lothians and Fife. Radio Forth is owned and operated by Bauer, based at studios in Edinburgh and forms part of Bauer's Hits Radio network and Greatest Hits Radio ne ...

and was Group Managing Director of Radio Services Ltd before becoming Director of Strategy for

RadioCentre Radiocentre is the industry body for commercial radio in the UK. It exists to maintain and build a strong and successful commercial radio industry. The organisation works on behalf of over 40 stakeholders who operate over 300 licensed radio statio ...

, the UK commercial radio industry trade association.

Gordonstoun and education Career

Kerr joined the Board of Governors of Gordonstoun in 2007. She was appointed principal in 2016, succeeding Simon Reid, and took up the post in 2017. Kerr left Gordonstoun in 2024, and took up the post of principal at

George Watson's College George Watson's College is a co-educational Private schools in the United Kingdom, private day school in Scotland, situated on Colinton Road, in the Merchiston area of Edinburgh. It was first established as a Scottish education in the eighteenth ...

in Edinburgh. Kerr is an advocate for the removal of

mobile phones A mobile phone or cell phone is a portable telephone that allows users to make and receive calls over a radio frequency link while moving within a designated telephone service area, unlike fixed-location phones ( landline phones). This radio ...

in schools and has made television appearances discussing the matter, including on BBC Scotland's ''

Debate Night Debate Night is BBC Scotland's flagship current affairs debate show, hosted by Stephen Jardine, which airs on Wednesdays nights. History Stephen Jardine was named as the host on 15 February 2019 ahead of the launch of the new BBC Scotland chan ...

''.

Boards and fellowships

Kerr is a Fellow of The

Radio Academy The Radio Academy is a registered charity dedicated to "the encouragement, recognition and promotion of excellence in UK broadcasting and audio production". It was formed in 1983 and is run via a board of trustees, with a chair and a deputy chai ...

. and has been a Vice Chair of

Scottish Opera Scottish Opera is the national opera company of Scotland, and one of the five national performing arts companies of Scotland. Founded in 1962 and based in Glasgow, it is the largest performing arts organisation in Scotland. History Scottish Op ...

. in addition to being a member of the UK and Ireland Regulatory Board of The

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) is a global professional body for those working in the Built Environment, Construction, Land, Property and Real Estate. The RICS was founded in London in 1868. It works at a cross-governmental ...

. She was a governor at

St Edmund's School Canterbury St Edmund's School Canterbury is a private day and boarding school located in Canterbury, Kent, England and established in 1749. The extensive school grounds were acquired in 1855. The school currently caters for girls and boys aged 3–18, incl ...

, and on the board of the

Canterbury Festival The Canterbury Festival is Kent's international festival of the arts. It takes place in Canterbury (England) and surrounding towns and villages (including Faversham, Whitstable and Margate) each October/November and includes performances of a vari ...

and the

Salisbury International Arts Festival Salisbury International Arts Festival (founded in 1974) is an annual multi-arts festival that delivers over 150 arts events each year in and around the city of Salisbury, England. Events include concerts, comedy, poetry, dance, exhibitions, outdo ...

Personal life

Kerr married Canadian-born John Patrick McMulkin in 2000. They have three children.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kerr, Lisa Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Alumni of the University of York Heads of schools in Scotland People educated at Broughton High School, Edinburgh Scottish women radio presenters