Gneiss Energy’s Managing Director, Jon Fitzpatrick, is honoured to have been invited by the Right Honourable Lord Robertson of Port Ellen to become a founder of the University of Dundee’s 1967 Club at the House of Lords. First conceived by an influential group of alumni, during last year’s 50th anniversary celebration, the Club’s goal is to ensure finance is not a barrier to the opportunities a University of Dundee education offers, by providing funding for students from challenging backgrounds.

Jon Fitzpatrick, Gneiss Energy’s Managing Director

Along with Carolyn Fitzpatrick, Gneiss’s Finance Director, and in the company of an invited group of 60 UoD alumni and guests, Jon attended the 1967 Club’s inaugural dinner on Thursday 1st November. The event was hosted by esteemed University of Dundee alumnus, the Right Honourable Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, held in the Peers’ Dining Room of the House of Lords.

George Robertson is a highly regarded British Labour Party politician who served as the 10th Secretary General of NATO, between 1999 and 2004. From 1997 to 1999, he held the post of Secretary of State for Defence, under Tony Blair, and was Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, from 1993 to 1997. In 1999, he was awarded life peerage, becoming Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, of Islay in Argyll and Bute.

Jon Fitzpatrick, Gneiss’ founder, has longstanding links with the University of Dundee. A native Dundonian, he initially read Law there (LL.B.(Hons), 1994). Jon progressed his studies in 1996 with the award of a Master’s degree in Natural Resources Law and Petroleum Economics (LL.M. (Dist.)) from UoD’s internationally renowned Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy (CEPMLP). From 1994-97, he was Executive Assistant to Professor Thomas Walde, CEPMLP’s CEO and former United Nations Chief Inter-Regional Adviser on international investment policy and petroleum / mineral legislation. Beyond this, he held various positions at UoD including Convenor of Graduates’ Council (1997-2001), Chairman Graduates’ Council Fund (1997-2001), Chairman of Graduates’ Council Magazine (1995-2001) and he was also a member of the Honorary Degrees Committee (1996-97).