Mr Steven Watt

Mr Steven Watt

Professor in Practice in Computer Science

Researcher profile

Email
Steve.Watt@st-andrews.ac.uk

 

Biography

Steve Watt is currently the Chief Information Officer and a Professor in Practice at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. An engineering and IT graduate with an MBA, he holds multiple professional credentials including European Engineer, Chartered Engineer, Chartered IT Professional, Fellow of the British Computer Society, and Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP). With over 32 years of experience in the IT industry, Steve is responsible for the strategic development of IT services at the University.

Over the past five years, his leadership has focused on digital transformation and cyber security, positioning the University to respond to greater digital intensity and broader existential threats. His career includes private sector experience with Low & Bonar plc, where he managed corporate IT across 52 locations in Europe and North America. This role encompassed wide area networking, telecommunications, groupware, and systems management, and involved centralising ICT support through outsourced partnerships.

Steve has also worked as a consultant across various sectors including education, healthcare, manufacturing, and the third sector, bringing a broad and strategic perspective to technology and organisational change.

Research areas

Steve Watt is a member of the Scottish Government National Cyber Resilience Advisory Board, which brings together leaders and influencers from across the private, public, and third sectors to provide strategic advice, challenge, and support to Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Government, and other national delivery organisations. The board helps guide efforts aligned with the Strategic Framework for a Cyber Resilient Scotland, aiming to ensure that Scotland thrives as a digitally secure and resilient nation.

He also serves on the Vodafone Three Regional Advisory Board in Scotland, contributing to strategic discussions and regional initiatives.

In recognition of his influence and contributions to the IT sector, Steve was listed in the Computing Influencers Top 100 in 2023.

Selected publications

  • Privacy

    Milne, C. & Watt, S. A., 24 Jun 2025, Mechatronic futures: further challenges and solutions for mechatronic systems and their designers. Hehenberger, P. & Bradley, D. (eds.). 2nd ed. Cham: Springer, p. 107-119

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  • From Mechatronics to the Cloud

    Bradley, D., Russell, D., Hehenberger, P., Azorin-Lopez, J., Watt, S. & Milne, C., 15 Jan 2020, Reinventing Mechatronics: Developing Future Directions for Mechatronics. Yan, X.-T., Bradley, D., Russell, D. & Moore, P. (eds.). Springer, p. 17-33 Chapter 3

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

  • Open access

    Privacy Matters – Issues within Mechatronics

    Watt, S., Milne, C., Bradley, D., Russell, D., Hehenberger, P. & Azorin-Lopez, J., 10 Nov 2016, In: IFAC-PapersOnLine. 49, 21, p. 423-430 8 p.

    Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

  • The changing landscape of enterprise ICT-responding to new possibilities and user demands

    Milne, C. & Watt, S., 1 Jan 2016, Mechatronic Futures: Challenges and Solutions for Mechatronic Systems and Their Designers. Springer, p. 201-220 20 p.

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter

 

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