Ann Henderson

Ann Henderson is a campaigner in the labour movement and former Rector of the University of Edinburgh.

Early life Henderson graduated from the University of Edinburgh with an MA in Sociology and Social Administration in 1978. While at Edinburgh, she was involved in editing The Student newspaper. She subsequently gained a diploma in Youth and Community Work from Manchester Polytechnic (now Manchester Metropolitan University).

Career

From 1982, Henderson worked in the rail industry, employed as a ticket collector, guard and ultimately becoming one of Scotland's first female train drivers in 1992. During this time, she played an active role in the National Union of Railwaymen trade union, now the RMT union. She was shortlisted as a Labour Party candidate for the Morningside ward in the 2017 City of Edinburgh Council election.

In February 2018, Henderson was voted Rector of the University of Edinburgh, becoming the second woman to hold the position following Muriel Gray. She beat the only other candidate, Marco Bauder, with 77% of the vote. She replaced the outgoing Rector, Steve Morrison.

In June 2021, the Times reported that Henderson had been falsely accused of transphobia by students at Edinburgh University, and that Henderson said that she had been the target of an abusive campaign after calling for reasoned debate on gender recognition reforms.