8th July 2026
11th January 2026
We are delighted to announce that Professor Oona Brooks-Hay has been appointed as the new Director of the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research.
Professor Brooks-Hay takes over from Dr Julie Berg who led the Centre from January 2023.
Professor Brooks-Hay, said: “Firstly, I would like to say a huge thanks to Dr Julie Berg for her leadership, care, and commitment to SCCJR over her three-year directorship.
“I am honoured to be taking up the position of Director at the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research. I first joined SCCJR in 2006/07 as a PhD student at the University of Stirling, and a researcher at the University of Glasgow. I was delighted to return to SCCJR in 2013 when I took up a lectureship at the University of Glasgow and this has been my home ever since. Throughout this time, I have been struck by the commitment of staff and students to producing high quality research and fostering strong collaborations with colleagues across our partner institutions in Scotland and further afield. There is a real sense of creativity, collegiality, and ambition which is what makes taking over as Director so exciting.
“Going forward SCCJR will create opportunities to connect and share bold and innovative thinking around ‘justice’ which is why we will soon be launching a new seminar series called Justice Futures. We are continuing to invest in supporting researchers through our Research Development Fund and new opportunities for early career researchers to develop policy briefings based on their PhD research.
“Despite the significant economic challenges facing the higher education sector, SCCJR will continue to do everything it can to offer meaningful opportunities for all our members.”
Dr Julie Berg said: “Oona brings a wealth of experience, astuteness, and forward-thinking leadership to this role all of which will greatly benefit SCCJR. I am sure you will join me in wishing Oona all the best.”
For more information about the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn, BlueSky or TikTok – @TheSCCJR