At Lathallan, we pride ourselves not only on the strength of our teaching, the breadth of our curriculum, or the beauty of our grounds — but on the people who shape our community. Those whose values echo through every corridor, assembly hall and playing field. Those whose resilience, integrity and leadership quietly set the standard for others to follow. Among them stand Dr Jeanette Forbes OBE and Tom — two remarkable individuals whose commitment to Lathallan extends far beyond titles and boardroom meetings.
On Friday evening, nearly 900 guests gathered at P&J Live for the Northern Star Business Awards, a celebration of the region’s finest businesses and the people who drive them forward. In a room filled with ambition and enterprise, one name stood apart: Dr Jeanette Forbes OBE, recipient of the prestigious Regional Contribution Award.
Jeanette’s story is one of grit and grace. From starting as a receptionist in the oil and gas sector to founding PCL Group from her dining room table with £100 of redundancy money. Today, her business operates across 27 countries, but her contribution to Aberdeen and the wider North-east stretches far beyond boardrooms and balance sheets.
In addition to her entrepreneurial success, Jeanette has been a tireless advocate for local enterprise, hospitality and education. Her ventures — including the award-winning Grape & Grain and the recently opened Mediterranean — are more than businesses; they are commitments to the cultural and economic vibrancy of the city she calls home.
But perhaps most importantly for us, Jeanette brings that same relentless drive and deep-seated loyalty to her work as a member of Lathallan School’s Board of Governors. Alongside Tom — whose steady wisdom and long-standing support have proven invaluable — Jeanette helps guide our strategy, shape our future, and uphold the deeply rooted values upon which this school was founded.
At Lathallan, we believe in personal responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and the importance of family values. In a world too often swayed by the fashion of the day, we stand firm in our belief that education should nurture both the character and intellect of young people. Jeanette and Tom exemplify those principles, and it is through their ongoing commitment that we continue to thrive not just as a school, but as a community.
Their leadership reminds us that while awards and accolades are gratifying, it is the unseen, often unheralded work done in the quiet moments — the decision made for the right reason, the advice given when no-one’s watching — that leaves the most lasting legacy.
On behalf of the entire Lathallan family, we extend our warmest congratulations to Dr Jeanette Forbes OBE on this thoroughly deserved recognition, and our sincere gratitude to both Jeanette and Tom for the immeasurable contributions they make to our school, our pupils and our future.
Here’s to leadership that endures, values that matter, and a community made stronger by those who quietly shape it.