Ofcom has today announced appointments to the board of MG ALBA, the body responsible for funding Gaelic-language TV programmes in Scotland.
Two new members have been appointed with terms running for four years effective from 1 May 2016.
Four existing members have been reappointed with terms running for four years. Two members have terms effective from 1 May 2016, one member from 1 July 2016, and one member from 1 September 2016.
The appointments were approved in April 2016 by the UK Government’s Secretary of State for Scotland and the Scottish Government’s Minister for Learning, Science & Scotland's Languages. This followed an independent appointment and selection process undertaken by Ofcom in Scotland.
The new members are:
Mairi Kidd
Mairi is Managing Director of the independent publishing house Barrington Stoke Ltd, who specialise in accessible books for children, including those with dyslexia or visual stress. Mairi has also been Chief Executive of Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig (The National Gaelic Resource Agency), which delivers a programme of curriculum resources on behalf of local authorities that received Gaelic education funds from the Scottish Government.
Calum Ferguson
Calum is a professional footballer with Scottish Premier League side Inverness Caledonian Thistle. He also has experience as a community councillor on Lochardil and Drummond Community Council in Inverness, and is active in local initiatives to encourage young people to keep using and practising the Gaelic language.
The reappointed members are:
Maggie Cunningham (Chairman)
Maggie Cunningham became chairman of MG Alba in July 2012. She stepped down as Chief Executive of the charity Columba 1400 in September 2015. She is an experienced executive and leadership coach. Maggie worked in a number of senior positions in the BBC for almost 20 years until 2009. Her roles included Joint Head of Programmes and Services, and Head of Radio in BBC Scotland. She is reappointed from 1 July 2016.
David Brew
David is a Board Member of Creative Scotland and an adjudicating panel member of the General Teaching Council for Scotland. A former Chief Executive of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, he serves on the Financial Reporting Council’s disciplinary Case Management Committee and chairs MG ALBA’s Audit and Assurance Committee. He was a senior civil servant until he retired from the Scottish Government in 2011, and was responsible from 2004 to 2006 for promoting the development of Gaelic, establishing Bòrd na Gàidhlig and sponsoring Gaelic-medium education. His subsequent responsibilities included community land ownership, crofting reform and fisheries management. He is reappointed from 1 May 2016.
Jo Macdonald
During her career spent largely with the BBC, Jo worked mainly in factual and education programming. Before leaving the BBC at the end of 2008 she was Managing Editor of BBC Gàidhlig, a tri-media department whose output includes the national Gaelic radio service BBC Radio nan Gaidheal; a wide range of television programming for the new Gaelic channel BBC ALBA and for BBC2; and the Gaelic website bbcalba.co.uk. Jo now works as a freelance researcher, writer, broadcaster and translator and chairs MG ALBA’s Content Committee. She is reappointed from 1 May 2016.
Dugald MacAulay
After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant, Dougie spent 10 years with two of the “big six” firms as head of department specialising in Corporate Recovery and Rescue. He left private practice to spend a number of years in Industry at Managing Director and Chief Executive levels before starting his own business nearly 20 years ago, concentrating mainly on the property, engineering and childcare sectors. He is reappointed from 1 September 2016.
Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell said:
“I would like to congratulate Mairi Kidd and Calum Ferguson on their appointments to the board of MG ALBA. I also congratulate the other board members, including chair Maggie Cunningham, who have been reappointed for a second term. MG ALBA’s partnership with the BBC goes from strength to strength as the company expands its range of services. We wish MG ALBA every success in continuing to provide high quality content in the Gaelic language.”
Maggie Cunningham, re-appointed Chair of MG ALBA, said:
“I am delighted to welcome Mairi and Calum to the Board of MG Alba. Mairi’s experience as a senior leader, as well as her well documented commitment to Gaelic, will be very valuable assets to MG Alba. Calum Ferguson represents a young demographic which MG Alba seeks to serve better. He is already active in using sport as a tool to encourage young people to use the language. His insight and experience will be helpful in ensuring that MG Alba serves young audiences. With the re-appointment of Jo, David and Dugald, I am confident that the Board of MG Alba will continue to listen to and ensure that Gaelic audiences are well served.”
The new members replace Alasdair MacCaluim, whose term as a board member ends on 31 April 2016.
ENDS
NOTES FOR EDITORS
1. The functions of MG ALBA are outlined in the Communications Act 2003. They are to secure that a wide and diverse range of high quality programmes in Gaelic are broadcast or otherwise transmitted to people in Scotland.
2. These appointments are the result of a recruitment process validated by an independent member of the panel. The approval of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Scottish Government is required for the appointment of MG ALBA board members and Chairman.
Fios-naidheachd
Buill air an Suidheachadh air MG ALBA 2016
Tha Ofcom an-diugh air foillseachadh nam ball a chaidh an suidheachadh air bòrd MG ALBA, am buidheann a tha an urra ri bhith a’ maoineachadh phrògraman tbh Gàidhlig ann an Alba.
Tha dà bhall ùr air a bhith air an suidheachadh airson teirm ceithir bliadhna, a’ tòiseachadh air 1 Cèitean 2016.
Chaidh ceithir buill a bha a-cheana air a’ bhòrd an ath-shuidheachadh airson teirm ceithir bliadhna a’ tòiseachadh air 1 Cèitean 2016, 1 bhall bho 1 Iuchar 2016 agus 1 bhall bho 1 Sultain 2016.
Chaidh na suidheachaidhean aontachadh sa Ghiblean 2016 le Rùnaire na Stàite airson Alba aig Riaghaltas na RA agus le Ministear Riaghaltas na h-Alba airson Ionnsachadh, Saidheans & Cànain na h-Alba. Lean seo an dèidh suidheachadh neo-eisimeileach agus pròiseas taghaidh a chaidh a dhèanamh le Ofcom ann an Alba.
Is iad na buill ùra:
Mairi Kidd
Tha Màiri na Manaidsear-stiùiridh air a’ chompanaidh foillseachaidh neo-eisimeileach, Barrington Stoke Earr a tha a’ speisealachadh ann an leabhraichean a tha iomchaidh do chloinn a’ gabhail a-steach feadhainn aig a bheil doille-fhaclan no duilgheadas le fradharc. Bha Màiri cuideachd na Ceannard air Stòrlann Nàiseanta na Gàidhlig a bhios a’ lìbhrigeadh prògram de ghoireasan curraicealaim às leth ùghdarrasan ionadail a fhuair maoineachadh airson foghlam Gàidhlig bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba.
Calum MacFhearghais
Is e neach-cluiche ball-coise aig ìre phroifeiseanta a tha ann an Calum a tha a’ cluich ann an sgioba Calaidh Thistle Inbhir Nis a tha ann am Prìomh Lìg na h-Alba. Tha e cuideachd air a bhith an sàs mar chomhairliche coimhearsnachd air Comhairle Coimhearsnachd Loch Àrdail agus Drumainn ann an Inbhir Nis agus tha e gu mòr an sàs ann an iomairtean ionadail gus daoine òga a bhrosnachadh gu bhith a’ leantainn orra a’ cleachdadh agus a’ bruidhinn na Gàidhlig.
Is iad na buill a chaidh an ath-shuidheachadh:
Magaidh Chonaigean (Cathraiche)
Chaidh Magaidh Chonaigean a suidheachadh mar chathraiche air MG ALBA san Iuchar 2012. Sheas i sìos bho bhith na ceannard air a’ charthannas Columba 1400 san t-Sultain 2015. Is i gnìomhaiche agus coidse ceannardais sàr eòlach a tha innte. Bha Magaidh ann an grunnan dhreuchd aig àrd ìre sa BhBC airson suas ri 20 bliadhna gu 2009. Bha na dreuchdan sin a’ gabhail a-steach Co-Cheannard Phrògraman agus Seirbheisean agus Ceannard Rèidio aig BBC ALBA. Tha i air a h-ath-shuidheachadh bho 1 Iuchar 2016.
Daibhidh Brew
Is e ball de Bhòrd Alba Chruthachail a tha ann an Daibhidh agus ball-britheamhachd panal de Chomhairle Choitcheann Teagaisg na h-Alba. Ron seo bha e na Cheannard air Institiut nan Cunntasairean Clàraichte an Alba, tha e a’ frithealadh air Comataidh Cùis Rianachd smachdachaidh na Comhairle Aithriseadh Ionmhasail agus tha e na chathraiche air Comataidh Sgrùdaidh agus Dearbhaidh MG ALBA. Bha e na àrd sheirbheiseach chatharra gus an do leig e dheth a dhreuchd bho Riaghaltas na h-Alba ann an 2011 agus eadar 2004 is 2006 bha e an urra ri bhith ag adhartachadh brosnachadh na Gàidhlig, a’ stèidheachadh Bòrd na Gàidhlig agus ag urrasachadh foghlam tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig. An dèidh sin bha na h-uallaichean aige a’ gabhail a-steach seilbh talamh coimhearsnachd, ath-leasachadh croitearachd agus rianachd an iasgaich. Tha e air ath-shuidheachadh bho 1 Cèitean 2016.
Jo NicDhòmhnaill
Rè cùrsa a beatha obrach, a’ mhòr chuid dheth an lùib a’ BhBC, bha Jo gu mòr an sàs ann am prògraman fìrinneach agus foghlam. Mus do dh’fhàg i am BBC aig deireadh 2008 bha i na Deasaiche Rianachd air BBC Gàidhlig, roinn trì mheadhanan a bhios a’ cur a-mach seirbheis nàiseanta rèidio Gàidhlig BBC Radio nan Gaidheal; raon farsaing de phrògramadh telebhisein airson na seanail ùr Gàidhlig BBC ALBA agus airson BBC2; agus an làrach-lìn Gàidhlig bbcalba.co.uk. Tha Jo a-nis ag obair mar neach-rannsachaidh, sgrìobhaiche, craoladair agus eadar-theangair agus tha i na cathraiche air Comataidh Susbaint MG ALBA. Tha i air a h-ath-shuidheachadh bho 1 Cèitean 2016.
Dùghall MacAmhlaigh
An dèidh teisteanas fhaighinn mar Chunntasair Clàraichte, chuir Dùgaidh seachad 10 bliadhna còmhla ri dhà de na companaidhean “sia mhòra” mar cheannard air an roinn a bha a’ speisealachadh ann an Ath-shlànachadh agus Teasairginn. Dh’fhàg e obair san roinn phrìobhaideach gus beagan bhliadhnaichean a chur seachad ann an obair Gnìomhachais aig ìrean Manaidsear-stiùiridh agus Ceannard mus do thòisich e an gnothachas aige fhèin o chionn faisg air 20 bliadhna, gu mòr an sàs sna h-earrannan seilbh, einnseanaireachd agus cùram-chloinne. Tha e air ath-shuidheachadh bho 1 Sultain 2016.
Thuirt Rùnaire na Stàite airson Alba, Daibhidh Mundell:
“Bu mhath leam meal an naidheachd a chur air Màiri Kidd agus Calum MacFhearghais air dhaibh a bhith air an suidheachadh air bòrd MG ALBA. Tha mi cuideachd airson meal an naidheachd a chur air buill eile a’ bhùird, a’ gabhail a-steach an cathraiche, Magaidh Chonaigean, a chaidh an ath-shuidheachadh airson dàrna teirm. Tha com-pàirteachas MG ALBA leis a’ BhBC a’ dol bho neart gu neart is an companaidh a’ sìor leudachadh raon a sheirbheisean. Tha sinn a’ guidhe gach soirbheas do MG ALBA ann a bhith a’ leantainn air adhart a’ tabhann susbaint de dh’àrd-chàileachd tro mheadhan na Gàidhlig.”
Thuirt Magaidh Chonaigean, a chaidh a h-ath-shuidheachadh mar Chathraiche air MG ALBA:
“Tha mi air leth toilichte fàilte a chur air Màiri agus Calum gu Bòrd MG ALBA. Bidh an t-eòlas a tha aig Màiri mar àrd-stiùiriche, agus a dealas a thaobh na Gàidhlig air a bheil deagh fhianais, nan sochairean luachmhor do MG ALBA. Tha Calum MacFhearghais a’ riochdachadh ginealach òg a tha MG ALBA ag amas air a bhith a’ frithealadh ann an dòigh nas fheàrr. Tha e a-cheana gnìomhach ann a bhith a’ cleachdadh spòrs mar dhòigh air daoine òga a bhrosnachadh gu bhith a’ cleachdadh a’ chànain. Bidh an lèirsinn agus an t-eòlas aige feumail ann a bhith a’ dèanamh cinnteach gum bi MG ALBA a’ frithealadh luchd-amais òga. Le ath-shuidheachadh Jo, Daibhidh agus Dùghall, tha mi cinnteach gun lean Bòrd MG ALBA air adhart ag èisteachd ri agus a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil luchd-amais na Gàidhlig air an deagh fhrithealadh.”
Tha na buill ùra a’ gabhail àite Alasdair MhicCaluim leis gun tàinig an teirm aige mar bhall den bhòrd gu ceann air 31 Giblean 2016.
AN DEIREADH
NOTAICHEAN AIRSON LUCHD-DEASACHAIDH
