Marion Sinclair appointed to MG ALBA board
Ofcom has today announced the appointment of Marion Sinclair to the board of MG ALBA, the body responsible for ensuring that high-quality television programmes in Gaelic are made available to people in Scotland.
Ofcom’s recommendation for the appointment has been agreed by John Swinney MSP, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills. This follows an independent selection process by Ofcom in Scotland.
Marion has been appointed for four years and will take up the role on 1 June 2019.
Marion was nominated for appointment by the BBC. She is currently the Chief Executive of Publishing Scotland, the development body for the book publishing industry and a registered charity.
Marion has worked in the publishing sector for more than 30 years, as an academic and award-winning publisher. She has been in her current post for 10 years. Her particular focus is business development in creative companies and internationalisation.
A native of the Isle of Barra, Marion lives and works in Edinburgh where she assists on a number of boards and committees including Comhairle nan Leabhraichean, Literature Alliance Scotland and Sabhal Mor Ostaig Library advisory committee.
Allan MacDonald, MG ALBA chairman, said: “I am delighted to welcome Marion to the MG ALBA board, and I know her executive and non-executive experience will be invaluable at a time when there are many strategic challenges to be faced. There has been a huge proliferation of content sources for people to choose from in recent years particularly for young people, and along with our BBC partners, we need to establish BBC ALBA clearly and distinctively in the future media landscape.”
John Swinney MSP, Deputy First Minister of Scotland and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, said: “I welcome the appointment of Marion Sinclair to the board of MG ALBA. This is an important appointment at a challenging time for broadcasting and for BBC ALBA. Marion brings extensive experience and a wide range of relevant skills from her roles as a senior executive and non-executive director within the broadcasting environment and cultural industry. This background will be of great benefit to MG ALBA as it continues to operate in partnership with the BBC and to provide high-quality and innovative content for audiences in Scotland.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Under the Communications Act 2003, the remit of MG ALBA (the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig, or Gaelic Media Service) is to ensure that a wide and diverse range of high-quality television programmes in Gaelic are made available to people in Scotland.
2. As outlined in section 209(5)(a) of the Communications Act 2003, MG ALBA board members must include a member nominated by the BBC.
3. The appointment is a result of a recruitment process that included an independent assessor. Following the passage of the Scotland Act 2016, the power to approve Ofcom appointments to the board of MG ALBA now rests solely with Scottish Ministers. Further information about appointments to the Board of MG ALBA can be found in the Memorandum of Understanding between the UK Government, Scottish Government, Scottish Parliament and Ofcom.
Tha Ofcom an-diugh air ainmeachadh gu bheil Marion Nic na Ceàrdaich air a bhith air a suidheachadh air bòrd MG ALBA, am buidheann a tha an urra ri bhith a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil programan telebhisean Gàidhlig de dh’àrd-chàileachd rim faotainn do dhaoine ann an Alba.
Chaidh moladh Ofcom airson an t-suidheachaidh aontachadh le John Swinney BPA, Leas Phrìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba agus Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Foghlam agus Sgilean. Bha seo a’ leantainn pròiseas taghaidh neo-eisimeileach a rinneadh le Ofcom ann an Alba.
Tha Marion air a bhith air a suidheachadh airson teirm ceithir bliadhna, a’ tòiseachadh air 1 Ògmhios 2019.
Chaidh Marion a h-ainmeachadh airson a bhith air a suidheachadh leis a’ BhBC. Aig an àm a tha an làthair is i ceannard Foillseachadh Alba, am buidheann leasachaidh airson gnìomhachas foillseachadh leabhraichean ann an Alba agus a tha clàraichte mar charthannas.
Tha Marion air a bhith ag obair san earrann foillseachaidh o chionn 30 bliadhna, an sàs ann an sgoilearachd agus na foillsichear a bhuannaich duaisean. Tha i air a bhith san dreuchd seo o chionn 10 bliadhna. Is e a cuimse shònraichte leasachadh gnìomhachais a thaobh companaidhean cruthachail agus obair eadar-nàiseanachaidh.
Buinidh Marion do Eilean Bharraigh, agus tha i a’ fuireach agus ag obair ann an Dùn Èideann, far a bheil i a’ toirt taic do ghrunnan bhòrd agus chomataidh, nam measg Comhairle nan Leabhraichean, Caidreachas Litreachas Alba agus comataidh comhairleachaidh Leabharlann Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
Thuirt Ailean Dòmhnallach, cathraiche MG ALBA: “Tha mi air leth toilichte fàilte a chur air Marion gu bòrd MG ALBA, agus tha fios agam gum bi an t-eòlas a tha aice ann an suidheachadh gnìomhach agus neo-ghnìomhach fìor luachmhor aig àm an uair a tha mòran dhùbhlain ro-innleachdach romhainn. Tha farsaingeachd mhòr de thùsan susbaint air a bhith ann sna beagan bhliadhnaichean a chaidh seachad bhom faodar taghadh a dhèanamh gu h-àraidh do dhaoine òga, agus an co-bhoinn ri ar com-pàirtichean aig a’ BhBC, feumaidh sinn BBC ALBA a stèidheachadh gu soilleir agus gu so-aithnichte ann an sealladh-tìre nam meadhanan san àm ri teachd.”
Thuirt Iain Swinney, Leas Phrìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba: “Tha mi a’ cur fàilte air Marion Nic na Ceàrdaich a bhith air a suidheachadh air Bòrd MG ALBA. Is e suidheachadh cudromach a tha seo aig àm a tha dùbhlanach do chraoladh agus do BhBC ALBA.
“Tha Marion a’ toirt mòran eòlais agus raon farsaing de sgilean iomchaidh na cois bho na dreuchdan a tha aice mar àrd-oifigeir agus mar stiùiriche neo-ghnìomhach ann an àrainn a’ chraolaidh agus sa ghnìomhachas chultarail.
“Bidh an t-eòlas seo gu buannachd mhòr do MG ALBA agus e a’ leantainn air adhart ag obair ann an com-pàirteachas leis a’ BhBC agus a’ tabhann susbaint de dh’àrd-chàileachd agus ùr-ghnàthach do luchd-amhairc ann an Alba.”
NOTAICHEAN AIRSON LUCHD-DEASACHAIDH
- Fo Achd Conaltraidh 2003, is e dleastanas MG ALBA (ainm-obrach Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig), dèanamh cinnteach gum bi raon fharsaing agus eadar-dhealaichte de phrògraman de dh’àrd-chàileachd sa Ghàidhlig air an libhrigeadh do dhaoine ann an Alba.
- Mar a chaidh a mhìneachadh ann an earrann 209(5)(a) de Achd Conaltraidh 2003, feumaidh ball a bhios air ainmeachadh le Bòrd na Gàidhlig a bhith air MG ALBA
- Tha an suidheachadh sin mar thoradh air pròiseas fastaidh air a dhearbhadh le measadair neo-eisimeileach. An dèidh do Achd na h-Alba 2016 a dhol troimhe, tha an cumhachd airson aontachadh suidheachaidhean Ofcom gu bòrd MG ALBA a-nis mar uallach air Ministearan na h-Alba. Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu bhith suidheachadh bhall air Bòrd MG ALBA sa Mheòrachan Tuigse eadar Riaghaltas na RA, Riaghaltas na h-Alba agus Ofcom.