Appointments to the board of MG ALBA
Ofcom has today announced four appointments 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 appointments 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.
The new members are:
Lisa Annette
Lisa is a fluent Gaelic speaker, hailing from Mallaig, and is a graduate of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. She is a digital content producer with 12 years of experience in broadcast TV and film production. Lisa started her career with the content team at MG ALBA prior to the launch of BBC ALBA in 2008. Since leaving MG ALBA in 2013, she has worked in production both internationally and in the independent Gaelic sector.
Rhoda Macdonald
Rhoda was born and brought up on the Isle of Lewis and is a native Gaelic speaker. Her career in broadcasting, both on screen and in production, eventually led to Rhoda becoming a senior member of STV’s management team. As Head of Gaelic at STV, Rhoda was responsible for the creation of a range of TV programmes including Speaking Our Language, the long-running series which she produced and presented.
In 2003, she was appointed Special Adviser to then-Secretary of State for Scotland, Helen Liddell, before becoming a communications and campaigns consultant. Rhoda is currently a senior director at Hanover Communications.
Iain Macmillan
Iain Macmillan is a native Gaelic speaker, born and raised in South Uist. He currently lives and works in Stornoway. An accountant by profession, Iain has spent his working life in the public sector, with service in local government, the police service, college and university sectors.
Iain has been Principal and Chief Executive of Lews Castle College UHI since January 2012. He has undertaken representative roles at regional and national level in the college sector, and within the University of the Highlands and Islands.
Ceit-Anna MacLeod
Ceit-Anna was brought up on the Isle of Lewis and is a native Gaelic speaker. She lives and works in Edinburgh as a lawyer, and called to the Scottish bar in 2012. Prior to her legal career, Ceit-Anna worked in Gaelic television and radio. Aside from her practice as an Advocate, she is a trustee of a relationship counselling charity.
Lisa, Rhoda and Iain will take up their roles on 1 January 2020, while Ceit-Anna will join the Board on 1 May 2020. All four have been appointed for terms of four years.
Notes to Editors
- 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.
- The appointments are 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 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 gun deach buill a shuidheachadh air bòrd MG ALBA, am buidheann a tha an urra ri bhith a’ dèanamh cinnteach gu bheil prògraman telebhisein de dh’àrd-chàileachd ann an Gàidhlig air an tabhann do dhaoine ann an Alba.
Chaidh moladh Ofcom airson nan suidheachaidhean aontachadh le Iain Swinney BPA, Leas-phrìomh Mhinistear na h-Alba agus Rùnaire a’ Chaibineid airson Foghlam agus Sgilean. Tha seo a’ leantainn pròiseas taghaidh neo-eisimeileach le Ofcom ann an Alba.
Is iad na buill ùra:
Lisa Annette
Tha Lisa fileanta sa Ghàidhlig, buinidh i do Mhalaig agus cheumnaich i bho Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Is e riochdaire susbaint didseatach a tha innte le 12 bliadhna de eòlas-obrach ann an craoladh agus ann an riochdachadh TBh/film. Thòisich Lisa na dreuchd le sgioba susbaint MG ALBA mus deach BBC ALBA a chur air chois ann an 2008. On dh’fhàg i MG ALBA ann an 2013, tha i air a bhith an sàs ann an obair-riochdachaidh gu h-eadar-nàiseanta agus san earrann Ghàidhlig neo-eisimeileach.
Rhoda Nicdhòmhnaill
Rugadh agus thogadh Rhoda air Eilean Leòdhais agus tha i fileanta sa Ghàidhlig. Ri linn an dreuchd a bha aice ann an craoladh, air an sgrion agus mar riochdaire, lean seo gu Rhoda a bhith na h-àrd bhall ann an sgioba-stiùiridh STV. Mar Cheannard na Gàidhlig aig STV, bha Rhoda an urra ri bhith a’ cruthachadh raon de phrògraman TBh a’ gabhail a-steach Speaking Our Language, an t-sreath telebhisein a lean air adhart airson ùine agus a bha i a’ riochdachadh agus a’ preasantadh.
Ann an 2003, chaidh a suidheachadh mar an Comhairliche Sònraichte airson Rùnaire Stàite na h-Alba a bha ann aig an àm sin, Helen Liddell, agus an dèidh sin bha i na comhairliche conaltraidh agus iomairtean. Tha Rhoda an-dràsta na h-àrd-stiùiriche aig Hanover Communications.
Iain Mac a' Mhaolain
ha Iain Mac a’ Mhaolain fileanta sa Ghàidhlig, agus rugadh agus thogadh e ann an Uibhist a Deas. Tha e a’ fuireach agus ag obair ann an Steòrnabhagh aig an àm a tha an làthair. Is e neach-cunntais a tha ann mar dhreuchd agus tha e air a bheatha phroifeiseanta a chur seachad ag obair san earrann phoblach, le seirbheis ann an earrannan an Riaghaltais Ionadail, seirbheis nam poileas agus ann an Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd ’s nan Eilean.
Tha Iain air a bhith na Cheannard air Colaisde a’ Chaisteil UHI on Fhaoilleach 2012 agus tha e air a bhith an sàs ann an dreuchdan riochdachaidh aig ìre Roinneil agus Nàiseanta ann an earrann nan Colaistean agus taobh a-staigh Oilthigh na Gàidhealtachd agus nan Eilean.
Ceit-Anna NicLeòid
Chaidh Ceit-Anna a thogail air Eilean Leòdhais agus tha i fileanta sa Ghàidhlig. Tha i a’ fuireach agus ag obair ann an Dùn Èideann mar neach-lagha, agus chaidh a gairm chun bhàr Albannach ann an 2012. Mus deach i an sàs na dreuchd mar neach-lagha, bha Ceit-Anna ag obair an lùib rèidio agus telebhisean. Cho math ri bhith ag obair mar Thagraiche, tha i na h-urrasair air carthannas a tha a’ toirt comhairle mu dhàimhean.
Tòisichidh Lisa, Rhoda agus Iain nan dreuchdan air 1 Faoilleach 2020, agus thig Ceit-Anna chun a’ Bhùird air 1 Cèitean 2020. Chaidh na ceathrar an suidheachadh airson teirm a mhaireas ceithir bliadhna.
Notaichean airson Luchd-deasachaidh
- Is e dleastanas MG ALBA (ainm-obrach Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig) air a mhìneachadh fo Achd Conaltraidh 2003, 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.
- Tha na suidheachaidhean mar thoradh air pròiseas fastaidh a bha a’ gabhail a-steach 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 a-mhàin. Gheibhear tuilleadh fiosrachaidh mu bhith suidheachadh bhall air Bòrd MG ALBA sa Mheòrachan Tuigse eadar Riaghaltas na RA, Riaghaltas na h-Alba, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba agus Ofcom.