Board Members
Membership normally lasts for three years after which time a new Board is selected, and at which point existing members are free to put themselves forward for selection again. The Board is selected according to the recommendations of the Nolan Committee.
Elizabeth McAtear (Interim Cathraiche)
Elizabeth (Betty) McAtear was brought up on the Isle of Barra. She retired from the Board of Lews Castle College in April 2010 after serving eight years on the Board, the last two as Chairman. She also represented the College as a governor on the Board of the University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute. Previously, she served on the NHS Western Isles Board for 10 years, part of that time as Chair. She brings valuable knowledge of strategic planning and experience of development of governance to the Bòrd.
Iain Campbell (Vice Chair)
Iain Campbell is from South Uist. He is the Senior Project Manager of Soillse, a seven year £5.29 million research project focussing on public policy toward the maintenance and revitalisation of Gaelic language and culture and involving the University of the Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute and the Universities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. He is an experienced senior manager and researcher with Masters Degrees in Regional Economics, Business Administration and Rural Development and a BSc with Distinction in Rural Resources. He has a deep knowledge of Gaelic language revitalisation and processes.
Kenneth Nicolson
Kenneth Nicolson is a fluent Gaelic speaker from Ranish in Lochs on the Isle of Lewis. After graduating from UHI (Lewis Campus) in Gaelic Language and Culture he went on to complete his PGDE in primary education at Strathclyde University and took up his current teaching post on the Isle of Tiree in 2009. From a young age, Kenneth has been involved in local music festivals, local Mods and the Royal National Mod. He is a renowned Gaelic singer and has performed not only throughout Scotland but more widely also. Kenneth brings to the Bòrd a passionate commitment to Gaelic and Gaelic education and a willingness to put his skills to practical use.
Christina Allon
Christina Allon is a native Gaelic speaker from the Island of Lewis. After 30 years of delivering, managing and leading services to the public, she retired from her role as Director of Careers Scotland in the Scottish Enterprise area in 2007 . Christina joined the Board of Bord na Gaidhlig in 2008 and is also a Non-Executive Director with the Scottish Government.
Kenneth MacKinnon
Kenneth MacKinnon has undertaken since the early 1970s twelve major research studies into Scotland’s Gaelic community, locally and nationally (as well as a study of Gaelic speakers in Nova Scotia.) He has supervised numerous research studies into other minority speech-communities, and has undertaken a great deal of demographic analysis of Gaelic speakers over recent censuses. He currently holds professorial appointments at the Universities of Aberdeen and Hertfordshire, and is an associate lecturer of the Open University in Social Sciences, Education and Language Studies. He has been a member of the Ministerial Advisory Group on Gaelic and a member and consultant to Bòrd na Gàidhlig. He has also previously provided consultancy to Comunn na Gàidhlig, and more recently to the Western Isles Language Plan Project.
Murdo MacLennan
Murdo MacLennan served as Chairman of the Western Isles Education Business Partnership from 1988-1998. He was Chairman and a Board member of Tighean Innse Gall, the housing agency for the Western Isles, from 1990-1998. His public appointments have included serving as Vice-Chairman and a non executive director on the Western Isles Health Board from 1993-1998 and as Chief Executive from 1998-2003. For 3 years he was a member of the Scottish Land Fund from 2000. He is currently Director of Lewis Crofters Ltd, Governor of Highland Theological College, Trustee of Bethesda Care Home and Hospice, Member of Highland and Islands Valuation Appeals Committee (Western Isles) and a Member of the Scottish Crofting Foundation.
Shona MacLennan
Shona MacLennan is originally from Spean Bridge and now lives in Kintail. She learnt Gaelic as an adult, beginning at university in Edinburgh. She has her own consultancy business, working with a range of private, public and community organisations. Shona has recently served on the Board of MG Alba, and was previously a non-executive director of Highlands & Islands Airports Ltd, Grampian TV and UHI Ltd. She has been involved in a range of Gaelic initiatives and developments, including working for Comunn na Gàidhlig. Shona brings extensive governance and strategic planning experience to the Bòrd as well as a sound knowledge of community development.
Coll MacDonald
Coll MacDonald is a native Gaelic speaker who was brought up on the Isle of Skye and educated through Gaelic medium before studying accountancy at Aberdeen University. Coll is a qualified Chartered Accountant and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants for Scotland. He is currently employed by a firm in Inverness. He has been actively involved in the Gaelic community and has taught fiddle at Fèisean throughout Scotland. Coll brings to the Bòrd an enthusiasm for the Gaelic language and it’s development; a good knowledge of educational issues; and a range of financial skills and experience.
John Macleod
John Macleod is from the Isle of Lewis who has been resident in Edinburgh since 1970. After retiring from a police career in December 2000, he became more actively involved in Gaelic language, educational and cultural developments locally and nationally, becoming Convener of Comann nam Pàrant (Nàiseanta), a Board member of Comunn na Gàidhlig, and, in recent years, President of An Comunn Gàidhealach. He has developed effective translation/interpretation skills and has been an active community contributor to numerous Gaelic developments in Edinburgh. He brings leadership, strategic and effective decision-making skills to the Bòrd along with a sound knowledge of community needs.
June Graham
June Graham is originally from Glasgow and has family connections with Skye. She has a PhD in Meteorology and has worked on climate change projects for the Canadian government as well as the University of Bern in Switzerland. Since 2009, she has been living in Lewis with her husband and three children. Her children are in Gaelic medium education and she has helped to start up a Gaelic parent and toddler group in Stornoway. June brings to the Bòrd knowledge of language situations internationally; enthusiasm for Gaelic in the field of education; and creative ideas for the future activities of the Bòrd.
