1st March 2016
Bòrd na Gàidhlig Board appointments
Five new members appointed to the national language body.
Scotland's Languages Minister Alasdair Allan today announced the appointment of 5 new Board members to Bòrd na Gàidhlig.
Bòrd na Gàidhlig is the national Gaelic language body. It is a statutory Non Departmental Public Body established under the Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005 and is responsible for safeguarding the future of Gaelic in Scotland; for promoting the use and understanding of the Gaelic language and for developing and supporting Gaelic education and culture.
Dr Allan said:
“I am delighted to welcome our 5 new members to Bòrd na Gàidhlig. They have a wealth of knowledge and expertise between them which will be invaluable to the Board as they deliver the aims of the National Gaelic Language Plan and build a sustainable future for Gaelic.
“I look forward to working with them in the coming months.”
Joy Dunlop is a Gaelic singer, dancer, teacher and TV presenter. Raised in Connel, Argyll she graduated from Sabhal Mòr Ostaig with an honours immersion degree in Gaelic Language and Culture and spent 5 years working as a Gaelic Development Officer for An Comunn Gàidhealach, before embarking on a freelance career in the Gaelic Arts.A Mòd Gold Medalist, she is a passionate ambassador for Gaelic music and culture and combines her performing career with both language and song teaching at Glasgow University, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig and through the popular Youth Music Initiative scheme. She is also involved in various community-led initiatives; including community associations and several Gaelic choirs.Joy brings to Bòrd na Gàidhlig an enthusiasm for the Gaelic language and its development, first-hand experience of arts and educational issues and a good understanding of the strengths and needs of the Gaelic community. She also has a particular interest in second language acquisition.
Mary MacInnes has numerous roles within her local community relating to Gàidhlig language and Education: spanning across early years, primary and adult learning. Mary is head teacher of Sgoil an Iochdair and has a wide experience in community development. She is presently a member of The 1+2 Language Learning Working Group in the Western Isles and has frequently led staff training sessions. Mary has had involvement in a range of Assessment & Moderation projects with Education Scotland and she is a leading member ofUist Core Learning Interests Group. She is the Chairperson of Ceòlas Uibhist Ltd, the highly acclaimed Gaelic arts organisation. Mary has also sat on the board of a number of national organisations in the past, such as the Scottish Arts Council and Comataidh Craoladh Gàidhlig. Mary’s previous roles within the community include:Committee member ofCo-chomunn an IochdairandIochdar Hall Building Committee, founding member ofCothromand founder member and development worker forFèis Tìr a’ Mhurain.
Donald Macsween is a native Gaelic speaker and crofter from Ness in the Isle of Lewis. Donald is employed part-time by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar Education Department, helping provide support to young people in Lewis. Donald is also a freelance TV presenter for BBC Alba (mainly Farpaisean Chon-Chaorach and the recent series ‘An Lot/The Croft’) and has previously been a Broadcast Journalist for BBC Gaelic. Donald has been involved in community work for some years and is supportive of strong rural communities.
Johan Smith is a native Gaelic speaker from Barvas, Lewis and studied Gaelic and Sociology at Aberdeen University. During her involvement in cultural tourism, and while working as an Education Development Officer, Johan visited many communities throughout the country supporting local initiatives. She is familiar with the multi-disciplinary approach to Gaelic development through her role as a simultaneous translator at local and national events. Working as a copy-editor and proof-reader over the last 25 years have seen her make a valuable contribution to many of the resources that the Gaelic publishing sector have produced. Johan brings to the board first-hand experience not only of working within the Gaelic community through providing a lead role in working with young people, church groups and fundraising endeavours, but also of meeting the challenges of generating support for Gaelic in areas where the importance of the language is, as yet, less recognised.
Jim Whannel was born and brought up in the east-end of Glasgow, at a time when there were no living links to the Gaelic language in the area. He began learning the language at secondary school, attended one of the first ever summer schools at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig in 1974, and went on to study further at Glasgow University.
His subsequent career has been as a Primary Head Teacher and then as an Adviser and Quality Assurance Officer with Glasgow City Education, where his remit was Gaelic. He supported the expansion of GME in the city from 2005 onwards, leading the development of innovative projects such as the GME secondary in the city. He also worked across the country as an Associate Assessor in GME for Education Scotland and supported the development of closer links with colleagues in Ireland.
He chaired the national inter-authority organisation for Gaelic – the Management Review Group and was Chair of the board of the Stòrlann Nàiseanta, having represented the City of Glasgow on these organisations from 2006. He brings to the Bòrd, wide-ranging skills in leadership and communication with an extensive grasp of the key issues relating to the growing resurgence of Gaelic across the country and in particular the development of Gaelic education.
These appointment will be for 4 years and will run from March 2016 to February 2020.
This appointment is part-time and attracts a remuneration of £6388 for a time commitment of 3 days per month.
The 5 new members do not currently hold any other Public Appointments.
This appointment is regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public. Jim Whannel has had involvement with the Scottish National Party, whereas other candidates have had no political activity for the last 5 years.
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