Ofcom has today announced the appointment of four new Members to the Board of MG ALBA, the body responsible for ensuring the availability of high-quality television programmes for audiences in Gaelic.
David Byrne
A Gaelic speaker from Inverness, David is an entrepreneur and 360° sustainable travel editor. His expertise has led to broadcast work with the BBC, ITV, and LBC, with his writing appearing in publications such as The Sun and The Scotsman. He is a postgraduate alumnus of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, where he also worked in a development role before joining BBC Scotland, working on the multi-award winning current affairs programme Eòrpa. He is currently vice chair of the Hillhead High School War Memorial Trust.
Catriona Murray
A freelance broadcaster, producer and editor with over 35 years of production experience at the BBC with credits as both a producer and presenter on numerous feature programmes on literature, the arts, music, history and language. Catriona is also a published Gaelic author and served as the Chair of the Gaelic Books Council from 2017 – 2021. She is a native Gaelic speaker based in Glasgow.
Lachlan Peel
A product of Gaelic Medium Education, Lachlan currently works for JP Morgan in Edinburgh having graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in History. During his time at school, Lachlan competed in the short film competition FilmG where he won ‘Best Student Film’ and ‘Best Performance’ and has since continued to support the initiative as a judge.
Calum Steele
A recognised senior leader having spent fifteen years as General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation until 2023, where he developed and influenced policy both in Scotland and globally, including the merger that created the Police Service of Scotland. Prior to this, Calum was a police constable and remains on the International Council of Police Representative Associations. He is a native Gaelic speaker currently based in Dollar.
These appointments have been agreed by Jenny Gilruth MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills at the Scottish Government following a competitive recruitment process led by Ofcom in Scotland. Each Member has been appointed for a term of four years commencing from 1 May 2024.
I am delighted to welcome the four new members to the Board of MG ALBA. They all bring different skills and experiences which will strengthen the Board that works in partnership with the BBC to ensure that Gaelic television and digital services continue to grow and develop. Crucially, all of them have a real understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for Gaelic broadcasting.
- John Morrison, Chair of MG ALBA
Tha Ofcom air ainmeachadh an-diugh gu bheil ceathrar Bhuill ùra air an suidheachadh air Bòrd MG ALBA, am buidheann le uallach airson dèanamh cinnteach gum bi prògraman telebhisein aig àrd-ìre rim faighinn ann an Gàidhlig do luchd-èisteachd.
Daibhidh Byrne
Tha Daibhidh à Inbhir Nis na neach-labhairt Gàidhlig, agus tha e na neach-tionnsgain agus na dheasaiche siubhail seasmhach 360°. Tha an t-eòlas aige air leantainn gu obair craolaidh leis a’ BhBC, ITV, agus LBC, agus an sgrìobhadh aige a’ nochdadh ann am foillseachaidhean leithid The Sun agus The Scotsman. Tha e na alumnus for-cheum aig Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, far an robh e cuideachd ag obair ann an dreuchd leasachaidh mus deach e gu BBC Scotland, ag obair air a’ phrògram cùisean an latha, Eòrpa, a choisinn iomadh duais. Tha e an-dràsta na iar-chathraiche air Urras Cuimhneachaidh Cogaidh Àrd-sgoil Hillhead.
Catriona Mhoireach
Craoladair, riochdaire agus neach-deasachaidh neo-cheangailte le còrr air 35 bliadhna de dh’eòlas riochdachaidh aig a’ BhBC le creideasan an dà chuid mar riochdaire agus preasantair air grunn phrìomh phrògram mu litreachas, na h-ealain, ceòl, eachdraidh agus cànan. Tha Catriona cuideachd na h-ùghdar foillsichte sa Ghàidhlig agus bha i na Cathraiche air Comhairle nan Leabhraichean bho 2017 – 2021. Tha i fileanta sa Ghàidhlig bho thùs agus a’ fuireach ann an Glaschu.
Lachlann Peel
Mar neach a chaidh oideachadh tro Fhoghlam tro Mheadhan na Gàidhlig, tha Lachlann an-dràsta ag obair do JP Morgan ann an Dùn Èideann an dèidh ceumnachadh bho Oilthigh Oxford le ceum ann an Eachdraidh. Fhad ’s a bha e san sgoil, bha Lachlann a’ farpais ann am farpais film goirid FilmG far an do choisinn e ‘Film Oileanach as Fheàrr’ agus ‘An Coileanadh as Fheàrr’ agus bhon uair sin tha e air a bhith a’ toirt taic don iomairt mar bhritheamh.
Calum Steele
Àrd-stiùiriche aithnichte an dèidh còig bliadhna deug a chuir seachad na Rùnaire Coitcheann air Caidreachas Poileas na h-Alba gu 2023, far an do leasaich e agus a thug e buaidh air poileasaidh an dà chuid ann an Alba agus air feadh na cruinne, a’ gabhail a-steach an aonadh a chruthaich Seirbheis Poileis na h-Alba. Roimhe seo, bha Calum na chonstabal poileis agus tha e fhathast air Comhairle Eadar-nàiseanta Chomainn Riochdachaidh a’ Phoileis. 'S e neach-labhairt dùthchasach Gàidhlig a th' ann agus tha e an-dràsta stèidhichte ann an Dollar.
Chaidh na dreuchdan seo aontachadh le Jenny Gilruth BPA, Rùnaire a’ Chaibineit airson Foghlam agus Sgilean aig Riaghaltas na h-Alba às dèidh pròiseas fastaidh farpaiseach air a stiùireadh le Ofcom ann an Alba. Tha gach Ball air a chur an dreuchd airson teirm de cheithir bliadhna a’ tòiseachadh bho 1 Cèitean 2024
Tha e na thoileachas mòr dhomh fàilte a chuir air na ceithir buill ùra gu Bòrd MG ALBA. Bidh iad uile a’ toirt nan cois diofar sgilean agus eòlasan a neartaicheas am Bòrd a tha ag obair ann an com-pàirteachas leis a’ BhBC gus dèanamh cinnteach gun lean telebhisean Gàidhlig agus seirbheisean didseatach a’ fàs agus a’ leasachadh. Gu deatamach, tha fìor thuigse aca uile air na dùbhlain agus na cothroman a tha ro chraoladh Gàidhlig
- Iain Moireasdan, Cathraiche MG ALBA