Public appointment: Chair reappointed to the Highlands and Islands Enterprise Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Wellbeing Economy, Fair Work and Energy, Neil Gray MSP, today announced the reappointment of Alistair Dodds CBE as Chair of the Board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Chair

Alistair Dodds held senior management positions in the Highland Council over a period of 18 years in HR and Corporate Governance and was Chief Executive for over six years until August 2013. He has a good understanding of remote and rural areas, has been directly involved in significant public sector reform and delivered the benefits from strong and effective partnership working with the public, private and third/voluntary sectors. He is a member of the board of the Highland Print Studio and a former Trustee of the National Galleries of Scotland where he held the positions of Depute Board Chair and Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee.

Reappointment

The reappointment is for three years from 1 May 2023 until 30 April 2026.

The reappointment is regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration and time commitment

The reappointment attracts remuneration of £496.42 per day for a time commitment of 91 days per annum.

Other ministerial appointments

Mr Dodds does not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity

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.

Mr Dodds has had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is an ambitious organisation with a broad remit from the Scottish Government that integrates economic and community development and plays a vital role in supporting businesses and communities across the Highlands and Islands to build a greener, fairer, sustainable future and help achieve the goals set out in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation.

The region comprises over half of the Scottish land mass (including 94 inhabited islands) and is home to around 470,000 people.

With 300 staff based across the region, HIE aims to lead sustainable regional growth, improve competitiveness and productivity, and build a fairer society across the Highlands and Islands. Their three priorities are to:

• grow successful, productive, and resilient businesses;
• create the conditions for growth; and
• build strong, capable, and resourceful communities.

HIE’s vision is for the Highlands and Islands to be a highly successful, inclusive, and prosperous region in which increasing numbers of people choose to live, work, study, invest and visit.