New Members Appointed To NHS Highland Board

29th November 2017

NHS Highland has appointed three new non-executive members to its board.

Alasdair Christie, James Brander and Sarah Compton-Bishop have each been appointed for four years by the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Wellbeing and Sport Shona Robison.

NHS Highland chair David Alston said: "I am delighted to welcome three new non-executives to the board.

“Each of the new members were appointed following a process of advertisement and interview, which saw 70 people from across the NHS Highland board area apply.

“I look forward to working with each of them to ensure we continue to deliver high-quality services across the north of Scotland."

Alasdair Christie has worked at a senior level of management for over 30 years, primarily in the mechanical engineering industry. In addition, as a local councillor in Inverness he has many years of experience dealing with some of the issues facing local people including the complexities of delivering services across Highland.

Latterly he has been deputy lead of the Highland Council and former Chair of the Committee which oversees Education, Social Work and Housing. Mr Christie is currently general manager of the Inverness Badenoch and Strathspey Citizens Advice Bureau and a trustee of Highlands and Islands Society for Blind People, Highland Third Sector Interface and Highlands Small Communities Housing Trust.

James Brander was a primary school teacher for 34 years with the Highland Council across various locations in Inverness, Nairnshire and Easter Ross. He was head teacher in four different schools in Inverness and Nairn between 1990 and 2016.

Mr Brander retired as a head teacher in January 2017 and is currently volunteer data manager for the RSPB in Golspie.

Sarah Compton-Bishop's career began in the private sector working in a variety of training and team management roles focused on operational delivery and customer service.

In 2012 she transitioned to the Third Sector, taking the lead on a project to safeguard the only shop on the island of Jura and create a sustainable community business. Mrs Compton-Bishop has also worked on other community-led projects and volunteers for the Isle of Jura Development Trust as company secretary.