Home News New Live Borders Board Members Volunteer Their Expertise To Help Make The Borders Healthier, Happier and Stronger

New Live Borders Board Members Volunteer Their Expertise To Help Make The Borders Healthier, Happier and Stronger

Four new trustee board members and two employee representatives will officially join the Live Borders board later this month.

They are joining at a crucial time for the organisation, as the ongoing joint transformational change programme with Scottish Borders Council aims to deliver high quality sport, leisure and cultural services through a financially sustainable and high performing partnership.

New Borders-wide sport and physical activity and culture strategies are also set to be put in place this year, with Live Borders playing an important role across both sectors in helping to deliver on the vision and aims of the strategies.

Councillor Euan Jardine, Leader of Scottish Borders Council, said: “The knowledge and expertise the four new independent trustees will bring to Live Borders will be fantastic and will help to shape the future of the organisation.

“I was delighted by the volume and quality of the applications received, with so many people putting their hat into the ring to take on what is a voluntary, unpaid role. That just goes to show how important the sport, leisure and cultural services delivered by Live Borders are to our communities and local residents.

“With two new employee representatives also joining the board at the end of the month this is really good news and will help to drive forward positive changes.”

The four new board members are:

  • Bill Douglas – Bill has had an executive career in IT and transformation, working with Codeclan and RBS, as well as working an independent consultant.  Bill has also been a trustee and chair of Musselburgh Citizens Advice Bureau as well as Fisherrow Trust and has served as a trustee and capital project committee chair for Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
  • Paul Smart – Paul had an extensive career with Scottish Government spanning 20 years, holding various senior policy and operational posts, before becoming a consultant with a focus on organisational and business development.  Paul has also served as vice chair of Culture and Business Scotland and as a member of Glasgow Colleges Regional Board.
  • Ugo Mbaezue – Currently Senior Engineering Manager with Nuclear Waste Services, Ugo has previous experience of working with NHS Borders as Capital Planning Project Manager. Ugo has also been a board member and chair of Borders College’s Finance and Resources Committee.
  • Sam Eccles – Sam has extensive experience working in the cultural and third sector in various senior management positions and also in consultancy, focused on marketing, business development and fundraising. Sam has also held a variety of charity trustee positions, including SWG3, The Federation of Scottish Theatre, Tourbook and REBOOT.

The two incoming employee representatives are Jen Knox and Duncan Rollo from the Health Development Team and Museums Services respectively.

The existing board members are:

  • Councillor Neil Richards
  • Councillor Caroline Cochrane
  • Councillor Jane Cox
  • Councillor Marshall Douglas
  • Fiona Doig is currently representing NHS Borders on the board.

A new chair of the Live Borders board will be appointed at the next board meeting on 31 March.