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Education / Leask appointed new UHI Shetland chair

STEPHEN Leask has been appointed as the new chair of UHI Shetland’s management board.

He is currently a councillor for Lerwick North and Bressay, and prior to that he worked as regional manager, and advisor and consultant, at Harbro.

Leask said he was “delighted” to take on the UHI role.

Stephen Leask.

Board members include independently appointed directors as well as directors appointed by staff and students.

A list of the directors can be found on the UHI Shetland website.

In recent years the board of management has, for example, overseen a restructure of the organisation to reduce a financial deficit.

“I look forward to working in close collaboration with staff, students, and our wider community guided by the UHI Shetland principles of openness, respect, and excellence,” Leask said.

“Leadership, at every level, is about turning vision into reality. Together, through effort, efficiency, and effectiveness, we will continue to build a college that meets Shetland’s training and industry needs at the heart of our community.”

A previous recruitment pack said the chair will “monitor the ongoing performance of UHI Shetland and ensure that the Board demonstrably acts consistently with the principles of public life, UHI values and commitment to corporate social responsibility”.

Interim chair Dr Mason Robbins meanwhile said he “couldn’t be more pleased to pass the baton” to Leask.

“With Stephen’s leadership, I believe UHI Shetland is well positioned to strengthen its role in the community, support our students and staff, and grow as a centre of learning and innovation for the islands and beyond.” he said.

UHI Shetland operates colleges in Lerwick and Scalloway, however there is an aim to move to a single campus model based in Scalloway.

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