Committee members
Brian Chaplin
Chair
Brian Chaplin: Chair
It has been a pleasure and a privilege to be on the TIG Board for the last eight years and Chair for the last two. Prior to retirement I managed the Health Promotion department at NHS Western Isles and it became clear to me that good housing and good health are very closely linked and I did an in-depth study of this link focussing on the Cearns area of Stornoway.
Tina Burgess
Vice Chair
Tina Burgess: Vice Chair
I am delighted to be part of TIG serving as a Board Member. I was involved operationally with TIG in my capacity as Senior Health Improvement Officer for NHS Western Isles for over 29 years, retiring in 2015. I feel privileged to be part of an organisation that supports the most vulnerable and frail members of our community in so many practical projects.
My family connections on both sides are all from the west side of Lewis. I was brought up in the Free Church of Scotland and my Christian faith is so important to me as an individual and as a member of our community. I am blessed with two children and three grandchildren and enjoy being with them whenever I can, especially on outdoor activities such as water sports.
Janet Macleod
Committee Member
Janet Macleod: Committee member
Janet Macleod lives in Uig and works with long-term unemployed people, assisting them to move back into work. She has an interest in affordable housing, particularly in rural areas and in fragile communities and has many years’ experience on housing committees.
Matt Bruce
Treasurer
Matt Bruce: Treasurer
Matt Bruce is a retired architect and worked in Glasgow for 10 years predominantly on housing and then a mix of housing and other projects in the Outer Hebrides. A work background of 16 years in the private sector and 19 years for the local authority. He currently serves on various committees and likes growing things, drawing and working with wood.
Cllr Iain Macleod
Comhairle Representative
Cllr Iain M Macleod: Comhairle Representative
I am currently employed by QinetiQ Ltd at the Hebrides Range as a Logistics Manager and am also an elected Councillor for the Benbecula and North Uist ward. I am a fluent Gaelic speaker with the ability to communicate clearly across all age ranges and am involved in many Community Councils across the islands. Having seen the good work carried out by TIG across the islands, I am keen to be able to give something back to a community that I have lived and worked in for most of my adult life and would like to support TIG to continue this good work and promote it further across the islands.
Cllr Grant Fulton
Comhairle Representative
Grant Fulton: Comhairle Representative
I was brought up in Drinishader in The Bays of Harris. Like many young islanders I left the island for work although I was back and forward as I initially worked as a commercial diver and I continued scallop diving which brought me home on occasion. My family and I returned every year to visit relatives and friends.
I graduated from Bangor University in 1996 with an honours degree in Ocean Science. I have a number of other post grad diplomas associated with the marine world.Following on from University I worked for 5 years as Scientific Fisheries Observer in the North Atlantic and Antarctic. I worked for a number of years as a fishery officer in the Republic of Ireland and was selected by the Irish Government to be proposed to the European Union as a fisheries expert in an EU recruitment call. I spent 8 years in an agency of the EU, the European Fisheries Control Agency, firstly as a seconded national expert and latterly on contract. Before returning to Harris in 2019 I ran the Fisheries Control department for the Isle of Man Government.
My partner Lorna and I were both keen to return to the island and the opportunity arose with the development officer position with Harris Development Limited. I’ve been in this position for the last year and a half, which has allowed me to become involved in a wide range of community projects.Working from the Harris Plan 2015 – 2020 has been interesting and diverse. I also run a Fisheries Consultancy which caters to government organisations, NGO’s and the private sector. I was elected as councillor for Harris and South Lochs in a by election in October 2020.
Rebecca Mahony
Committee Member
Rebecca Mahony: Committee Member
I have over 15 years’ experience in a Project Management role and I have served as a committee member with various third sector and voluntary agencies for over 10 years. I have a good knowledge of local and national funding streams and awareness of charity legislation, company law, housing management and legislation, mental health practice and HR issues as well as experience of organisational change management and governance matters.
Jane Mackinnon
Committee Member
Jane Mackinnon: Committee Member
I had been managing an agricultural store for a few years when I became a member of the local housing association from which followed becoming a member of TIG. It was then another step as a member of the Shadow Board of the Hebridean Housing Association, preparing for stock transfer. During the term of the Shadow Board we as a board had very intensive training in all aspects of housing: Rules and regulations, Governance, Tendering process, Employment law, Scottish housing quality standards, Financial. These are some of the many and ongoing as regulations change. I was manager of the store for 18 years and then trained with Post Office Counters when it changed hands and was there when the Horizon system came into force in the Island.
Ian McCulloch
Committee Member
Ian McCulloch: Committee Member
My career in construction began in 1977 as an apprentice Quantity Surveyor in Glasgow. I relocated in 1984 to the Western Isles to work for CnES, later transferring to Contracting, and self-employed Consultancy. In 2005 I joined WIE, managing their property portfolio and development interests including new build office and workshop units as well as third party Client projects. I retired in 2020 from my role as Head of Regional Development for HIE in the Outer Hebrides and currently have a part time position with Graham + Sibbald as a Property Manager. My wife Kathleen and I spend the remainder of our working week on refurbishment of our next home, returning to Point. My other interests include HiFi, backgammon, re-learning guitar and intermittent engagement with cycling and running
Senior staff
Donna Smith
CEO
Donna Smith: Development Director
Donna has worked with TIG in a development role for 15 years, mainly working with Hebridean Housing Partnership assisting with the delivery their new build programme. Recent projects include development of low cost home ownership, registration as a letting agent and working with community groups and community land estates on their housing or community development projects. Donna has an honours degree in law and management with diplomas in conveyancing and executory services. She has a diploma in management from the Chartered Institute of Managers and is a Chartered Manager.
Ian Graham
Care and Repair Manager
Ian Graham: Care and Repair Manager
Ian is a Chartered Project Manager who has gained a wide variety of experience through his time as a Joiner, building surveyor, project manager and facilities manager. In 2019 Ian began working for Tighean Innse Gall as a Senior Surveyor for the Insulation department which was successful in delivering large and small insulation measures in the Western Isles. Following the restructuring process within TIG, Ian was appointed the Care and Repair Manager in July 2022.
Kirsty MacLeod
Energy Advice Manager
Kirsty MacLeod: Energy Advice Manager
Kirsty has worked with TIG in an energy advice role for over 12 years, initially as Fuel Poverty Officer to now the Energy Advice Manager. Over the years Kirsty has gained extensive knowledge and experience of fuel poverty issues in the Western Isles, working on, and publishing the Fuel Poverty Survey in 2014. Prior to TIG, Kirsty worked at Galson Estate Trust as a Community Powerdown Officer, identifying ways for the community to save carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency, gaining an insight into community land trusts which play a large role in the Western Isles.
Kirsty has worked on many projects over her time at TIG from Sustainable Hebrides, helping householders view their electricity bills and identifying areas where savings could be made in their homes as well as the Renewable Heat Premium Payment which distributed grants to householders for the installation of Renewable heating systems.