Meet the REP Members
The REP is made up of representative from a wide range of organisations, sectors and groups who are based in, or work across the South of Scotland.
They bring together a diverse range of interests, knowledge, experience and resources - all valuable to the development of the Regional Economic Strategy for the South of Scotland.
There are currently 32 member of the REP comprised of:
- Elected Members from Dumfries & Galloway Council
- Elected Members from Scottish Borders Council
- Board Members from the South of Scotland Enterprise
- Representation from Skills Development Scotland
- Representation from Scottish Enterprise
- Representation from VisitScotland
- Representation from Scottish Funding Council
- Representation from Borders College
- Representation from Dumfries & Galloway College
- Representation from SRUC
- Higher Education
- Representatives of the Private Sector within the region
- Representatives of Social Enterprises within the region
- Representatives of the Third Sector within the region
- Representatives from Registered Social Landlords
- Community representatives from within the region.
Dumfries & Galloway Council
 | Councillor Rob Davidson (SNP) |
Chair of the REP |
Dumfries & Galloway Council - Depute Leader |
First elected to D&G Council in 2007, prior to that mainly employed in political roles for MSPs - MSP for Dumfriesshire from 1999 - 2011
- Formerly shadow ministerial roles in Environment and Enterprise roles.
- Before politics worked in scientific research and was a lecturer with the Open University.
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 | Councillor Elaine Murray (Labour) |
Vice Chair of the REP |
Dumfries & Galloway Council - Leader |
- Graduate of Edinburgh University
- Trustee and founder member of Dalbeattie Community First Responders
- Member of the Rocks & Wheels steering group - which aims to create a high-quality outdoor activities destination in Dalbeattie to help deliver community-led economic regeneration.
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 | Councillor Ian Carruthers (Conservative) |
Dumfries & Galloway Council - Chair of Audit, Risk and Scrutiny |
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| Councillor Andrew Wood (Conservative) |
Dumfries & Galloway Council |
- Farmed for 40 years in a mixed upland farm producing 2,00 fat lambs and 250 store cattle.
- Took on Directorship within Scotmas Ltd, charged with the auditing and training of hygiene within food processing factories across the UK.
- Elected to represent Mid & upper Nithsdale within D&G Council.
- Board member on South of Scotland Forestry Forum.
- Past member of Loreburn Housing management team
- Started up AWP Contracting, doing Ground works, Commercial, Agricultural & Forestry.
- Spare time is taken up with 12 grandchildren, cycling, country sports and travel.
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Scottish Borders Council

| Councillor Shona Haslam (Conservative) |
Scottish Borders Council - Leader |
- Over 20 years working in the Third Sector for various charities with a focus on lobbying and campaigning
- Focus is on building the skills and workforce for the future in the Scottish Borders.
- Twitter: @shonahaslam
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| Councillor Mark Rowley (Conservative) |
Scottish Borders Council - Executive Member for Economic Regeneration and Finance |
- Councillor for largely rural Mid-Berwickshire I've a real focus on remote rural issues.
- Recently elected in 2017 I campaigned as a sceptic of local government; I increasingly applaud the value it adds.
- I work delivering and promoting high quality and value tourism projects in Scotland
- As a previously reluctant engager with any social media I'm now evangelical about its value - particularly Instagram for tourism, twitter for building connections and encouraging community engagement.
- When not facing a digital screen I garden organically, grow veg, walk terriers & cook. Mixed success with all.
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| Councillor Simon Mountford (Conservative) |
Scottish Borders Council - Executive Member for Enhancing the Built Environment and Natural Heritage and Depute Leader of Scottish Borders Council |
- Board Member and former chair of Scottish Borders Housing Association.
- Retired, previously a career as a business journalist, and ran own financial and corporate relations consultancy for over 20 years.
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| Councillor Stuart Bell (SNP) |
Scottish Borders Council |
- Degrees in Physics and Business Administration
- 35 years experience in manufacturing operations improvements and management in businesses across Europe
- 'Cycles carefully and sometimes swims smoothly'
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South of Scotland Enterprise

| Professor Russel Griggs OBE |
South of Scotland Enterprise |
Chair of South of Scotland Enterprise |
- Hands on business experience in pharamaceuticals, and textiles industry.
- Business Development and Investment Banking
- Various oversight and review roles in the financial sector and HM Treasury
- OBE for promotion of Scottish Industry
- Numerous advisory roles with public, third sector and charitable sector.
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| Duncan McConchie |
South of Scotland Enterprise |
GG's Yard / Laggan Outdoor Activity Centre Hospitality Industry |
- Tourism and Hospitality Industry
- Passionate about the South of Scotland
- Previously worked in the Television and Media Industry
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| Kate Rowell |
South of Scotland Enterprise |
- Regional Board Member for NFUS
- Member of Just Transition Commission
- Interested in sustainable farming and local supply chains.
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| Hazel Smith |
South of Scotland Enterprise |
ReTweed |
- Third Sector and Social Enterprise
- Gender equality, and promoting womens participation in education, enterprise and the labour market
- LinkedIn: Hazel Smith
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Registered Social Landlords

| Matt Foreman |
Dumfries & Galloway |
Managing Director of Dumfries & Galloway Housing Partnership |
- Managing Director of Dumfries and Galloway Housing Partnership, Scotland's second largest Social Housing Landlord, delivering a range of housing and support services to over 10,000 homes across the region.
- Over 20 years' experience working in in a number of large and small housing organisations.
- Significant experience working in public sector organisations and local authorities in the North East of England.
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| Julia Mulloy |
Scottish Borders |
Chief Executive of Scottish Borders Housing Association |
- Leading SBHA since 2011.
- Over 30 years' experience in housing, working in the public, private and community sectors
- She has held a range of senior leadership positions throughout her career, radically rethinking and transforming services with a focus on building resilience fit for the future.
- In 2016, Julia joined the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) as a Board Director and is part of the collective voice on the future of affordable housing in Scotland.
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Private Sector

| Sue Berry |
Scottish Borders |
Management Consultant, TimelessTime Ltd |
- Human Resources and Organisational Development support to SME managers
- Evidence-based mentoring and consulting
- Co-author of Because Your People Matter: a playbook for management excellence
- Trustee and Chair of Operations, Scouts Scotland
- Strong belief in empowering young people with life skills that are relevant and transferable
- Hill walking, growing vegetables, and looking after five rescue chickens
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| Sheena Horner |
Dumfries & Galloway |
Food from Farming and Galloway Chillies |
- Lifelong involvement in the agricultural sector, diversified into growing chillies and herbs.
- Coordinator of both the Ayrshire and the Dumfries and Galloway Regional Food Groups
- Chair of Wigtown Food and Drink Festival
- Chair of D&G Economic Leadership Group
- Member of DG Local Employability and Skills Partnership
- Member of SCDI South of Scotland Committee
- Twitter: @sheenahorner & @foodfromfarming
- LinkedIn: Sheena Horner
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| Trevor Jackson |
Scottish Borders |
Owner - St. Boswells Fuels Ltd. Charlesfield Farms Ltd; Founder - St. Boswells Biogas Ltd., Jackson Distillers Ltd. |
- Chairman for South East Region of Scottish Land and Estates;
- Past President of Melrose Rugby Club and Chairman of Melrose Rugby Limited;
- Trustee of Borders Energy Agency;
- Winner of the inaugural Iver Salvesen Green Business Award
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| Hamish McLeod |
Dumfries & Galloway |
Director at BSW Timber |
- Lived in Dumfries almost 30 years
- 28 years with Howie/BSW Timber at a senior level
- Represented forestry sector on various organisations, including six years as non-exec Forestry Commissioner and Chair of Forestry Commission Scotland National Committee
- Active Rotary Club in Dumfries on various community projects
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Communities, Third Sector and Social Enterprise

| Crick Carleton |
Scottish Borders |
- Former vice-chair and coordinator of local Development Trust
- Lead author of his local community Town Action Plan & Whole Town Master Plan
- Former Community Councillor
- Development economist and business analyst
- Academic training in the natural, social and management sciences
- Has advised UK and Scottish governments on policies relating to fishing, the seafood industry, marine conservation, and supporting coastal communities
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| Keith Dickinson |
Scottish Borders |
Chair of Gavinton, Fogo and Polwarth Community Council and Resilient Communities Coordinator |
- Also chair of Blackhill Windfarm Community Fund
- Background in Higher Education, academic management, teaching and research, and held senior positions with Universities and Higher Education providers in the UK and Overseas.
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| Harry Harbottle |
Dumfries & Galloway |
- Senior management experience in private sector / local government
- Lifelong involvement in third sector
- Experience of chairing third sector boards at national / local level
- Member of International Standards Organisation Working Group on Risk Benefit Assessment in Recreation and Leisure
- International speaker on children, risk and play
- Member of Dumfries and Galloway Leader Programme Local Action Group
- Keen open water swimmer
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| Norma Austin Hart |
Dumfries & Galloway |
Chief Executive of Third Sector Dumfries & Galloway |
- Former Councillor with City of Edinburgh Council - leading on culture and sports, and on Economic Development
- Ran own business for 13 years providing project management and consultancy
- Former Chief Executive of D&G Tourist Board
- Extensive experience of non-executive directorships on a wide range of boards at national, regional and local levels
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| Peter Renwick |
Dumfries & Galloway |
Langholm Facilitator (SURF) and Programmer for Creetown Initiative |
- Board Member Midsteeple Quater.
- Freelance Arts Worker
- Recently working with The Stove, Dumfries Theatre Royal, and the Galloway Agreement.
- Father of one, since lockdown a slow but enthusiastic cyclist.
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Higher and Further Education

| Angela Cox |
Borders College |
Principal and CEO |
- Over 25 years' experience in the further and higher education sector in Scotland and England.
- Passionate about providing life changing opportunities through education and equipping people with the skills and knowledge to be global citizens.
- Committed to creating a fairer and more inclusive society through a progressive and green economy.
- Previously sat on the Local Enterprise Partnership board representing the Visitor Economy in Liverpool and I am currently a Trustee at LIVE Borders.
- Chair of the Borders Learning & Skills Partnership
- A member of the Implementation Steering Group for the Skills Action Plan for Rural Scotland and the National STEM Strategy Implementation Group.
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| Joanna Campbell |
Dumfries & Galloway College |
Principal and CEO |
- 23 years as a lecturer in Computing before progressing into Senior Management
- Joined as Principal in June 2019, from City of Glasgow College
- Previously Chair of Regional Learning and Teaching Group and Glasgow Regional STEM Hub.
- Established first STEM strategy for Fife College, and secured Forth Valley College as first STEM Assured College.
- Chair's Scotland IS Digital Skills Partnership Board and The Data Lab Skills Advisory Board
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| Nick Sparks |
SRUC |
Dean of South and West Faculty |
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| Dame Barbara Kelly |
Chairman Crichton Campus Leadership Group |
- Director of farming enterprise.
- Main interests in consumer affairs, equality issues, education and training, rural and environmental issues and the arts.
- Actively involved in public service for 40 years including Chairmanship of the Scottish Consumer Council; Equal Opportunities Commissioner for Scotland; a Board member of SE and SNH. Recently on Board of SOSEP.
- First woman Non Exec Director of the Clydesdale Bank plc. and BP plc Scottish Advisory Committee.
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| Professor Fiona Waldron |
Heriot Watt University |
Head of School of Textiles and Design |
- Started her career in clothing production engineering in the clothing industry as a Product Developer, engineering products for commercial manufacture.
- Academic career spans 28 years
- Has championed a focus on education being informed by industry practice in all aspects of product development.
- Research interest centres around size, shape and movement in products and the commercialisation of design.
- Has held a number of posts within and outwith the University including work with the QAA, review panels, external examining, SQA advisory panels and has been a visiting lecturer in a number of international institutions.
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Members from National Agencies

| Chris Brodie |
Skills Development Scotland |
Head of Skills Planning and Sector Development |

| Riddel Graham |
Visit Scotland |
Director of Industry and Destination Development |

| James Dunphy |
Scottish Funding Council |
Director of Access, Learning and Outcomes |
- Leads SFC's work on all aspects of learning provision including widening access and inclusion, equality and diversity, skills and learning quality.
- Responsible for negotiating outcome agreements with Scotland's Universities and Colleges and for ongoing performance assessments.
- Previously a Director at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen
- Chair of Scotland's Centre for Work Based Learning
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