New chief exec for Highland Council
Donna Manson has been appointed as the new chief executive of The Highland Council, and will take up her role following the retirement of Steve Barron.
Mrs Manson is currently a service director for children and young people in the Scottish Borders.
Donna started her career teaching in areas of deprivation and has a real passion for reducing inequalities for families. She worked in education in Edinburgh and Fife before starting her current post with Scottish Borders Council where she has gained extensive experience of all council areas and working with partners as a corporate director.
Mrs Manson said: ‘I am delighted to have the opportunity to serve the public in the Highlands and one of my main priorities is to focus on retaining the talent of our people in their local communities by creating local learning and training opportunities linked to jobs, housing and high quality council services.
‘I am ambitious that the council is a strong and visible presence in local areas and viewed to be playing a positive and productive role, working with local businesses, partners and the public for the benefit of both local people and visitors to the Highlands. I am confident that the council can thrive and overcome the challenging budget times and I look forward to being out in communities with staff, listening to people within their local area and working together on matters that are important to them.’
Mrs Manson has been a regular visitor to all areas in the Highlands for more than 30 years as a sailor and hill walker and is fiercely proud of her Highland family identity, recognising the importance of culture, heritage and tradition in communities. She is delighted to be ‘bringing the family home to their roots’ and having the opportunity to be working and living in the Highlands.
‘It is a real honour and privilege to have the opportunity to serve the Highlands with the staff team of Highland Council,’ she said. ‘This really is a once-in-a-lifetime job in the most amazing place that is the Highlands and so much part of my family.’
The leader of the council Margaret Davidson said she was ‘very pleased and excited’ to welcome Mrs Manson, who started on Friday September 14, to her new role.