The region’s enterprise agency has appointed two new board members.
Rory Christie and Dr Mary Thomson will take up their roles at South of Scotland Enterprise in March.
Rory is a director of the Dourie Farming Company in Port William – a family business specialising in pastoral dairy and intensive pig production.
He is also a board member and lead on dairy contract legislation for the NFUS milk policy committee and also founder and current chair of the Milk Suppliers Association Co-op.
Next year will also see him become chairman of the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society.
Dr Thomson is vice principal, skills and lifelong learning at Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and is originally from a veterinary background.
Originally from the Borders and living in the village of Gordon, she led on the successful 2023 Queen’s Anniversary Prize nomination for SRUC’s Veterinary Services which specifically referenced the excellence of the livestock health schemes work delivered by SRUC’s specialist facilities.
The pair will replace Professor Sara Carter and Lindsay McDowell on the agency’s board.
Professor Russel Griggs, SOSE’s chairman, said: “Both Rory and Mary bring different skills and experience to the board, and both have extensive knowledge of the south and therefore know the various exciting opportunities we have in front of us.
“Our new board members assist our work with people, businesses and communities across the South to establish the region as the centre of opportunity, innovation and
growth.
“We want the south to be bold, ambitious and different – and I think Rory and Mary will help us advance our journey to achieve this.
“We must also thank both Sara and Lindsay for their significant commitment and contribution to SOSE, with both having been on the board since SOSE was launched on April 1, 2020.
“They both played a vital role in our early days in our support of the south of Scotland during Covid-19 pandemic, and also helped set our strategic direction.”
