Strath business leader appointed as chair of Highlands leisure, sport and culture charity
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High Life Highland has announced the appointment of a new chairman of the charity’s board.
Mark Tate, from Kingussie was duly elected to the position by his fellow board members at High Life Highland’s latest board meeting.
HLH has said he brings with him significant experience in training, risk and financial management, leadership, marketing and performance to the role.
Mr Tate said: “It is a great honour and privilege to be elected as chair of the board of High Life Highland.
"I am very much look forward to working with the chief executive, Steve Walsh, and his team to continue to deliver vital services and activities to individuals and communities across the Highlands.”
Mr Tate is CEO of the Cairngorms Business Partnership, which is the Chamber of Commerce for businesses for the Cairngorms National Park and currently has more than 400 members.
He studied financial services and economics at university and went on to work for the banking giant HSBC eventually becoming the its head of commercial banking in Scotland.
He left the bank to take up his current post with Cairngorm Business Partnership.
Mr Tate said: “Over the past couple of years, we have all faced and continue to face some very challenging times in our own lives.
"It is for these reasons that I truly believe the services and support that High Life Highland offers across the Highlands, and often to those most in need, is even more relevant now than they have ever been.”
Looking to the future, he said: “We are not ‘out of the woods’ yet, and like many other businesses and organisations, the charity is going to have some ongoing challenges.
"Amongst other things, these include current recruitment challenges across the Highlands and recovering our highlife membership numbers against a challenging financial backdrop for publicly funded organisations.
“However, I am absolutely committed to working with and supporting Steve and the excellent team of people we have across the organisation to do what I can to support them in driving this incredible organisation through its recovery and maintaining the essential services High Life delivers across the Highlands."
He added: “As a charity, High Life exists to support the wellbeing of the individuals and communities it has been set up to serve.
"I am proud to play my small part in ensuring that HLH continues to deliver for those communities in a way that is accessible, inclusive and makes life better for people in every corner of the Highlands.”
The new chair paid tribute to his outgoing predecessor Ian Ross who had been in the post since 2019.
He said: “Ian has done a superb job steering the board and the charity through the pandemic in what have clearly been the most challenging two years the organisation has ever faced.
"It has been a pleasure to serve alongside Ian and I look forward to continuing to build on his significant work.”
Mr Tate also acknowledged the support from Highland Council who set-up the arms length body to look after its sport, leisure and culture services.
He said: “High Life Highland is extremely grateful for the support it receives year-on-year from Highland Council.
"I am keen to continue the work of my predecessors and work with my counterparts in the local authority to ensure that the charity delivers high quality, value for money services to Highland communities on the council’s behalf.”
Mark Tate will be supported by newly appointed vice-chair Michael Golding, who is well known within in his professional capacity as chief executive of tourism organisation Visit Inverness Loch Ness.
The High Life Highland Board meets several times a year to lead on the strategic direction of the large charity.
It consists of four elected members from the council and eight independent directors.
