North Highland Initiative chooses Dornoch businesswoman to lead the Ross-shire, Caithness and Sutherland support organisation into the next three years
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Sutherland entrepreneur Genevieve Duhigg has become the first woman to lead the North Highland Initiative (NHI).
Mrs Duhigg, who will take on the non-executive chairwoman role for an initial three years, brings 30 years’ commercial leadership experience to the charity.
Mainly working in publishing, where she was global digital director of the Penguin Group and chief digital officer and chief information officer for Pearson PLC, Mrs Duhigg also held a number of non-executive director positions in media, education, sport and financial services, including Santander UK; Moneysupermarket; the Rugby Football Union and STV, and served on Lego Education’s advisory board.
Since 2014, she has been the director of a property and retail business in Dornoch,with her husband, John. John’s family moved to Dornoch in the late 1980s and Genevieve, John and their sons have been regular visitors for many years.
Mrs Duhigg said: “I’m incredibly proud to be taking on this leading role for NHI, building on its many successes and helping to develop the future prosperity of the north Highlands.
“As chair of NHI, my focus will be on helping to strengthen communities in the north Highlands. I’m passionate about the region’s continued success and I look forward to working closely with our partners across the north Highlands in the years ahead.”
Inspired by Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay’s involvement in bringing together the farming community, local businesses, and the tourism industry to try to address some of the challenges facing rural communities in the far north, HNI was founded in 2005 and operates across Caithness, Sutherland, and Ross-shire.
This year will see NHI continue to deliver its Community Infrastructure Support Programme (CISP), which has awarded over £98,000 to 107 projects across the region in the last two years. The initiative is now open to applications from communities across the North Highlands.
Primary areas of activity include food and farming; community support and leadership and this year is also welcoming projects that build environmental sustainability and resilience.
NHI is also continuing to support the John O’ Groats Trail, Countryside Learning Scotland, North Highland Products and continues to develop strong partnerships and programmes across the Highlands.
Mrs Duhigg takes over from David Whiteford OBE, who chaired NHI for 12 years from 2009 to 2021. Lord MacLennan was chairman of NHI until 2009.
