We’re pleased to welcome five new Non-Executive Directors to the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) Company Board, following a public recruitment process earlier this year. These appointments represent a key step forward as we begin delivering our new 2025–2028 strategy.
Our new Board members bring valuable experience across music, culture, technology and the wider creative industries:
- Ally McCrae – Development Producer, 4Studio (Channel 4); Artist Manager, Old Sea Brigade
- Jackie Wylie – Artistic Director and Chief Executive, National Theatre of Scotland
- Mark Douglas – Chief Information Officer, PPL
- Sharon Riley – Director, Business and Legal Affairs, Virgin Music Group
- Tom Gallacher – Director, Patterns Seem to Form
These appointments will help strengthen our governance, broaden the SMIA’s expertise and support the delivery of our multi-year plan, which is focused on driving systemic change, enhancing sector sustainability and amplifying the value of Scottish music both at home and internationally.
They join our existing Board of Non-Executive Directors, which includes Co-Chairs Anneliese Harmon (Global Music & Entertainment Executive/Consultant) and Sarah Johnston (Head of Business Development, EmuBands), as well as Andy Duggan (Live Music Agent, WME), David Mogendorff (Founder, DMog), Dougie Brown (Producer, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival), Horse McDonald (Award-winning Singer-Songwriter and Label Founder), Iain McFadden (Chartered Accountant, McFadden Associates), Jen Anderson (Label Manager, Promoter, Tour Manager & Lecturer), Jonathan Tait (Rights Manager, STV), and Thursa Sanderson OBE (Chief Executive, Drake Music Scotland).
Anneliese Harmon, SMIA Co-Chair, said:
“We’re proud to welcome such dynamic and well-rounded members to our SMIA Board. Their wealth of expertise and unwavering commitment to advancing Scottish music will be instrumental in shaping our next chapter, further enabling us to expand, strengthen our voice, and champion the industry at every level.”
These appointments follow a £34m uplift in culture sector investment from the Scottish Government for 2025–26, unlocking the largest budget Creative Scotland has ever had. The SMIA is one of 251 organisations to receive Multi-Year Funding across 2025–2028, with the funding period having commenced on 1 April.
As part of Creative Scotland’s Multi-Year Funding Portfolio, we’ll be scaling up our work to better support our membership community – which has now surpassed 6,000 members. This milestone reflects the continued growth and reach of the SMIA as a national membership organisation for Scotland’s music industry.
Robert Kilpatrick, SMIA CEO and Creative Director, said:
“I’m really proud to welcome our five newly appointed Non-Executive Directors to the SMIA Company Board. They join at a hugely important time not just for the organisation, but for Scotland’s music industry as a whole. Following a tough and turbulent few years for the sector, 2025 brings a renewed sense of optimism, innovation and determination to drive positive change.
Our 2025-28 plan is centred around strategic partnerships and macro-level interventions that address systemic challenges and deliver long-term impact. It’s built on the firm belief that an authentic Scottish strategy is required to deliver for a distinctive and diverse Scottish music industry, and for that strategy to be effective, it has to be both co-designed and co-delivered with those it’s aiming to support.
I’m excited to work with – and learn from – our new Directors as we continue our mission of strengthening, empowering and uniting Scotland’s music industry, and as Scottish music continues to play its part in building a fairer, stronger and more confident nation.”
The SMIA Company Board works closely with the CEO and Creative Director to shape the organisation’s strategy, support its governance and oversee the delivery of SMIA projects, services and events in line with our mission and values.
We recently welcomed Vahishtai Ghosh to the team as our new Equalities and Industry Development Officer, further supporting our commitment to reducing inequality, increasing diversity and improving access across Scotland’s music industry.
This announcement follows our recent news that Dundee will host the 2025 Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, with the Ceremony taking place at the Caird Hall on Thursday 6 November. Eligible album submissions are now open at sayaward.com and close on 31 July. Early-bird tickets for the Ceremony are available now, which will include a live performance from 2024 SAY Award winners redolent.