The Scottish Music Industry Association is delighted to announce that one of its company board directors, Sharon Mair, has become our Vice Chair. In this role Sharon is working closely with our Chair, Dougal Perman, and our executive team to shape company vision, devise strategy and help drive the SMIA forwards.
Sharon rejoined the board last year having served on it in the past. Sharon brings experience leadership and board-level experience to the SMIA. She had a senior thirty-year career with the BBC. Alongside that she developed a portfolio of director and committee positions spanning the public and third sectors. Sharon planned and executed the launch or coverage of some of Scotland’s and the UK’s highest profile events. She is passionate about peer development, enhancing diversity and inclusion, and the nurturing and mentoring of teams and talent. She championed, launched, and delivered the first BBC Scotland apprenticeship programme, working with key stakeholders to offer opportunity and confidence to young people from diverse backgrounds and address inequality. She led and implemented the first 50/50 diversity initiative for BBC in Scotland. She worked professionally in partnership with the BBC’s Children in Need charity and UNICEF and delivered for broadcast the Commonwealth Games ceremonies. Sharon enjoys strategic and critical thinking to realise new ways of working and new approaches. She is a well-respected leader with the knowledge and people skills to achieve brand impact, organisational, cultural, and business success.
As BBC Editor Music, Radio and Events for BBC Scotland, she was responsible for music output and large events and cross-platform content including The Commonwealth Games, BBC Biggest Weekend, The Quay Sessions, Another Country, Travelling Folk, Get it On, BBC at the Quay and many more.
Sharon led BBC Scotland’s Music Day output with several ambitious programmes including concerts at the Barrowland with Travis and Texas and the BBC SSO. She also launched and curated the BBC Scotland Singer/Songwriter inaugural award. As the BBC Project Executive for the Commonwealth Games 2014 she was responsible for content across radio, television and online on all genres of programming, working closely with internal and external partners and stakeholders. As Project Director of the 17 day Cultural Festival, BBC at the Quay, that accompanied the BBC sporting coverage of the Games, Sharon curated a programme of music, speech, comedy, sport and events that engaged all ages. More recently she launched the BBC Radio Scotland Singer Songwriter Award in 2019.
Prior to this role, she led BBC Scotland’s Olympic editorial proposition including the Olympic Torch coverage in Scotland and put in place the structures for delivery of the Commonwealth Games. She has worked in radio for many years producing content for many networks and launching a new digital music station. As Managing Editor of BBC Radio Scotland responsible for the day to day management of the station with responsibility for the Kaye Adams programme and MacAulay and Co, during that period she implemented the change programme for radio when BBC Scotland moved to its new headquarters at Pacific Quay.
A passionate ambassador for nurturing talent , Sharon is also a Board Director of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and has been involved with several charities.
Everyone involved in the SMIA is very pleased to have Sharon on board in this role. We really appreciate everything she has done for the organisation so far and look forward to continuing to develop the company working with her and benefitting from her focus, clarity, strategic approach, calm and friendly demeanour, drive and enthusiasm.