Kenny Bowie - Scottish Power Energy Networks

DGChamber President

Kenny is Head of Planning & Design for SP Energy Networks Dumfries & Galloway District, part of the Iberdrola Group.

He's responsible for ensuring that competent and fully costed designs are provided to all customers planning additional electrical connections to SPEN’s distribution network and responsible for the safety, welfare and productivity of our 55 strong industrial workforce spread between Dumfries and Stranraer.

Kenny’s career, spanning 35 years, began as a Craft Apprentice with SSEB. He then worked his way up through the business, gaining experience in Human Resources and progressing to HR Business Partner looking after their maintenance business in Scotland and North Wales. Kenny joined ScottishPowers’ Multy-Utilty Business, Core, as an Operations Manager delivering large value projects across Central and Southern Scotland and then returning SPEN in 2011 as Delivery Support Manager, delivering large connections projects, mainly for windfarms, as part of SPENs Connections Business before returning to Dumfries in his current role within the senior management team.

Kenny is also Chair of Young Enterprise in Dumfries and Galloway. Since 2003 he has helped facilitate S5/S6 Pupils in our secondary schools take part in the Company Programme, giving the young people real life experience in setting up and running successful Businesses and experiencing all the joys and pitfalls in developing a product, manufacturing, selling and returning a profit. In 2016 Kenny joined the Young Enterprise Scotland Board becoming a director and helping shape the services the charity provides in Scotland.

Joined the board April 2019

Kirstie Aitken - Robinsons Scotland

Kirstie is the Business Development and PR Manager for Robinsons Scotland. Kirstie joined the Marketing team in 2018 following on from a career in International Marketing and PR for local companies SDL Hair and Curries Solutions.

Kirstie’s role naturally developed along with the companies needs and opportunities. She is actively involved with the daily internal and external business development across all divisions of the business from main contracting to steelwork and agricultural to develop customer relations and opportunities for the business as well as overseeing parts of the public tender process.

Community benefits plays a big part of her role working with groups such as the Princes Trust, Cash for Kids, Scottish Young Farmers and developing the apprenticeship and work experience opportunities for the local area.

Kirstie also developed her own successful micro business Bespoke Feathers from a crafting hobby.

Dayne Boyd - The Boyd Group

Director of Boyd Group

Dayne joined the family business in 2008 originally known as Border Environmental Services and BEST Fire Safety. As the company grew and product range diversified Dayne came up with the concept of rebranding the company to Boyd Group allowing for further diversification and growth of major clients and contracts.

Dayne overseas the day to day running of Boyd Fire and Boyd Safety Supplies within the group and has become a go to contractor within the fire safety industry supplying and maintaining fire extinguishers and PPE for some of the largest companies within Dumfries and Galloway and throughout the U.K.

Dayne was the Dumfries and Galloway Life Magazines Young Entrepreneur of the year in 2016.

Joined the board January 2014.

Raymond Boyd – The Boyd Group

Originally employed in the operations section of the Water and Sewerage Department for 28 years Raymond started the business of Health and Safety Consultancy in 1995 originally known as Border Environmental Services.As the company has progressed it has expanded its services, workforce and rebranded to Boyd Group.

Raymond remains at the forefront of the company as Managing Director responsible for the day to day operation of Boyd Safety within the group and specialises in Health and Safety Management and Consultancy.

Raymond's strategic direction and determination, has enabled him to become a driving force in Health and Safety management for Dumfries and Galloway.

Raymond was Dumfries and Galloway Life Magazines Business Person of the Year in 2016.

Joined the board October 2018

Fiona Boyle - EcoGroup

Awaiting Bio.

Ryan Brown - Robinsons Scotland

Ryan Brown is Managing Director of family business Robinsons Scotland and CWP Concrete based in Lockerbie. Established alongside his dad in 2005 Robinsons has grown from strength to strength.

From a portacabin on an empty site, the business has gradually grown, with the addition of a new factory taking the steelwork capabilities up to an incredible 350 tonnes a week. CWP Concrete was established in 2015 to supply Robinsons but it now sits on its own site with 2 factories and their own established customer base. The family are also expanding the FarmFit interiors and local retail side of the business.

Ryan continues to be an integral part of the daily operations of the businesses, overseeing the company as a whole as well as continuing to manage his own customer base, projects, site visits and continually develop entrepreneurial ideas to take the business forward.

Ryan was IOD Award winner for Dumfries and Galloway region in 2019.

Sue Irving - Loreburn Housing Association

Sue is Director of Housing Services at Loreburn Housing Association, a Registered Social Landlord with c2,500 properties across Dumfries & Galloway. Prior to Loreburn she was Chief Executive of Dumfries & Galloway Citizens Advice Service and other roles include working with people affected by homelessness and carrying out addictions’ consultancy work in many different countries. Sue was previously the homelessness “czar” for the Scottish Government, being part of the team that developed internationally recognised policy and legislation to tackle homelessness in Scotland.
As well as being a Director of the Chamber Sue is also Chair of the Board of Homeless Action Scotland and is a member of Amnesty International.
Sue has a a Masters in Business Administration from the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen and a BA (hons) in English and Sociology from the University of Lancaster.
Sue has lived in different parts of the UK but her heart belongs in Dumfries & Galloway, in particular Langholm where she lives with her family. Her other great passion is her lifelong support for Liverpool Football Club.

Joined the board February 2015

Richie Nicoll - GalloGlass 

Richie Nicoll founded Dumfries’ GalloGlas Security & Logistics Group in 2017 and has saw the company evolve steadily with highlights being the winning of the National driver training contract for Forestry & Land Scotland and the launch of D&G’s only 100% Eco-Friendly Cleaning Business, GalloGlas EcoClean. GalloGlas as a Group having 4 arms, Security Solutions, Logistical Solutions, Integrated Training Solutions and EcoClean

Personally, Richie has a Degree in Security Management and 25 years Military and Security experience taking him operationally to Kosovo, Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan.  During his Military career, Richie served in the A.C.E Mobile Force (AMF), training for Arctic Warfare, latterly becoming an Advanced Electronic Countermeasures Operator in the Bomb Disposal Regiment. Since leaving the Military, Richie has held various posts from Security Operations Coordinator at the British Embassy in Kabul, Head of Operations in Basrah and latterly Security Consultant for a large International Oil & Gas Company in Baghdad.

Douglas Russell - Armstrong Watson

Douglas joined Armstrong Watson in January 2012 to take up an Office Leadership role while also focussing on the Audit, Corporate and Professional Practices sectors in Dumfries office while also developing further new client business in the region.

With Partner level experience in Edinburgh with Scott & Paterson and Baker Tilly Douglas has 31 years of experience in the profession, typically working with owner managed Family businesses.

Within Armstrong Watson he also leads the Valuations faculty as well as overseeing the Payroll Service Line.

After a career mainly in Edinburgh, Douglas is now enjoying a different experience living and working in Dumfries and being part of a more rural area

Joined the board September 2017

Rod Sanderson - Tarff Valley

Joined the board October 2018

Chris Walker - The Selkirk Arms, Kirkudbright

Chef / Hotelier. Started life at Blackpool and Fylde College with an OND & HND in Hotel and Catering Management before joining Trusthouse Forte as a Graduate Trainee. York Post House, The Old England Windermere, Hull Marina Post House, Beverley Arms at Beverley along with stints at Russacks at St Andrews and The Shelbourne in Dublin.

Cooked in the Kitchens for nearly 30 years and developed a passion for Marketing following a spell on Border TV hosting Spoon with a View, an outdoor cookery program and also on BBC Radio 2's The Debbie Thrower afternoon show.
Owned and operated the Creebridge House Hotel in Newton Stewart, The Masonic Arms in Gatehouse of Fleet and currently The Selkirk Arms Hotel in Kirkcudbright.
Former Chaiman of Wigtownshire District Tourist board and Dumfries and Galloway Hoteliers Association.

Past Community councillor in Gatehouse of Fleet.
Former Westminster Candidate for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk.
Hugely honoured to be appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright in December 2019.