2019 - Anne McAlpine

We are delighted to announce the 2019 UHI Alumnus of the Year is Anne McAlpine, a Scottish media broadcaster who studied at Lews Castle College UHI. She was presented with the award at their graduation ceremony on 23 August 2019.

Anne grew up near Stornoway, and began her media career working at mneTV soon after graduating with a BA Gaelic and North Atlantic Studies in 2008. She has presented a variety of TV shows from sport to entertainment. 

Anne is currently a main anchor for Gaelic news programme An Là on BBC Alba, presents on Reporting Scotland’s weather forecasts and BBC Scotland’s rural affairs programme Landward.  As a bilingual reporter she has presented on many political, social and cultural issues across Europe on the BBC's award-winning Gaelic current affairs programme, Eòrpa.  She has also recently presented BBC Alba’s Women’s World Cup coverage.

Anne was nominated for the award in recognition of her outstanding achievements in the media and her involvement in the BBC's Get Playing campaign.  As a child she learnt to play the bagpipes and to sing, also studying to play the piano and guitar.  She has been part of a national campaign which encourages amateur musicians to improve their old skills or learn new ones by joining their 'Virtual Orchestra'.