Sandy Blair CBE

Having originally trained and practiced as a Solicitor in private practice Sandy entered local government service with Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council in 1974.

In 1984 he was appointed Chief Executive of Bassetlaw District Council in north Nottinghamshire.  In 1992 he was appointed Chief Executive of Newport Borough Council and in 1995 following local government re-organisation, he was appointed Chief Executive of Newport County Borough Council.  During 1999/2000 he was President of SOLACE . He left Newport in 2000 and in 2001 he was appointed Director of the Welsh Local Government Association from which post he retired in 2004. He was awarded the CBE for Services to Local Government in Wales in 2005.

During his extensive career at the top of local government Sandy Blair also served on a number of formal and informal bodies including a Tourist Board, two TEC’s , two FE College advisory boards, the two forerunners of Solace Enterprises, several Steering committees for the NHS in Wales including the “Welsh Wanless” and  committees involved with Community Safety and Criminal Justice.

In addition to his role as a HSE Board member Sandy is a governor of University of Wales Institute Cardiff, a Trustee of the Mental Health Charity Growing Space, a member of the Governing Body of the Church in Wales and Chairman of the Monmouth Diocesan Board of Finance.  He is a fervent rugby supporter despite this is still happily married to Sue with three children and, currently, three grandchildren.