The Highland Council has welcomed Debbie Sutton into her new post as Chief Officer for Operations and Maintenance, a role that puts her at the heart of services that shape daily life across the region.
Debbie’s appointment is part of a wider transformation in how the Council leads its work, with five top roles introduced under a newly streamlined management structure.
This fresh approach is being led by Malcolm Macleod, Assistant Chief Executive for Place, and aims to cut bureaucracy while delivering better outcomes for communities.
Debbie is the fourth of these five pivotal appointments, stepping up at a time when clarity and experience have never been more important.
With nearly two decades of service under her belt, she knows the landscape of the Highlands not just on paper, but on the ground.
Her work over the years has included everything from improving public toilets to revitalising play parks and managing green spaces that make towns and villages feel like home.
She played a leading role in developing Inverness’s first Greenspace Strategy back in 2006, and more recently shaped the Council’s nationally recognised Play Park Strategy.
These aren’t just tick-box policies, they’re the things children remember, families rely on, and communities fight for.
Council Convener Bill Lobban offered his warm congratulations, praising Debbie’s leadership and deep knowledge as a vital asset to the Council.
Council Leader Raymond Bremner added his support, noting that these new appointments are central to delivering the savings and improvements outlined in the February 2024 budget.
That budget set out plans to simplify the senior structure from three layers to two, bringing Highland Council into line with other top-performing authorities.
Initial savings are forecast at £370,000, with long-term reductions of around 20 percent in senior management costs.
But more than numbers, this is about people and Debbie’s leadership style is rooted in listening, learning, and getting things done.
She’s led teams through change before, overseeing insourcing projects and complex reviews with care and clarity.
In her most recent role as Acting Strategic Lead for Community Operations and Logistics, she balanced the urgent with the long-term, ensuring communities felt the benefit of thoughtful decisions.
She steps into her new responsibilities immediately, and colleagues across the Council are looking forward to working with someone who brings both vision and practical know-how.
For the people of the Highlands, her appointment signals not just continuity but fresh momentum.
It’s a reminder that strong public services begin with strong leadership, and that progress often comes down to the steady hands guiding the work behind the scenes.
With Debbie Sutton in post, the Council’s operational future looks well set, not just efficient, but grounded in care for place and people.
