The first cathraiche (chair-person) of the eight member Bòrd is Donnchadh MacFhearghais (from Islay), rector of Plockton High School, and former convenor of Comunn Luchd-Ionnsachaidh, Comunn na Gàidhlig, and director of the steering committee for BBC Gaelic programming.
Following a consultation period from October 2003 to January 2004, during which many respondents expressed their concern that any advice Bòrd gives would be likely to be ignored by largely hostile authorities, it was announced in September 2004 that the Bòrd was to be strengthened in several areas:
the Bòrd's guidance to local authorities on Gaelic medium education will be statutory
it can advise all public, private and voluntary bodies
it will decide on how to focus language development and will determine which organisations should produce language plans.