Hannah Mary Goodlad has been given a ministerial role in First Minister John Swinney’s new government.
Shetland’s new MSP, the first SNP member to be elected to the role, is taking on the role as minister of public finance.
Posting online Ms Goodlad said welcomed the news, and showed steadfast support to Scotland’s first minister.
“I was once told in life, choose your boss, not your job,” she stated.
“My new boss, John Swinney, is someone I would choose to work for every day with ease.
“Honest, calm and someone with integrity at his heart.
“That is why, when today he asked me to take on minister for public finance, I had the confidence in him and myself to say yes.”
Ms Goodlad added the new role would not be an easy one.
“I am under no illusion – we have real work to do,” she stated.
“At the same time, this is a role that has enormous potential to make real change and improvements. And that is a privilege.”
She said she would approach the role with the key values of compassion, wisdom, integrity and justice.
MSPs who are newly appointed as ministers will be minister-designate until their appointment is formally agreed to by Parliament and approved by His Majesty King Charles III.
Ms Goodlad campaigned in the lead up to the election on Shetland having a “seat at the table”.
With her new position she will have a key role in major financial decisions affecting Shetland, such as potential funding for a replacement for the Gilbert Bain Hospital.
Prior to her ministerial appointment Ms Goodlad backed a motion by Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton calling for a new-build replacement for the hospital.
Shetland Islands Council is also seeking funding support for fixed links from both the UK and Scottish governments.
Ms Goodlad previously said tunnels were “vital infrastructure for Shetland”.
She said finance was a “critical piece of the jigsaw” for securing fixed links.
“And that’s why I’m so optimistic about the new Scottish Gov bonds that are going to be issued this year,” she said in January.
“This is an ideal source of capital for strategic infrastructure projects. And I can think of nothing more strategic than building the first Scottish island tunnel.
“If elected, I will make sure I use Shetland’s seat at the table to get a funding package in place to turn this tunnel dream into a reality.”