Chris McDonald

Industrial career

Upon graduation, McDonald worked in various roles in the steel industry, but focused on research.

In 2014, McDonald led the divestment of Tata Steel UK's research and development centre in Grangetown, which would form the independent Materials Processing Institute, becoming its CEO.

In 2018, McDonald appeared on BBC Radio 4 Today, to discuss the future of the British steel industry. As CEO of the Materials Processing Institute, McDonald helped secure a £3 million investment from the Tees Valley Growth Deal to build the Institute's SME Technology Centre. He has also overseen the development of a doctoral academy at the Institute, "The Millman Scholarships". He also, jointly with the Institution of Chemical Engineers, launched a fellowship in the memory of chemical engineer and MP Ashok Kumar, who died in 2010. the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining,

Politics In March 2023, McDonald was selected as parliamentary candidate for Labour in the 2024 election for the constituency of Stockton North, to replace Alex Cunningham, who had announced he was standing down. On being selected, he said his two main priorities were "creating opportunities for young people" and transitioning industry, particularly in Billingham, "to green industry" At the election he came first with a majority of 7,939 over second place Reform. In July, McDonald was made a parliamentary private secretary in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. In the 2025 British cabinet reshuffle, he joined the government as parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the parliamentary under-secretary of state in the Department for Business and Trade.

As an MP he has advocated for residents of newbuild estates for which the developer has not finished the necessary infrastructure, such as roads, and has called for the government to take action in the area.

In July 2026, he was appointed to the new government as Minister of State at the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade and Department of Health and Social Care jointly, by Andy Burnham.

Personal life McDonald plays the cornet in a brass band.