Louise Macdonald

Louise Macdonald, OBE, FRSE became the National Director of the Institute of Directors (IOD) in Scotland, and was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) in 2021. Her appointment has made her the first female to hold the role of National Director. She was awarded an OBE for her services to youth, in the 2015 New Years Honours.

In 2017 she received an Honorary Doctorate from Edinburgh Napier University

Macdonald is an Independent co-chair of the Scottish Government National Advisory Council for Women and Girls (NACWG).

Macdonald had been named the Third Sector Director of the Year in the IOD UK Awards in 2016.

She is a former board member of Scottish Parliament's Scotland's Futures Forum.

Macdonald was described by the IOD's Chairman, Aidan O’Carroll as a well-connected 'force for meaningful and continuous engagement' and was also said to be 'well respected in the business community'.

Background Under Macdonald's ten years in leadership, Young Scot grew to cover two thirds of eligible young people in Scotland, with 670,000 members, and includes a national entitlement card, which can also be used as 'proof of age'.

Her previous career included working in journalism, as well as in youth volunteering and youth activism engagement. She is also interested in photography and nature.