Alasdair Macdonald
Biography
Alasdair Macdonald joined the Scotland Office as Deputy Director Policy in March 2024.
His role includes overseeing the department鈥檚 拢1.5bn City and Growth Deals programme, as well as energy, foreign affairs, economic, rural affairs and public services policy.
Prior to this he spent a number of years in policy director roles within public bodies: the Equality & Human Rights Commission and Scottish Funding Council.
Alasdair鈥檚 earlier career was spent in policy and delivery roles in the NGO sector, including with the Zoological Society of London - where he ran a large conservation programmes division - and Save the Children, where he held a number of positions in the UK and overseas.
He began his career in the private sector.
Deputy Director Policy
The Deputy Director, Policy Delivery and Relationship Management is responsible for:
- Leading the Policy Division which works flexibly on policy priorities across sectors including defence, international trade, digital connectivity, broadcasting, asylum and immigration, City Deals and higher education;
- Working across the UK and Scottish Governments and with external stakeholders to ensure that the UK Government understands Scottish interests;
- Supporting ministers on reserved and key devolved subjects;
- Working with the Cabinet Office on improving UK Government devolution capability and engagement in Scotland.