Key facts
- Pioneering leadership across public, private & third sectors
- Service to Scottish Government, education & culture
- Commitment to social justice, opportunity & prosperity in Scotland
Their story
Celebrating Dr Shonaig Macpherson CBE FRSE DUniv
Today’s Honorary Doctorate Spotlight from Heriot-Watt University celebrates Dr Shonaig Macpherson a distinguished lawyer, board leader and public servant whose influence spans law, business, government, education and the third sector. She was awarded her Honorary Doctorate in 2018 in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Scottish civic and public life.
From Intellectual Property Law to Board Leadership Qualifying as a solicitor in Scotland, England and Wales, Shonaig built her career at McGrigors (now Pinsent Masons), advising companies whose core assets were intellectual property and e‑business, ultimately becoming Senior Partner Scotland.
Since then she has held a range of senior non‑executive roles, including Chair of the National Trust for Scotland, Prosper, The Prince’s Trust in Scotland, and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Government, Governance & Public Service In 2001, Shonaig became the first ever non‑executive appointee to both the Management and Strategic Boards of The Scottish Government, and the first lay person to chair its Audit Committee. She went on to serve on the Calman Commission on Scottish Devolution, the Scottish Executive’s Culture Commission and Knowledge Economy Task Force, helping to shape national policy.
She later served as Lead Non‑Executive Director on the Joint Management Board of the Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Office of the Advocate General, bringing independent challenge and guidance at the heart of government.
Education, Culture & Prosperity With a long-standing commitment to education and culture, Shonaig has served on the governing bodies of the The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art, the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, The Open University, Heriot-Watt University and Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University. She has also chaired the Royal Lyceum Theatre Edinburgh and continues to support Scotland’s cultural life through multiple trusteeships and advisory roles.
Today, she is President of Prosper (formerly SCDI), reflecting her continuing leadership in Scotland’s economic development.
Dr Shonaig Macpherson exemplifies what the Society of Honorary Doctors celebrates: an Honorary Doctor whose distinction is matched by decades of service across law, government, education, culture and social justice, using governance and strategy to improve opportunities for people and comm