Donalda MacKinnon became joint Head of Programmes and Services for BBC Scotland in January 2005, after a period as Head of both CBBC Scotland and Gaelic.

 

Along with her job-share partner Maggie Cunningham, Donalda is responsible for all of BBC Scotland's output in Scotland and on the Network on TV, radio and online across every genre.

 

While at CBBC Scotland, she oversaw high-profile programmes including Balamory, BAFTA award-winning Raven, Shoebox Zoo, Rule The School, 50/50, Spook Squad, Byker Grove and The Saturday Show.

 

While Head of Gaelic, Donalda was influential in the transmission extension and expansion of Radio nan Gaidheal, and presided over the development of the online service which now connects Gaelic-speaking communities around the world.

 

On television, she was responsible for landmark series such as: Na h-Eilthirich, which charted the history of Highland emigration; Ran Dan, the first Gaelic comedy series; and the award-winning drama series Gruth is Uachdar.

 

She was also responsible for a significant increase in education output across the three media.

 

Before embarking on a career in broadcasting, Donalda spent four years as a teacher in Scotland and Canada.

 

Her first broadcasting opportunity was as an assistant producer on a Gaelic current affairs programme. From there, she went on to produce, direct and latterly executive produce a wide range of television programmes, including children's, entertainment, historical documentary, drama and comedy. She also produced a number of radio arts features.

 

She was School Board Chair of Scotland's first all-Gaelic primary school, relinquishing her role when numbers rose such that all through provision of 3-18 Gaelic medium education was achieved within a new campus.

 

She has held the Chair of Comhairle nan Leabhraichean (the Gaelic Books Council) and has been Scottish Vice Chair of the Celtic Film and Television Festival.

 

A native of the island of Harris, she was educated at the University of Edinburgh and Jordanhill College of Education.

 

She now lives in Glasgow with her husband, Seumas MacInnes (owner of Glasgow's Café Gandolfi) and her three children. She lists among her interests walking, reading, skiing, good food and good chat.

 

 

BIOGRAPHIES BY: