Stuart MacDonald is Founder-Director of ICR Research Ltd., the UK’s leading consultancy in soft power and international cultural relations. With experience advising governments and leading academic initiatives, his focus is on building coalitions for international cooperation, particularly in planetary health. He is are committed to addressing global challenges through innovative collaboration.
Stuart is looking to build coalitions to address global issues. Initially he is focusing on international cooperation on Planetary Health. His research focuses on how soft power and cultural relations approaches to international relations can make a positive contribution to foreign policy and to global challenges. He draws on experience of public policy: on the UK’s soft power, on strategies for Digital Cultural Relations, and on data, evidence, evaluation and learning in cultural relations and cultural heritage work.
“I have been involved with Edinburgh Futures Institute projects for several years and have always been committed to the Institute’s potential to become a global hub for bringing experts and organisations together to tackle the wicked issues of our time, especially the need for cooperation in a competitive and challenging world.”
Background
Stuart has developed cultural relations strategies for the UK and Scottish administrations and advised EU governments. As the former Director of the Centre for Cultural Relations at the University of Edinburgh (2012-2016), Stuart’s research explores how soft power and cultural relations can shape international relations and address global challenges. He co-founded the Futures Institute’s Digital Influence and Intelligence Lab and holds several prestigious academic affiliations, including fellowships and advisory roles at leading institutions focused on diplomacy, cultural relations, and education.
