Ken Macintosh

Ken supports Enable’s engagement with key stakeholders in Government, Parliament and beyond, advising the CEO and senior team in support of the charity’s public affairs and campaigning activity.

Ken is a well-known figure in Scottish public life. He worked for the BBC for thirteen years, both in London and Scotland, serving as a senior producer on a range of news and current affairs programmes including the Nine O’clock News, Breakfast with Frost and the BBC’s election and budget coverage. In 1999, he was elected to the first Scottish Parliament and over the next 22 years, held a number of front bench roles, culminating in being chosen to serve as the Parliament’s Presiding Officer from 2016 to 2021.

Ken has worked domestically and internationally on good governance programmes as well as roles as an event chair, a charity Trustee, and a Non-Executive Director. He is a member of the Privy Council, an Associate Director of Arden Strategies, a Member of the Board of Revenue Scotland, a Trustee of the Bank of Scotland Foundation, a Trustee of Lar Housing Trust and a Trustee of MASScot (melanoma and skin cancer charity).

Ken was born in Inverness and went to school in Portree and Oban before moving to Edinburgh. He has a degree in History from the University of Edinburgh. He is married to Claire, and they have six children.