Lord Jack McConnell was First Minister of Scotland from 2001 to 2007. He served as UK Special Representative for Peacebuilding from 2008 to 2010, when he was appointed to the House of Lords.
Lord McConnell is currently Co-Chair of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development; Vice President of UNICEF UK; and Chair of the McConnell International Foundation. He is Chair of the Sustainable Development Panel of SSE and is a global adviser to PwC. Jack is Deputy Chair of the UK/Japan 21st Century Group, Chairs the international Peace Direct Awards and has advised in the implementation of peace agreements including the Bangsamoro Agreement in the Philippines. He was made Chancellor of the University of Stirling in June 2019 and is President of Scottish Athletics.
As First Minister, he refreshed Scotland’s International Image and established a new International Development policy. He introduced Scotland’s ban on smoking in public places, the Fresh Talent initiative to encourage in-migration, and a national youth volunteering program, Project Scotland.
From 1999 to 2011, Jack McConnell was a Member of the Scottish Parliament. He was Scotland’s Minister for Finance 1999-2000; Minister for Education, Europe and External Affairs 2000-2001, and President of the Legislative Regions of Europe in 2004. He grew up on a small sheep farm on the Isle of Arran, Scotland and was a high school Mathematics teacher before entering Parliament.