Ross Macfadyen is a Scottish media, broadcast and communications professional currently working in the charity sector.
Career
Born in Glasgow, he started his professional broadcasting career with East End Radio, before joining Radio Clyde where he was an on-air presenter, and became Head of Music for Clyde 1, Programme Controller for Radio Clyde, and then Director of Programmes for Radio Clyde, Clyde 1 and Clyde 2. He left Radio Clyde in October 2005 and joined Real Radio, part of the Guardian Media Group. He has also been a regular stand-in presenter on Get It On for BBC Radio Scotland.
As well as his on-air work, Ross was Content Services Senior Manager for "RNIB Solutions" and ran RNIB Connect Radio, the radio division of the Royal National Institute of Blind People, with a network of radio studios across the UK producing programming by and for blind and partially sighted people targeted at the 2 million people living with sight loss in the UK. RNIB Connect Radio broadcasts across the UK online, on digital TV and FM, and creates opportunities for blind and partially sighted people who want to work in media. Within six months of launching, Insight Radio was a winner at the Sony Radio Academy Awards and has picked up several other awards - New YorkRadio Festival, Freesat TV Awards]. In July 2015 Ross took up a six-month "Acting" role as Head of Services for RNIB Solutions taking on added responsibility for the Reading and Library Services of the organization. In November 2015 Ross moved into the promoted role of Director, RNIB Scotland on an Interim basis. He was responsible for the entire RNIB operation in Scotland whilst maintaining elements of his existing role within RNIB Solutions Services. RNIB Connect Radio is now the most effective means of reaching blind and partially sighted people across the UK with a weekly reach of over 30% The remit for RNIB involved leading the teams behind RNIB Connect Radio , Talking Books, Talking Newspapers and Magazines and generally anything which transfers into audio. "Teams of brilliant people creating more content for more people every day" In March 2016 Ross moved into the role Managing Editor, Group Media with responsibility for the content creation teams across the UK in RNIB Group. In May 2017 Ross left RNIB to take up the role Director, Media Marketing & Communication with International Disability CharityLeonard Cheshire.
Personal life
Macfadyen was a Board Director of Radio Clyde and served as a Director of the Hansel Foundation in Ayr from 2006 - 2012. He was appointed to the Board of the British Wireless for the Blind Fund in October 2012. He lives with his wife, Laura Macfadyen, and three children in Renfrewshire.
