Career
In 2007, he was appointed director of the Australian Classification Board. He has been involved in the administration of various arts enterprises for many years including the Sydney Theatre Company and Musica Viva Australia. He was chief executive of the Australian Opera Company for ten years until his retirement in December 1996.
McDonald was also a former chairman of the Constitutional Centenary Foundation.
He has often been criticised for being too elitist and for being a political appointee to the American Broadcasting Company position because of his arts background and family connections.