Education
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Macdonald was educated in Edinburgh, the University of London (Bachelor of Medicine,Bachelor of Science) and Kings College Hospital.
Born in Glasgow, Scotland, Macdonald was educated in Edinburgh, the University of London (Bachelor of Medicine,Bachelor of Science) and Kings College Hospital.
He was formerly the independent member for the Electoral district of Manly in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and Mayor of Manly Council. During this time, he was involved with the Royal College of General Practitioners (MRCGP). He joined the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, obtaining a Diploma in Anaesthetics (District Attorney) and a Diploma in Obstetrics (DRCOG).
Macdonald emigrated to Australia in 1972.
He settled in Manly and worked as a general Practitioner from 1973 to 2006. He was elected to Manly Municipal Council from 1984 to 1999, becoming Deputy Mayor from 1995 to 1996.
He was member for the Manly from 1991 to 1999. In 2000 Macdonald founded and is the current President of Australian Doctors International, which provides non-government health care and development aid in remote and rural regions of Papua New Guinea.
He also worked with Médecins Sans Frontières in Iran in 1999, with Timor Aid in 2000 and was also Director of international community development organisation Plan International Australia from 2000 to 2003.
Macdonald resumed his local political career in 2004 when he was elected as Mayor of Manly, serving until 2008. He was re-elected as a councillor at the Local Government Elections following his announcement of not running for mayor.