Fiona, an alumna of the school, will join us on Wednesday July 8th 2026, in the marquee on Big Pitch to deliver the keynote address and present this year’s prizes. She will also deliver a talk to the Prep School shortly before Prizegiving.
We are thrilled to welcome back pioneering brand strategist and sustainability advocate Fiona McNae as our guest speaker for this year’s Senior School and Sixth Form Prizegiving ceremony.
“Prizegiving is always a major highlight in our school calendar, and we are absolutely delighted to welcome Fiona back this summer. Her journey from molecular biology to global business leadership, alongside her deep commitment to environmental regeneration, perfectly reflects the curiosity and purpose we aim to spark in our students. I know her story will offer genuine inspiration as we celebrate our girls’ achievements.”
From Scientific Research to Global Strategy
Fiona’s career bridges science, business, and creative communication. She originally trained as a Biochemist, earning a PhD in Molecular Toxicology in collaboration with Unilever’s Environmental Safety Laboratory.
After joining Unilever’s management development programme, she spent several years in R&D and innovation, working with intellectual property portfolios and developing new innovations in women’s health.
Looking for a broader commercial challenge, Fiona transitioned into creative strategy by joining the WPP marketing agency Added Value. There, she became Director of Brand Strategy, specialising in cultural insight and semiotics, while simultaneously completing an MBA at Henley Management College.
Building a Purpose-Driven Business
Fiona later co-founded Space Doctors alongside Malcolm Evans. Over 23 years, she scaled the business from a two-person specialist consultancy into a thought-leading international brand agency spanning six countries.
The team ran over 200 projects a year for major global clients – including Samsung, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and Uber. Under her leadership, Space Doctors became a certified B Corp and was named ‘Best for the World’ for workers and teams from 2019 to 2021. The business eventually became part of the Human8 international network in 2021.
Shifting Perspectives and Looking Forward
A natural communicator, Fiona has delivered a TedX talk on the importance of taking responsibility for how we communicate and has written extensively on how tools of influence can drive sustainable behavior. Recently, she co-published an ESOMAR paper, “New Words for New Worlds,” which looks at how changing organisational language can help drive regeneration.
Fiona’s creative and scientific background is reflected in her family roots – she is the daughter of a Scottish Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Poet (himself the son of a shepherd) and a Yorkshire Theatre Nurse and Dancer (the daughter of a mill worker).
Outside of her professional life, she is the current Chair and a singing member of the Brighton Festival Chorus, one of the UK’s leading symphony choruses, and a trustee of their Youth Choir.
Today, Fiona and her partner Richard run a small-holding in the Sussex Weald. Partnering with the Sussex Wildlife Trust, Knepp Wilding, and Youth Development, they manage the land as a space for ecological renewal, wildlife, and people.
We look forward to welcoming Fiona back to the school this July for what promises to be a memorable event for our students, staff and families!
