Dr. Macrae is a highly experienced diplomat who has spent most of his time in the field of diplomacy with the European Union in Africa, Asia, the pacific and Europe.
His last appointment was Head of Delegation/Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria and also accredited as European Union Ambassador to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Dr. Macrae was head of the European Union Commission delegation in various countries, including Rwanda, Fiji, Vanuatu, Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Kiribati and Marshall Islands. He was also covering the French territories of Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna and New Caledonia, the British territory of Pitcaim and relations with the South Pacific Forum Secretariat and the secretariat of the pacific community.
His European Union diplomatic career also covered Chad, Gambia, Senegal and Zambia. He also worked for the European Commission Directorate General for Development as a Project Officer with responsibility for Agricultural programs in Sudan, Ethiopia, South Asia and the Caribbean.
The career diplomat also served in the British Public Service as Economic adviser in the Department of Energy, Health and Overseas Development on secondment to the European Commission. He also lectured international and development economics at the University of Leeds in UK.
A senior professional, Dr. Macrae was educated at Bolton School and University of Leeds in England and at the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He completed both his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Agricultural economics and PhD in Economics at the University of Leeds.
Lastly he was awarded a PhD Honorary in Humanities, by the American University of Nigeria in 2011. Most recently, he has been the Executive Vice-President, American University of Nigeria and Chancellor of the University of Kigali until 2019.
