Seven West Media hires Minderoo exec Emma McDonald as general counsel

The realignment of Australia’s Seven West Media has continued with the appointment of media sector legal executive Emma McDonald to the role of general counsel.

Emma McDonald

Despite the new title, it is understood McDonald will take up the operational duties of former commercial director Bruce McWilliam, who left the network earlier this year after two decades.

McDonald joins Seven West in September after three years at mining magnate Andrew Forrest’s philanthropic venture the Minderoo Foundation, where she has held several senior executive positions including her current role as advisory board member and executive director of impact missions.

Her previous roles include general counsel at several Australian media companies including Prime Media and XYZ Networks, while she also served as senior policy adviser to former government communications minister Paul Fletcher, advising on broadcasting, news media, content and digital platforms, screen production, copyright, classification and advertising regulation.

McDonald has also worked as director of public affairs at the ABC and was director of business affairs at ITV Studios Australia and corporate counsel at Fairfax Media.