Donald McPhersonBack to Dundee Ambassadors

Donald grew up in Blairgowrie but visited Dundee regularly during this time. After qualifying as a solicitor he worked in Blairgowrie and Perth for eight years and then in various roles across the UK. In 2006 he joined the Alliance Trust in Dundee as Company Secretary.

I spent a fair bit of time in Dundee when I was growing up so returning to the city when I joined the Alliance Trust - after working all over the UK - really felt like coming home. I now live in Dundee during the week and travel back to Helensburgh at the weekend where my family are. I'm based in the West End of the city and there's a real buzz being so central, particularly with so many students around who really bring the place to life.

So much has changed in the city from the look and feel, to its cultural offerings and the business landscape. Having been around since 1888 we're one of the longest running businesses that  - along with DC Thomson  - are always associated with Dundee. In this time however, we have evolved and so has industry overall in the city with digital gaming and biotech now gaining global recognition and helping to pump the lifeblood into the city's economy. I think this demonstrates Dundee's resilience - years ago it prospered with the whaling industry then there was jute and now we're in another new dynamic phase.

I love Dundee's location - its setting on the River Tay is fantastic as are all the recreational aspects the city offers. From playing some of the world's best golf courses to sailing and exploring the great outdoors, everything is on your doorstep in Dundee and that's hard to beat. As it's on a smaller scale than other cities it is also really easy to get around whilst being accessible to the rest of Scotland and the UK. The city airport offers an invaluable link to London, which means from our office we can be there in one and a half hours - it's a great service for doing business whilst keeping our roots in Dundee.

One thing Dundee could be better at is having a more positive attitude. Sometimes I feel we start on the back foot with things by being a tad defensive and I think it's important that we send out more positive messages. I also believe we could give a better first impression for visitors arriving in the city. It would be great to see the old Tay Hotel building restored to its former glory as well as the rail station and Tayside House being modernised.

The people of Dundee are so welcoming - it's not a city with ‘airs and graces'. I find everyone honest and straightforward and anyone who comes form further afield to work in our Dundee office always feel incredibly welcome.

It's fantastic having two leading Universities on our doorstep. We have begun working closely with both Dundee University and the University of Abertay - it's great to be able to draw down on a resource of talent, to share best practice learning and to be able to offer students attractive graduate opportunities in the city. Many people feel they need to leave Dundee to further their career but this doesn't always have to be the case.

Dundee made a big mistake turning its back on the river. So it's fantastic to see the Waterfront project about to breathe life back into what should be the focal point of the city. The V&A taking pride of place on the waterfront is a huge coup and will undoubtedly open up Dundee to a whole new audience - those who wouldn't have come before now will; and hopefully this will begin to change pre-conceived, negative perceptions that many have of the city.

It's vital that Dundee continues to embrace change and move forward. I believe the city has always been good at grabbing opportunities and it must continue to do so. The city and its people should be proud of what has been achieved over the years. It also boasts a unique location with excellent travel connections - both rail and flight - which it can really make the most of this with business and tourist markets.