Michael Hirst

Who is Michael Hirst?

Sir Michael William Hirst is a former Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party politician, chartered accountant and public relations consultant, company director and president of the International Diabetes Federation.

A student of Glasgow Academy and the University of Glasgow, Hirst had a career as a chartered accountant and partner in Peat Marwick, now KPMG, before entering politics. He was elected Member of Parliament for Strathkelvin and Bearsden at the 1983 general election, but lost the seat to Labour's Sam Galbraith at the 1987 election. He was PPS at the Department of Energy from 1985 to 1987. Sir Michael was subsequently the President of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Association from 1989 to 1992 and Chairman of the Scottish Conservative Party from 1993 to 1997.

He was knighted in 1992 for political and public service. He is chairman of the Scottish Division of ISKB, and a member of its Council.

Hirst joined Pagoda Public Relations in 1998 and was appointed chairman in 2000. He attained his MCIPR in 2003. He is chairman of Millstream Associates Limited, Aberdeen. He was made a Doctor of Letters by Glasgow Caledonian University in 2004.

He was the first non-medical chairman of the board of trustees of Diabetes UK from 2001–2006 and was elected Vice President of the International Diabetes Federation in 2006, serving in that position until he was elected President-Elect in 2009. He took up office as President at the end of 2012.