FT Strategies director Lisa MacLeod has been named Chair of the Board of Industry Advisors and Mentors for the Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme (JILeaders) at the University of Lancashire
The appointment was announced at a dinner marking the fifth anniversary of the pioneering postgraduate programme, held as part of the university’s Founder’s Month celebrations – commemorating 197 years since the university’s establishment as the Institution for the Diffusion of Knowledge.
MacLeod, a Director at FT Strategies, the Financial Times’ strategy consulting arm, has been a Leader in Residence at University of Lancashire and a founding member of the JILeaders Board since the programme launched in January 2021.
READ MORE: Reach names former DC Thomson exec as Business Director for Scotland
With more than 20 years’ international experience across editorial, product, and business transformation, she has held senior roles at the Financial Times (UK), Business Day and Sunday Times (South Africa), and Media24. She also previously served on the World Editors’ Forum board and as Vice-President of the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
“Lisa is among the most accomplished and forward-thinking media leaders of her generation,” said Professor Peter Lloyd, Dean of the School of Arts and Media. “Her appointment as Chair reflects our ambition to connect academic excellence with real-world newsroom leadership in a rapidly evolving global media landscape.”
Developed and led by Dr François Nel within University of Lancashire Media Innovation Studio, the JILeaders programme offers a flexible, part-time, distance-learning pathway from Postgraduate Certificate through to MA and PhD by Portfolio. In its first five years, it has supported newsroom innovators and executives from over 20 countries across five continents, helping them to lead purposeful change within the global media industry.
“Lisa has been part of this journey from the very beginning,” said Dr François Nel, Founding Director of the programme. “Her insight, generosity, and integrity have helped shape the collaborative spirit of this global learning community. As Chair, she will continue to help us challenge convention and champion innovation with impact.”
The Board of Industry Advisors and Mentors includes senior executives from across the international media landscape, representing partners such as Arc XP (Washington Post) – a Gold Sponsor – FT Strategies, Bright Sites, Tickaroo, Media Lab Jordan, Chrysalis Transformations, and the Journalists’ Charity. These partners provide mentorship, sponsorship, and applied learning opportunities for participants worldwide.
Accepting the role, Lisa MacLeod said: “It’s been inspiring to watch this programme grow from an ambitious idea into a powerful community of practice that’s redefining what leadership in journalism looks like. The challenges we face in the media industry are immense – but so are the possibilities. I’ve loved working on the programme and I’m honoured to continue with François and the Media Innovation Studio team to equip the next generation of leaders to build a more sustainable, trusted, and future-focused news industry.”
Now entering its sixth cohort, the Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme continues to build on University of Lancashire long-standing journalism tradition — the oldest university journalism programme in England. University of Lancashire journalism courses are currently ranked first in the UK for student satisfaction, second for Journalism in the Daily Mail University Guide 2025, and fourth in The Guardian University Guide 2025.
Applications are now open for the next cohort, starting in January 2026.
