Close the Gap pays tribute to Professor Ailsa McKay

Close the Gap staff and steering group members are deeply saddened by the death of Professor of Ailsa McKay, Chair of the Close the Gap steering group.

Ailsa was a leading feminist economist who contributed immeasurably to the drive for gender equality in Scotland, and beyond. She was a Professor of Economics at Glasgow Caledonian University, where she established the Women in Scotland’s Economy Research Centre. She was a founding member of the Scottish Women’s Budget Group and the European Gender Budget Network. As a member of the Equality Budget Advisory Group, she had a profound impact on the Scottish budget process. She was also instrumental in developing the economic case for free, universal childcare in Scotland.

Close the Gap was privileged to have Ailsa chair its steering group. She provided an invaluable insight intogender budgeting, welfare economics, childcare, and the economics of occupational segregation. She was dedicated to sharing her knowledge of economics and passionate about changing the lives of women in Scotland.

She will be missed by all who strive for a society where women’s contribution to the economy is counted, and valued.