Mel Young is a social entrepreneur and a passionate believer in the power of sport to create positive change. He is President of the Homeless World Cup, which he co-founded in 2003, and co-founder and Board member of the Elders Council for Social Entrepreneurs. He chaired sportscotland from 2016 to 2024.

​

A former journalist, Mel co-founded The Big Issue in Scotland in 1993 and the Social Entrepreneurs Network Scotland (Senscot). His work has brought together sport, media and social enterprise to challenge inequality and create opportunities for people experiencing exclusion.

​

Mel is a Senior Ashoka Fellow, a Schwab Fellow of the World Economic Forum and co-author of two books exploring sport and social entrepreneurship. He holds five honorary degrees from Scottish universities, and his contribution has been recognised with an MBE and the Jackie Robinson Humanitarian Award.

​

Away from his work, Mel is a keen runner and lifelong Hibernian supporter.