ACID co-founder Dids Macdonald OBE named in 2026 Women in Trade Association Powerlist

Anti Copying In Design (ACID) is celebrating the recognition of its co-founder and chairman, Dids Macdonald OBE, who has been named in the 2026 Women in Trade Association (WiTA) Powerlist.

Announced on International Women’s Day 2026, the Powerlist recognises inspirational women working across the trade association sector. Dids, who is also a Past Master of The Furniture Makers’ Company, was selected from more than 200 nominations to be included among the final 100 women recognised for their impact and leadership.

The Powerlist is a collaborative initiative between the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Trade Association Forum (TAF). A selection panel made up of representatives from the three organisations was tasked with narrowing down the nominations to those included in the final list.

The inclusion of Dids in the 2026 WiTA Powerlist highlights her longstanding commitment to championing designers and promoting stronger protection for original design across the UK.

Nicola Bates, chair of the Selection Panel and CEO of WineGB, said: “We are at a unique point in UK history – just twenty years ago the make-up of such a list would not be as powerful, and if we reflect back to our parents’ generation there would barely be a cohort to celebrate. We are now at the happy period where the curation of a Powerlist of women in trade associations is difficult, not because it is hard to fill, but to filter to 100 women.”

Julie Lilley, chief executive of the Federation of Small Businesses, added: “Being part of this initiative to shine a spotlight on the invaluable contribution of women within the trade association sphere is incredibly rewarding. FSB is very proud to support WiTA 2026, with the Powerlist highlighting just some of the inspiring work that women in associations are doing every day to move towards a brighter future for all.”

ACID CEO Laura Newbold Breen welcomed the recognition, saying: “On International Women’s Day 2026, though it is absolutely no surprise to see Dids named on a list of inspirational women, it is fantastic that this accolade has been attributed to her in recognition of Dids’ unending contribution to the ACID team and the UK designer sector.”