Born in Irvine, Scotland, Shonaig obtained her law degree at Sheffield University and is qualified to practise in Scotland, England & Wales. She is a Non Executive Member to the Scottish Executive Management Board, a member of the Cultural Commission, Chairman of the Scottish Council Development and Industry, and is President of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise. She is also Deputy President of the British Chambers of Commerce, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and was awarded the CBE in the New Yearıs Honours List 2006.