Chris Smith - ASA Chairman
Chris Smith was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, and Pembroke College, Cambridge where he took a double first in English. He was a Kennedy Scholar at Harvard, and completed his Cambridge PhD in 1979. Chris was a Labour councillor for the London Borough of Islington for five years, and was chairman of housing from 1981 to 1983. In 1983 he became MP for Islington South and Finsbury. In 1992 he joined the Shadow Cabinet as Shadow Secretary of State for Environmental Protection, and two years later moved to Heritage, then Social Security and Health. He held the post of Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport between 1997 and 2001. Chris Smith entered the House of Lords in 2005. Since 2008 he has also been the Chairman of the Environment Agency. Appointed ASA Chairman by the Advertising Standards Board of Finance, July 2007.
Chris Smith - ASA Chairman is a member of Non-broadcast and Broadcast Councils.
James Best
James was Chairman of BMP DDB from 1989-2000, after starting at BMP in 1975 as a graduate trainee in Account Planning. In 1991, he became a member of the DDB Worldwide Board and served as President of Northern Europe, Chief People and Strategic Officer of DDB Worldwide, Chairman of DDB University (which he helped create in 2000) and President of DDB’s Middle East, Africa and India regions. James served as President of the European Association of Communications Agencies from 2003-2005, was Chairman of the UK Advertising Association from 1997 to 2002, and is a Fellow and Council Member of the IPA. James is married with three children and, when not travelling, divides his time between London and his family home in Dorset. Appointed to the ASA Council April 2007.
James Best is a member of Non-broadcast and Broadcast Councils.
Louisa Bolch
Loisa Bolch's early career was spent working for LWT on the South Bank Show where she became a producer before moving to the Discovery Channel as programme manager. Ms Bolch was awarded a Fellowship with the Clore Leadership Programme in 2007. The Programme provides and develops management and leadership training in the Cultural Sector. Appointed to the ASA Council April 2008.
Louisa Bolch is a member of Non-broadcast and Broadcast Councils.
Sally Cartwright
Sally Cartwright joined Hello! Magazine in 1990 as Publishing Director and was appointed Director at Large in 2006. Her publishing career has included senior positions at IPC Magazines and in 1987 she was appointed Managing Director of Harmsworth Publications (part of Associated Newspapers). She is a past President of the Women’s Advertising Club of London and a former Chairman of the Periodical Publishers Association. Appointed to the ASA Council April 2007.
Sally Cartwright is a member of the Non-broadcast Council.
Elizabeth Fagan
Elizabeth Fagan is Managing Director of Boots Opticians. Before joining Boots Opticians, she was Media Director for DSG International plc. Elizabeth joined Dixons Group plc in 1996 as Group Advertising Director, from Sketchley Retail Ltd where she was Managing Director. She became Marketing Director of Dixons chain in 1999 and a year later she was appointed Group Marketing Services Director. In 2004 she was appointed as Managing Director of The Link/Genesis, Dixons B2C and B2B Communications businesses. Appointed to the ASA Council in April 2006.
Elizabeth Fagan is a member of Non-broadcast and Broadcast Councils.
Alison Goodman
Alison Goodman is the Major Donor Development Executive at the charity Terrence Higgins Trust. Her work involves implementing fundraising initiatives and managing the organisation's relationships with wealthy individuals and high profile celebrity supporters. With a degree in Education from London University Alison started out her professional life in teaching. A strong background in voluntary and charity work, Alison has devoted a great deal of time and energy to good causes such as community and educational work with Soviet refugees and working for the homeless at Christmas for 'Crisis'. She is a former Governor of a Primary School in Islington, London. Appointed to the ASA Council November 2004.
Alison Goodman is a member of the Broadcast Council.
David Harker
David Harker has been chief executive of Citizens Advice, the national body that leads and supports Citizens Advice Bureaux, since 1997. He joined Citizens Advice from Sense, the national disability charity, where he was managing director. David’s earlier career included management consultancy, running an inner city charity, working for a council of voluntary service, as a policy analyst for a local authority and a research and press officer for a trade union. He has an MBA from London Business School and an MA in social policy. David received an OBE for services to the voluntary sector in 2003. Appointed to the ASA Council June 2007.
David Harker is a member of the Broadcast Council.
Gareth Jones
Gareth Jones is Chair of Christian Theology at Canterbury Christ Church University, where he joined in 1999. Having completed his doctorate at Cambridge University, he spent three years at Keble College, Oxford before moving to Birmingham University to teach systematic theology. Prior to his current role, he worked as the theological consultant to the House of Bishops of the Church of England. Professor Jones is the author of three books and is editor of The Blackwell Companion to Modern Theology. He was appointed the ASA council in April 2006.
Gareth Jones is a member of Non-broadcast and Broadcast Councils.
Andrew Motion
Mr Motion is a widely published and critically acclaimed poet and author as well as a journalist. He has taught at the Royal Holloway College, University of London since 2004 and is also the co-founder and co-director of The Poetry Archive. Mr Motion has lectured at the University of Hull and was Professor of Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia. He is a member of the Blue Plaques Committee for English Heritage. Appointed to the ASA Council April 2008.
Andrew Motion is a member of the Non-broadcast Council.
Susan Murray
Susan Murray is Non-Executive Director of Enterprise Inns plc, SSL International plc and Imperial Tobacco Group plc. She is the former Chief Executive of Littlewoods High Street Stores, where she was responsible until recently for 120 clothing and 170 Index Stores. Before joining Littlewoods in 1998 she was Worldwide CEO of the Pierre Smirnoff Company a part of Diageo and Director of International Marketing at IDV Ltd. Her earlier career involved senior General Management and Marketing positions with Colgate Palmolive, Kraft General Foods and Duracell. Appointed to ASA Council in May 2003.
Susan Murray is a member of Non-broadcast and Broadcast Councils.
Colin Philpott
Colin Philpott is Director of the National Media Museum. He previously worked for the BBC where during his 24-year career he fulfilled a number of roles as reporter, producer, documentary maker and editorial manager. His last post before leaving the BBC was Head of BBC Yorkshire. Colin is Chair of Creative Partnerships in Bradford - an Arts Council initiative to bring schools and the creative sector together. Appointed to the ASA Council April 2005.
Colin Philpott is a member of Non-broadcast and Broadcast Councils.
Ruth Sawtell
Ruth Sawtell is a non-executive director and Mental Health Act manager of Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and a non-executive director of the charitable housing association Metropolitan Housing Partnership (MHP). She was recently appointed as a lay-member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the regulator of nurses and midwives. Ruth is also Chair of the healthcare research network Hertnet, a primary care research network based at the University of Hertfordshire.
Ruth Sawtell is a member of the Non-broadcast Council.
Nigel Walmsley
Nigel Walmsley is the Chairman of the Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board (BARB) and brings his extensive professional experience in the media industry to the ASA council. Having gained a BA in English at Oxford Nigel has worked at the highest level across several sectors including the position of Board Member for Marketing for the Post Office. His work in the media is considerable, he was Managing Director of Capital Radio, Chairman of Carlton Television and Chairman of GMTV. Nigel is very familiar with the advertising world having, until recently, been the Vice Chairman of the Advertising Association (AA) for over ten years. Appointed to the ASA Council November 2004.
Nigel Walmsley is a member of the Broadcast Council.
Neil Watts
Neil Watts has been a Secondary School Headteacher since 1988. He gained an MA in economics at Magdalene College, Cambridge University, and from there went on to study for a PGCE at Leicester University. Professionally he is a member of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), and a panel member of the Examinations Appeals Board (EAB). Neil is involved in several committees and groups, including the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (ASBAH) of which he chairs the Education Committee. Appointed to ASA Council November 2004.
Neil Watts is a member of Non-broadcast and Broadcast Councils.
Anthony Earle Wilkes
Anthony Earle Wilkes is the managing director and senior equality and diversity consultant with Crystal Education and Training Consultants Limited (CETC), a specialist equal opportunity change management consultancy for the public, private and voluntary sectors. Prior to setting up CETC, Anthony worked as a teacher/lecturer and senior leader in schools, colleges and the higher education sector for over 15 years and is now a Council member of the General Teaching Council (GTC). Anthony has contributed to national research and government change programmes particularly within the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) funded System.
Anthony Earle Wilkes is a member of Non-broadcast and Broadcast Councils.
Diana Whitworth
Diana Whitworth is co-director of Grandparents Plus, a charity concerned with promoting the role of grandparents and extended family members in caring for children. Before that, she was Chief Executive of Carers UK, a position she held for over four years. This followed ten years in the role of Head of Public Affairs at the National Consumer Council and eight years working for the National Assocication of Citizens Advice Bureaux. Diana is a member of the Big Lottery Fund board, the Economic and Social Research Council's Strategic Research Board and the BBC Appeals Advisory Committee. Appointed to the ASA Council April 2005.
Diana Whitworth is a member of Non-broadcast and Broadcast Councils.