Former Master, Downing College, Cambridge

Alan is the 18th Master of Downing College. A former BBC journalist, Alan served as the director of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts from 2006 to 2018. The 17 trusts make up the largest family philanthropic body in the UK. In his time the trusts made donations totalling over £1.4 billion, in the arts, scientific and medical research, education, the environment and various social welfare fields.

He was an independent member of the Advertising Standards Authority between 2012 and 2018, and currently sits on the National Theatre’s Development Board and the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission.

Alan was Head of Religion and Ethics at the BBC from 2001-2006. He was at the BBC for 26 years, as a producer and executive producer of documentaries, science and current affairs programmes and as the chief adviser on Editorial Policy.

Alan is a graduate of Oxford University in History and Modern Languages, and of Harvard University, where he spent two years as a Harkness Fellow.