Sir Michael Lyons

Sir Michael is an experienced chairman and board member across all 3 sectors. He has conducted a number of high-profile reviews and is an experienced coach and mentor. His interests are broad including urban regeneration; housing policy; the future shape of the UK economy; strong public/private cooperation and the sound governance of companies and communities.

He had a distinguished public service career included 17 years running some of the country's largest local authorities (including Birmingham City Council 1994 to 2001.) and he was knighted for services to Local Government in 2001.

Since then, he has enjoyed a varied non-executive career. He served a full 4-year term as chairman of the BBC and the BBC Trust (2007-2011). Other roles included Acting Chair/ Deputy Chair of the Audit Commission; Professor of Public Policy at Birmingham University, Chair of the CBSO and both a board member and governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He has held board positions with Parkman PLC, Mouchel PLC, Wragge & Co LLP, Tindal St. Press, Participle Ltd and the Lunar Society.

In terms of contributions to national public policy, he led the 2007 Lyons Inquiry into the functions and funding of local government and other reviews concerning the relocation of government services (2004) and the management of public assets (2004) All for the then Chancellor Gordon Brown. He chaired the Lyons Housing Commission which published its report in 2014 and continues to be relevant in discussion about how the UK can boost housing supply.