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Ditchley Foundation

Ditchley House

The Ditchley Foundation based at Ditchley Park near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, was established as a privately-funded charity in 1958 by philanthropist Sir David Wills. Moved to act by painful memories of the Second World War and the dangers of the Cold War, Sir David Wills' founded Ditchley to support the Transatlantic Alliance between the United States and Europe by bringing decision makers and experts together in a unique and inspiring setting.

Ditchley connects people to talk through complex problems in support of peace, freedom and order.  The Foundation works towards a more dependable, open and connected world by bringing a unique mix of people from the worlds of politics, technology, finance, academia, the media, the arts and more to build new common ground so that we can move toward solutions to global challenges.

The current director is James Arroyo OBE, previously director for data at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, charged with adapting the organisation to the digital age. Sister organisations, American and Canadian Ditchley, help to shape the conference programme as well as select American and Canadian participants. The full programme, subsequent Director's notes, news items and other publications are posted on the Foundation's website.

Notable members

  • The Rt Hon the Lord Hill of Oareford CBE. Current chairman of Ditchley (2017- ). He also has roles as senior advisor, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (2017-); independent national director, Times Newspapers; and board member, Centre for Policy Studies. He was formerly European Commissioner for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union (2014-16); Leader of the House of Lords and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (2013-14); Undersecretary of State for Schools (2010-2013).
  • The Rt Hon George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen, KT, GCMG, PC, Hon FRSE. He is also deputy-chairman of TNK-BP. He was NATO Secretary General from 1999-2003 and UK Defence Secretary from 1997-1999, chairman of the Ditchley Foundation, 2010-2017.
  • Sir John Major, the former British prime minister, chairman of the Ditchley Foundation 2000-2009.
  • Sir John Wheeler-Bennett. British historian; the first chairman, appointed in 1958.
  • Sir Reginald Hibbert. Director 1982–1987.[1]
  • Sir Philip Adams. Director 1977–1982.[2]
  • Sir Michael Quinlan. Director 1992–1999.
  • Sir Nigel Broomfield KCMG, Director 1999-2004.
  • Sir Jeremy Greenstock GCMG, director 2004-2010.
  • Sir John Holmes GCVO, KBE, CMG, director 2010-2016.

Current governors

The list below includes some current,[3] and many former governors

  • Virginia Bottomley, former Secretary of State for Health
  • Robin Butler, former Secretary of the Cabinet and head of the Home Civil Service
  • David Cameron, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
  • Menzies Campbell, former leader of the Liberal Democrat Party
  • Robert Cooper, director general, Council of the European Union
  • David Hennessy, former Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords
  • Douglas Hurd, former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
  • Roy MacLaren, former Canadian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
  • John Major, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
  • David Miliband, former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
  • Pauline Neville-Jones, former minister of state for security
  • Malcolm Rifkind, former Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
  • John Sawers, former British diplomat and senior civil servant
  • Jack Straw, former Home Secretary
  • David Willetts, former Minister of State for Universities and Science
  • Shirley Williams, former Secretary of State for Education and Science

References

  1. ^ Sir Reginald Hibbert - Albanologist and former ambassador in Paris
  2. ^ Obituary of Sir Philip Adams - The Independent
  3. ^ The Ditchley foundation governors Archived September 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine

External links

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