Usha Prashar, Baroness Prashar
Encyclopedia
Usha Kumari Prashar, Baroness Prashar, CBE
, (born 29 June 1948) is a Cross Bench member of the House of Lords
. Since the 1970s, she has served as a director or chairman of a variety of public and private sector organisations. She was appointed as chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission
in September 2005.
Born in Kenya
, she came to Yorkshire with her father Naurhia Lal Prashar and family in the 1960s. She was educated at the independent Wakefield Girls' High School
, becoming head girl in 1967. Prashar read Politics
at Leeds University
, graduating in 1970 with the degree of BA
, after which she undertook postgraduate studies in Social Administration at the University of Glasgow
.
Lady Prashar was a director of the Runnymede Trust
from 1976 to 1984, a Fellow
with the Policy Studies Institute from 1984 to 1986, and a director of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations
from 1986 to 1991. She was executive chairman of the Parole Board of England and Wales
from October 1997 to October 2000. Having been appointed a Civil Service Commission
er in 1990, she was First Civil Service Commissioner
from August 2000 to 2005. Lady Prashar was chairman of the National Literacy Trust
from 2001 to 2005. She is also a governor of the Ditchley Foundation
, which organises conferences at its stately home in Oxfordshire. Lady Prashar is a trustee of Cumberland Lodge
, an educational charity initiating fresh debate on the burning questions facing society.
Lady Prashar was a non-executive director
of Channel Four Television from 1992 to 1999, of UNITE Group plc from 2001 to 2004, and became a non-executive director of ITV plc
in February 2005. She became a governor of De Montfort University
in 1996, and became its Chancellor in 2001. She was appointed a Trustee
of the BBC World Service Trust
in 2002, and is President
of the Royal Commonwealth Society
.
She was appointed CBE
in 1994, and was made a Life Peer
in 1999 as Baroness Prashar, of Runnymede
, in the County of Surrey
.
From July 2009, Baroness Prashar served on the Iraq Inquiry.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, (born 29 June 1948) is a Cross Bench member of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. Since the 1970s, she has served as a director or chairman of a variety of public and private sector organisations. She was appointed as chairman of the Judicial Appointments Commission
Judicial Appointments Commission
The Judicial Appointments Commission is responsible for selecting judges in England and Wales. It is a non-departmental public body which was created on 3 April 2006 as part of the reforms following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005...
in September 2005.
Born in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, she came to Yorkshire with her father Naurhia Lal Prashar and family in the 1960s. She was educated at the independent Wakefield Girls' High School
Wakefield Girls High School
Wakefield Girls' High School is an independent school in Wakefield, England established in 1878 in Wentworth House, its current location. The school has grown from 59 pupils when it first began to nearly 750 in the present day .-Education:...
, becoming head girl in 1967. Prashar read Politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
at Leeds University
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
, graduating in 1970 with the degree of BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, after which she undertook postgraduate studies in Social Administration at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
.
Lady Prashar was a director of the Runnymede Trust
Runnymede Trust
The Runnymede Trust is a leading pro-multiculturalism think tank., Its aim is to generate intelligence for a "multi-ethnic" Britain through research, network building and policy engagement...
from 1976 to 1984, a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
with the Policy Studies Institute from 1984 to 1986, and a director of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations
National Council for Voluntary Organisations
The National Council for Voluntary Organisations is the umbrella body for the voluntary and community sector in England. NCVO works to support the voluntary and community sector and to create an environment in which an independent civil society can flourish...
from 1986 to 1991. She was executive chairman of the Parole Board of England and Wales
Parole Board
A parole board is a panel of people who decide whether an offender should be released from prison on parole after serving at least a minimum portion of their sentence as prescribed by the sentencing judge. Parole boards are used in many jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom and the United...
from October 1997 to October 2000. Having been appointed a Civil Service Commission
Civil Service Commission
-Chairmen:*John Houghton MHK, 2004-date*George Waft MLC, 1996-2004*Clare Christian MLC, 1981-1982*Noel Cringle MLC, 1992-1996*Walter Gilbey, years unknown...
er in 1990, she was First Civil Service Commissioner
First Civil Service Commissioner
The First Civil Service Commissioner heads the Office of Civil Service Commissioners, which ensures that the Civil Service in the United Kingdom is effective and impartial and that appointments are made on merit, and hears appeals under the Civil Service Code....
from August 2000 to 2005. Lady Prashar was chairman of the National Literacy Trust
National Literacy Trust
The National Literacy Trust is an independent charity based in London, England, that promotes literacy.It was founded by Sir Simon Hornby, former chairman of the major national retail chain, WHSmith PLC...
from 2001 to 2005. She is also a governor of the Ditchley Foundation
Ditchley Foundation
The Ditchley Foundation is a British organisation based at Ditchley House near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, which aims to promote international relations, especially Anglo-American relations, through a programme of around fifteen annual conferences on matters of international interest...
, which organises conferences at its stately home in Oxfordshire. Lady Prashar is a trustee of Cumberland Lodge
Cumberland Lodge
Cumberland Lodge is a 17th century country house in Windsor Great Park located 3.5 miles south of Windsor Castle. It is now occupied by a charitable foundation which holds residential conferences, lectures and discussions concerning the burning issues facing society. The primary beneficiaries of...
, an educational charity initiating fresh debate on the burning questions facing society.
Lady Prashar was a non-executive director
Non-executive director
A non-executive director or outside director is a member of the board of directors of a company who does not form part of the executive management team. He or she is not an employee of the company or affiliated with it in any other way...
of Channel Four Television from 1992 to 1999, of UNITE Group plc from 2001 to 2004, and became a non-executive director of ITV plc
ITV plc
ITV plc is a British media company that operates 12 of the 15 regional television broadcasters that make up the ITV Network, the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom...
in February 2005. She became a governor of De Montfort University
De Montfort University
De Montfort University is a public research and teaching university situated in the medieval Old Town of Leicester, England, adjacent to the River Soar and the Leicester Castle Gardens...
in 1996, and became its Chancellor in 2001. She was appointed a Trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of the BBC World Service Trust
BBC World Service Trust
The BBC World Service Trust is the BBC's international development charity, funded independently by external grants and voluntary contributions. The purpose of the organization is to use media and communication to reduce poverty and promote human rights...
in 2002, and is President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Royal Commonwealth Society
Royal Commonwealth Society
The Royal Commonwealth Society is an international educational charity and a private members' club. Its mission is to support and promote the modern Commonwealth, its culture and core values...
.
She was appointed CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1994, and was made a Life Peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
in 1999 as Baroness Prashar, of Runnymede
Runnymede
Runnymede is a water-meadow alongside the River Thames in the English county of Berkshire, and just over west of central London. It is notable for its association with the sealing of Magna Carta, and as a consequence is the site of a collection of memorials...
, in the County of Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
From July 2009, Baroness Prashar served on the Iraq Inquiry.
External links
- Inaugural Judicial Appointments Commission Chair (GNN announcement, 6 October 2005)
- Appointment as non-executive director of ITV plcITV plcITV plc is a British media company that operates 12 of the 15 regional television broadcasters that make up the ITV Network, the oldest and largest commercial terrestrial television network in the United Kingdom...
(8 February 2005) - Announcement of her introduction at the House of Lords House of Lords minutes of proceedings, 26 July 1999
- Baroness Prashar's profile on TheyWorkForYou.com
- Baroness Prashar's profile on official Iraq Inquiry site