The Beacon Collaborative 
The Right Honourable the Baroness Usha Prashar of Runnymede CBE, PC
Board Member
The Right Honourable the Baroness Usha Prashar of Runnymede CBE, PC, an independent member of the House of Lords since 1999, has led and chaired a number of public and voluntary organisations with distinction.
She has also served as a non- executive director of Channel 4, Unite, ITV, Cabinet Office and Nationwide Building Society.
In the House of Lords she is a Vice Chair of the Commonwealth All Party Parliamentary Group and serves on the House of Lords EU Select Committee on Services.
From 2014-17 she was a member of House of Lords European Union Select Committee and chair of its sub-committee on Home Affairs; from 2001 – 2009 member of Joint Committee on Human Rights; from 2006-2007 member of Committee on Regulators; from 2007- 2009 Chair of Committee for Privileges and Conduct.
Currently she is :
Chairman of Cumberland Lodge, an educational institution,
Advisor to Nationwide Building Society on Public policy, diversity and inclusion, and Trustee of Nationwide Foundation.
Chairman of U.K. Council of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry,
Senior Consultant with Seriously Inclusive, a consultancy helping organisations to develop effective policies and practices to promote diversity and inclusion,
Honorary President of the National Literacy Trust,
Senior Fellow of Salzburg Global Seminar,
Member of International Advisory Board of IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.
Her significant previous roles have included:
Deputy Chairman, British Council, 2012-2018 where she led the UK – India year of culture in 2017/18;
Member, the Iraq Inquiry,2009-16;
Inaugural Chairman, the Judicial Appointments Commission, 2005-10;
First Civil Service Commissioner, 2000-05;
Executive Chairman, the Parole Board of England and Wales,1997-2000;
Chief Executive, National Council for Voluntary Organisations, 1986-91;
Senior Fellow, Policy Studies Institute, 1984 -86;
Chief Executive, Runnymede Trust,1977-84;
Conciliation Officer, Race Relations Board, 1972-76;
Chairman, 2001-07, and then President 2007-12 Royal Commonwealth Society;
Founder, Deputy Chairman and then Chairman, the National Literacy Trust, 1992-2005;
Chancellor, De Montfort University 2000-06.
She is also:
Fellow, Royal Society of Arts,
Honorary Bencher, Inner Temple,
Senior Fellow, Salzburg Global Seminar,
Fellow, City and Guilds,
Companion, Chartered Institute of Management.
She has been awarded Honorary Doctorates by a number of Universities.
In 1994 awarded CBE for public service, given a Peerage in 1999 and made a Privy Councillor in 2009.
2015 recognised as the most connected person by GQ Magazine.