Shriti Vadera Photo: Sam Allard, Fisher Studios (c) RSC

Baroness Vadera is chair of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Prudential plc

Photo: Sam Allard, Fisher Studios © RSC

Changing Faces

Vadera appointed to lead Creative Industries Council

Arts Professional
3 min read

The Culture Secretary LISA NANDY has directly appointed Baroness SHRITI VADERA as co-chair of the Creative Industries Council (CIC).

Vadera will collaborate with the council’s current co-chair, Sir PETER BAZALGETTE, to lead a task force helping the Department for Culture, Media and Sport develop the government’s creative industries growth strategy. A sector plan setting out new policies and government interventions is due to be published next spring.

Bazalgette, who has served since 2021, will extend his term until summer 2025 before stepping down, after which Vadera will lead the forum for the UK government, creative businesses and public bodies, working alongside the Culture and Business Secretaries.

As a direct ministerial appointment, Vadera will serve for 18 months – the maximum term permitted. An an open application process for a permanent appointment will be launched in 2026.

Boosting exports and increasing investment

Vadera is currently chair of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Prudential plc, and co-chair of the World Bank Private Sector Investment Lab. She also chairs the panel of senior advisers at Chatham House. She was previously chair of Santander UK, director of AstraZeneca and senior independent director of BHP.

In 1999, she became a member of the Council of Economic Advisers, advising HM Treasury on business, growth and productivity before being appointed a Minister in the Cabinet Office and Business and International Development Departments by former Prime Minister GORDON BROWN in 2007, the same year she was created a life peer.

“Boosting exports and increasing investment is a mission at the heart of this government,” said Business and Trade Secretary JONATHAN REYNOLDS, “And Baroness Vadera’s wealth of international and commercial experience will help unleash growth in the sector, supporting jobs and raising living standards across the UK.”

The council’s ‘refreshed role’

Speaking about Vadera’s appointment Nandy said: “Under her leadership, I look forward to a refreshed role of the council, focused on delivering economic growth, jobs and opportunities for the British people.

“I will work with Shriti and Sir Peter over the coming months to develop our plans to deliver more jobs and growth in our creative industries, and more opportunities for young people to contribute to our national story.”

Vadera said the role was an “honour”, adding that she was “particularly delighted to be working with the inimitable Baz in this endeavour” and working closely with “the extraordinary creative talent and organisations” that CIC represents.

Bazalgette added: “Now that we have the creative industries named as one of government’s priority sectors for growth, I can think of no-one better to drive forward public and private investment in our sector’s huge innovation opportunity than Shriti.”