Michael Bichard’s outstanding career in the public sector underlines the Design Council’s commitment to driving forward design-led innovation in the public sector, as well as developing better skills in the design sector and using the discipline to drive increased innovation in business.
'I am delighted to be joining the Design Council at what I believe is a pivotal moment for design and its role in Britain’s future.' said Michael Bichard 'The landmark report from my predecessor Sir George Cox placed design and creativity at the heart of a national drive to increase economic competitiveness through innovation. Britain needs to shift up a gear to become more sustainable and improve the efficiency of public services, and the challenge to use design to innovate in these areas is now even greater. I look forward to that challenge immensely.' he continued.
Sir Michael has been Rector of the University of the Arts London since September 2001 and a member of the University's Development Council. Sir Michael has had an outstanding career in the public sector - twenty years in Local Government and nearly ten in Central Government.
He was Chief Executive of Brent and Gloucestershire Local Authorities and in 1990 became Chief Executive of the Government's Benefits Agency. In 1995 he was appointed Permanent Secretary of the Employment Department and then the Department for Education and Employment. Michael received a Knighthood in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1999. In May 2001 he left the Civil Service and in September 2001 was appointed Rector of The London Institute, the largest Art and Design Institute in Europe, which in May 2004 became University of the Arts London. In January 2004 he was appointed by the Home Office to chair the Soham / Bichard Inquiry and on 1 April 2005 he became Chair of the Legal Services Commission.
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For a full biography and further information, please contact Saskia Sissons at the Design Council on 0207 582 5248 or saskia.sissons@designcouncil.org.uk