Sir Geoffrey Vos practised at the Bar from 1977 to 2009, becoming a Q.C. in 1993.  He was recently appointed to High Court Bench in the Chancery Division.  He was Chairman of the Bar Council in 2007, and was a member of Alan Milburn’s Panel on Fair Access to the Professions in 2009.  He became Chairman of the SMF in January 2008.

Lis Astall is a director of Accenture UK plc. She is also a non executive director of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory and a governor of the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Rt Hon David Blunkett MP was Education Secretary from 1997 to 2001, and then Home Secretary from 2001 to 2004, followed by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in 2005.

Peter Boursnell is the Aimhigher Coordinator for the London Borough of Brent and is a former Headteacher. In 2008-09 Peter was seconded part-time by Brent to develop and run internship and university application support projects for the SMF.

Tom Cassels is a solicitor and a partner at Baker & McKenzie.  He is a member of Baker & McKenzie’s London office management committee.

Simon Hughes MP is Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. He is the MP for North Southwark & Bermondsey.

Rt Hon Oliver Letwin MP is a Shadow Cabinet Minister with responsibility for chairing the Conservative Party’s Policy Review. Oliver is also chairman of the Conservative Research Department.

Dr. Geoff Parks became a university lecturer in 1996, having received his PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Cambridge. Geoff is the Director of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Cambridge.

Trevor Phillips OBE is Chair of the new Equality and Human Rights Commission, previous Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, the co-founder of the Equate Organisation, and a Director of Pepper Productions.

Polly Toynbee is a journalist and a writer, who was formerly the BBC’s social affairs editor. Polly is currently a Guardian columnist and has worked for the Observer, the Independent and the Washington Monthly.

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A tribute to Russell Lewin

Russell Lewin was a trustee of the Social Mobility Foundation from 2004.  He was a solicitor, managing partner of Baker & Mackenzie’s London office from 1997 to 2003, and an exceptional man.  He died tragically at the age of 51 on Tuesday 13th October 2009.

Russell was dedicated to the cause of diversity and equality of opportunity for all.  He worked tirelessly to ensure that he not only preached inclusiveness, but that he, and the major international law firm of which he was a highly respected partner, practised what they preached.

As a trustee of the SMF, Russell was active and hands-on.  He worked selflessly to help grow the charity to its present size and influence.  He organised events for talented students, and to bring a wide range of law firms into the SMF’s programme.  He was admired and respected by the Foundation’s staff and by his fellow trustees.

Russell was not a man to compromise his principles.  His quiet authority was what enabled him to achieve, and to persuade others to support his own ideals and aspirations.  He will be very badly missed by his wife and family, by Baker & Mackenzie and by the Foundation he supported with a passion.

Sir Geoffrey Vos