Tony Hall CBE is Director of the Royal Opera House and was appointed to the British Council Board in September 2008. Since joining the Royal Opera House in 2001 he has implemented a wide range of initiatives to broaden its appeal by setting up a department to develop new artists and audiences. He has also balanced the books for the last 7 years, whilst increasing fundraising nearly threefold.

Before joining the Opera House Tony enjoyed an illustrious career at the BBC. Starting as a graduate trainee in 1973, he began in radio and soon became Editor of the 9 o’clock News on BBC TV at the age of just 34. He progressed to Editor of Television news and current affairs, and later became Director, then Chief Executive of BBC News and Current Affairs. As Chief Executive he launched Radio 5 Live, BBC News 24, BBC News Online and BBC Parliament.

Tony was educated at King Edward’s School, Edgbaston, Birmingham and Birkenhead School, Merseyside before moving to Keble College Oxford to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics.

He holds a number of external posts, including Founder Chair of the Sector Skills Council for the Creative and Cultural Industries, and Non-Executive Director for Channel 4 Television Corporation.  He has written two books, entitled King Coal, The History of the Miners in Britain and Nuclear Politics, and has published reviews for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and other Government departments. He was made a CBE in 2005.

Tony Hall CBE chaired the 6c - Educating creative industry entrepreneurs for the future