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{{Short description|British politician}} | |||
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} | {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} | ||
{{Infobox officeholder | {{Infobox officeholder | ||
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|name = The Baroness Prashar | |name = The Baroness Prashar | ||
|honorific-suffix ={{postnominals|size=100%|country=GBR|CBE|PC}} | |honorific-suffix ={{postnominals|size=100%|country=GBR|CBE|PC}} | ||
|image = Official portrait of Baroness Prashar crop | |image = Official portrait of Baroness Prashar crop 2, 2025.jpg | ||
|imagesize = | |imagesize = | ||
|smallimage = | |smallimage = | ||
|caption = | |caption = Official portrait, 2025 | ||
|office = Chair of the [[Judicial Appointments Commission]] | |office = Chair of the [[Judicial Appointments Commission]] | ||
|term_start = 3 April 2006 | |term_start = 3 April 2006 | ||
| Line 19: | Line 20: | ||
|term_end1 = 2006 | |term_end1 = 2006 | ||
|predecessor1 = John White | |predecessor1 = John White | ||
|successor1 = [[ | |successor1 = [[The Lord Alli]] | ||
|office2 | | office2 = [[Member of the House of Lords]] | ||
|term_start2 | | status2 = [[Lord Temporal]] | ||
| | | termlabel2 = [[Life peer]]age | ||
| term_start2 = 15 July 1999 | |||
| term_end2 = | |||
|office4 = Director of the [[National Council for Voluntary Organisations]] | |||
|term_start4 = 1986 | |||
|term_end4 = 1991 | |||
|predecessor4 = Bill Griffiths | |||
|successor4 = [[Judy Weleminsky]] | |||
|birthname = Usha Kumari Prashar | |birthname = Usha Kumari Prashar | ||
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1948|06|29}} | |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1948|06|29}} | ||
|birth_place = | |birth_place = [[Kenya]] | ||
|death_date = | |death_date = | ||
|death_place = | |death_place = | ||
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|profession = | |profession = | ||
}} | }} | ||
'''Usha | '''Usha Prashar, Baroness Prashar''' is a British politician and a [[crossbench]] member of the [[House of Lords]]. Since the 1970s, she has served as a director or chair of a variety of public and private sector organisations. She became the first chair of the [[Judicial Appointments Commission]] upon its creation in April 2006. | ||
==Early life and education== | ==Early life and education== | ||
Born in [[Kenya]], she came to Yorkshire with her father Naurhia Lal Prashar and family in the 1960s. She was educated at the | Born in [[Kenya]], she came to Yorkshire with her father Naurhia Lal Prashar and family in the 1960s. She was educated at the then direct grant school [[Wakefield Girls' High School]], becoming head girl in 1967. Prashar read Politics at [[Leeds University]], graduating in 1970 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree, after which she undertook postgraduate studies in [[Social Administration]] at the [[University of Glasgow]]. | ||
==Career== | ==Career== | ||
===Private | ===Private sector=== | ||
Baroness Prashar was a [[non-executive director]] of [[Channel Four Television Corporation]] from 1992 to 1999, of [[UNITE Group plc]] from 2001 to 2004, and became a non-executive director of [[ITV plc]] in February 2005. | Baroness Prashar was a [[non-executive director]] of [[Channel Four Television Corporation]] from 1992 to 1999, of [[UNITE Group plc]] from 2001 to 2004, and became a non-executive director of [[ITV plc]] in February 2005. | ||
===Public | ===Public sector=== | ||
Baroness Prashar was executive chair of the [[Parole Board|Parole Board of England and Wales]] from October 1997 to October 2000. Having been appointed a [[Civil Service Commission]]er in 1990, she was [[First Civil Service Commissioner]] from August 2000 to 2005. | Baroness Prashar was executive chair of the [[Parole Board|Parole Board of England and Wales]] from October 1997 to October 2000. Having been appointed a [[Civil Service Commission]]er in 1990, she was [[First Civil Service Commissioner]] from August 2000 to 2005. | ||
===Non- | ===Non-governmental sector=== | ||
Baroness Prashar is a trustee of [[Cumberland Lodge]], an educational charity initiating fresh debate on the burning questions facing society.<ref>[http://www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/aboutus/trustees_of_cumberland_lodge Cumberland Lodge: Trustees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404015647/http://www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/aboutus/trustees_of_cumberland_lodge |date=4 April 2011 }}</ref> | Baroness Prashar is a trustee of [[Cumberland Lodge]], an educational charity initiating fresh debate on the burning questions facing society.<ref>[http://www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/aboutus/trustees_of_cumberland_lodge Cumberland Lodge: Trustees] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110404015647/http://www.cumberlandlodge.ac.uk/aboutus/trustees_of_cumberland_lodge |date=4 April 2011 }}</ref> | ||
Baroness Prashar became a governor of [[De Montfort University]] in 1996, and became its chancellor in 2001. She was chair of the [[National Literacy Trust]] from 2001 to 2005. She was appointed a [[trustee]] of the [[BBC World Service Trust]] in 2002, and was president of the [[Royal Commonwealth Society]]. She was Deputy Chair of the [[British Council]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/about/board|title=Our organisation {{!}} British Council|website=britishcouncil.org|language=en|access-date=2018-04-27}}</ref> | Baroness Prashar became a governor of [[De Montfort University]] in 1996, and became its chancellor in 2001. She was chair of the [[National Literacy Trust]] from 2001 to 2005. She was appointed a [[trustee]] of the [[BBC World Service Trust]] in 2002, and was president of the [[Royal Commonwealth Society]]. She was Deputy Chair of the [[British Council]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.britishcouncil.org/about/board|title=Our organisation {{!}} British Council|website=britishcouncil.org|language=en|access-date=2018-04-27}}</ref> | ||
Baroness Prashar was a director of the [[Runnymede Trust]] from 1976 to 1984, a [[Fellow]] with the [[Policy Studies Institute]] from 1984 to 1986, and | Baroness Prashar was a director of the [[Runnymede Trust]] from 1976 to 1984, a [[Fellow]] with the [[Policy Studies Institute]] from 1984 to 1986, and Director of the [[National Council for Voluntary Organisations]] from 1986 to 1991. She is also a governor of the [[Ditchley Foundation]], which organises conferences in Oxfordshire.<ref>[http://www.ditchley.co.uk/page/64/the-governors.htm The Ditchley Foundation: The Governors] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060926002401/http://www.ditchley.co.uk/page/64/the-governors.htm |date=26 September 2006 }}</ref> | ||
===Iraq Inquiry=== | ===Iraq Inquiry=== | ||
Since July 2009, Baroness Prashar has served on the [[Iraq Inquiry]]. She was sworn of the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]] the same year<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Privy Council Office |title=Privy Counsellors |url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/privy-council/privy-council-members/privy-counsellors/ |access-date=30 December 2016}}</ref> to facilitate access to the classified information related to the [[Iraq War]]. | Since July 2009, Baroness Prashar has served on the [[Iraq Inquiry]]. She was sworn of the [[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]] the same year<ref>{{cite web |publisher=Privy Council Office |title=Privy Counsellors |url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/privy-council/privy-council-members/privy-counsellors/ |access-date=30 December 2016 |archive-date=13 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713132409/https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/privy-council/privy-council-members/privy-counsellors/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> to facilitate access to the classified information related to the [[Iraq War]]. | ||
===UK Community Foundations=== | ===UK Community Foundations=== | ||
She | She previously served as the Honorary President of [https://ukcommunityfoundations.org/ UK Community Foundations] (UKCF), the umbrella organisation for all community foundations, providing philanthropic advice to clients and delivering UK-wide grant-making programmes. | ||
==Honours and styles== | ==Honours and styles== | ||
===Honours=== | ===Honours=== | ||
She was appointed | She was appointed as a [[Commander of the Order of the British Empire]] (CBE) in the [[1995 New Year Honours]] for services to community relations,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=53893 |date=31 December 1994 |page=10 |supp=y}}</ref> and was made a [[life peer]] on 15 July 1999 as '''''Baroness Prashar''', of [[Runnymede]], in the County of [[Surrey]]''.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=55559 |date=21 July 1999 |page=7857}}</ref> | ||
In 2016, she was awarded honorary [[ | In 2016, she was awarded an honorary [[doctorate of law]] by the [[University of London]]. Later in 2018, was awarded an honorary [[Doctor of Literature|doctorate of literature]] from [[Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology]] in India. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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*[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199899/minutes/990726/ldminute.htm Announcement of her introduction at the House of Lords] House of Lords minutes of proceedings, 26 July 1999 | *[https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199899/minutes/990726/ldminute.htm Announcement of her introduction at the House of Lords] House of Lords minutes of proceedings, 26 July 1999 | ||
*[https://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_prashar Baroness Prashar's profile on TheyWorkForYou.com] | *[https://www.theyworkforyou.com/peer/baroness_prashar Baroness Prashar's profile on TheyWorkForYou.com] | ||
*[ | *[https://www.iraqinquiry.org.uk/background/ushaprashar.aspx Baroness Prashar's profile on official Iraq Inquiry site] | ||
* [ | * [https://ukcommunityfoundations.org/ UK Community Foundations (UKCF)] | ||
{{s-start}} | |||
{{s-gov}} | |||
{{s-bef|before=Sir [[Michael Bett]]}} | |||
{{s-ttl|title=[[First Civil Service Commissioner]]|years=2000–2005}} | |||
{{s-aft|after=Dame [[Janet Paraskeva]]}} | |||
{{s-end}} | |||
{{Members of the Iraq Inquiry}} | {{Members of the Iraq Inquiry}} | ||
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[[Category:1948 births]] | [[Category:1948 births]] | ||
[[Category:Living people]] | [[Category:Living people]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow]] | ||
[[Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds]] | [[Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds]] | ||
[[Category:British women chief executives]] | |||
[[Category:British | |||
[[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]] | [[Category:Commanders of the Order of the British Empire]] | ||
[[Category:Crossbench life peers|Prashar, Usha Prashar, Baroness]] | [[Category:Crossbench life peers|Prashar, Usha Prashar, Baroness]] | ||
[[Category:English Hindus]] | |||
[[Category:Kenyan emigrants to the United Kingdom]] | |||
[[Category:Life peeresses created by Elizabeth II]] | |||
[[Category:Life peers created by Elizabeth II]] | |||
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom]] | |||
[[Category:National Council for Voluntary Organisations chief executives]] | |||
[[Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom]] | |||
[[Category:People associated with De Montfort University]] | [[Category:People associated with De Montfort University]] | ||
[[Category:People of the British Council]] | |||
[[Category:Social Democratic Party (UK) politicians]] | [[Category:Social Democratic Party (UK) politicians]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:British women nonprofit executives]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:British nonprofit executives]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:20th-century Hindus]] | ||
[[Category: | [[Category:21st-century Hindus]] | ||
Latest revision as of 11:22, 5 March 2026
The Baroness Prashar | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission | |
| In office 3 April 2006 – 7 February 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Office created |
| Succeeded by | Christopher Stephens |
| Chancellor of De Montfort University | |
| In office 2000–2006 | |
| Vice-Chancellor | Philip Tasker |
| Preceded by | John White |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Alli |
| Member of the House of Lords | |
| Assumed office 15 July 1999 | |
| Director of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations | |
| In office 1986–1991 | |
| Preceded by | Bill Griffiths |
| Succeeded by | Judy Weleminsky |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Usha Kumari Prashar 29 June 1948 Kenya |
| Nationality | British |
Usha Prashar, Baroness Prashar is a British politician and a crossbench member of the House of Lords. Since the 1970s, she has served as a director or chair of a variety of public and private sector organisations. She became the first chair of the Judicial Appointments Commission upon its creation in April 2006.
Early life and education[edit | edit source]
Born in Kenya, she came to Yorkshire with her father Naurhia Lal Prashar and family in the 1960s. She was educated at the then direct grant school Wakefield Girls' High School, becoming head girl in 1967. Prashar read Politics at Leeds University, graduating in 1970 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, after which she undertook postgraduate studies in Social Administration at the University of Glasgow.
Career[edit | edit source]
Private sector[edit | edit source]
Baroness Prashar was a non-executive director of Channel Four Television Corporation from 1992 to 1999, of UNITE Group plc from 2001 to 2004, and became a non-executive director of ITV plc in February 2005.
Public sector[edit | edit source]
Baroness Prashar was executive chair of the Parole Board of England and Wales from October 1997 to October 2000. Having been appointed a Civil Service Commissioner in 1990, she was First Civil Service Commissioner from August 2000 to 2005.
Non-governmental sector[edit | edit source]
Baroness Prashar is a trustee of Cumberland Lodge, an educational charity initiating fresh debate on the burning questions facing society.[1]
Baroness Prashar became a governor of De Montfort University in 1996, and became its chancellor in 2001. She was chair of the National Literacy Trust from 2001 to 2005. She was appointed a trustee of the BBC World Service Trust in 2002, and was president of the Royal Commonwealth Society. She was Deputy Chair of the British Council.[2]
Baroness Prashar was a director of the Runnymede Trust from 1976 to 1984, a Fellow with the Policy Studies Institute from 1984 to 1986, and Director of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations from 1986 to 1991. She is also a governor of the Ditchley Foundation, which organises conferences in Oxfordshire.[3]
Iraq Inquiry[edit | edit source]
Since July 2009, Baroness Prashar has served on the Iraq Inquiry. She was sworn of the Privy Council the same year[4] to facilitate access to the classified information related to the Iraq War.
UK Community Foundations[edit | edit source]
She previously served as the Honorary President of UK Community Foundations (UKCF), the umbrella organisation for all community foundations, providing philanthropic advice to clients and delivering UK-wide grant-making programmes.
Honours and styles[edit | edit source]
Honours[edit | edit source]
She was appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1995 New Year Honours for services to community relations,[5] and was made a life peer on 15 July 1999 as Baroness Prashar, of Runnymede, in the County of Surrey.[6]
In 2016, she was awarded an honorary doctorate of law by the University of London. Later in 2018, was awarded an honorary doctorate of literature from Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in India.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Cumberland Lodge: Trustees Archived 4 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Our organisation | British Council". britishcouncil.org. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
- ↑ The Ditchley Foundation: The Governors Archived 26 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ "Privy Counsellors". Privy Council Office. Archived from the original on 13 July 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ↑ "No. 53893". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1994. p. 10.
- ↑ "No. 55559". The London Gazette. 21 July 1999. p. 7857.
External links[edit | edit source]
- Inaugural Judicial Appointments Commission Chair (GNN announcement, 6 October 2005)
- Appointment as non-executive director of ITV plc (8 February 2005)
- Announcement of her introduction at the House of Lords House of Lords minutes of proceedings, 26 July 1999
- Baroness Prashar's profile on TheyWorkForYou.com
- Baroness Prashar's profile on official Iraq Inquiry site
- UK Community Foundations (UKCF)
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Michael Bett |
First Civil Service Commissioner 2000–2005 |
Succeeded by Dame Janet Paraskeva |