Lord Puttnam

David Puttnam is a celebrated film producer and an active supporter of educational and children’s causes.

Following an early career in advertising he turned to film production in the late 1960s. His successes as a producer include Bugsy Malone, Midnight Express, The Duellists, Chariots of Fire (which won the Academy Award for Best Picture), Local Hero, Memphis Belle, The Killing Fields and The Mission. He was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Columbia Pictures from 1986 to 1988.

He was awarded a CBE in 1983, was knighted in 1995 and was created a life peer in 1997.

He is currently a trustee of the think tank The Institute for Public Policy Research, and has served on the foundation board of the World Economic Forum.

For10 years, he served as Chairman of the National Film and Television School and founded Skillset, which trains young people to become members of the film and television industries.

Lord Puttnam was the first Chancellor of the University of Sunderland from 1997 until 2007 when he became Chancellor of the Open University.

In 1998 he founded the National Teaching Awards and became its first Chairman – retiring in 2008.

In 2002 he was elected President of UNICEF UK