Elizabeth Vallance taught political philosophy at Queen Mary College, London University, where she was head of the department of politics, Reader in Government and Politics and Visiting Professor and is now a Fellow. She is a Sloan Fellow of the London Business School and an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Education (of which she was Chairman from 2001-10). She was Chairman of St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust, a member of the Council of St George’s Hospital Medical School and subsequently Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards. She has been Vice-Chairman of The Health Foundation and a member of the boards of the Medical Protection Society, Aviva plc, Norwich Union plc and HMV Group. She is currently Chair both of I CAN, the children’s communication charity and of The Centre for Mental Health.