Former home secretary appointed chairman of Lunar Society
The Rt Hon Jacqui Smith, former home secretary, has been elected Chairman of The Lunar Society.
The Redditch MP has been Chair of University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust since December 2013.
Sir Michael Lyons, former Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council, former Chairman of the CBSO and the BBC Trust (2007-2011), has also been elected as Vice-Chairman.
The appointments were agreed at the Society’s Annual General Meeting in Birmingham. Jacqui’s predecessor, Alan Wenban-Smith, retires having been instrumental in guiding the organisation towards charitable status.
Jacqui told the meeting that she wants to encourage more women to join the Lunar Society and also to highlight the importance, effects and opportunities of digitalisation on society and the economy.
She said: “If the Lunar men were here today, I think they would be concerned with digitalisation as an issue that can be seen as a modern day industrial revolution. I’m looking forward to encouraging conversation on the subject during my time as Chairman.”
The Society, founded in Birmingham by some of the 18th century’s finest thinkers, stimulates ideas and broadens debate around all aspects of the development of Birmingham, the West Midlands and beyond.
It has several hundred members and includes leaders from all walks of life. The society works with other organizations to provide opportunities for its membership to influence change, through focusing and informing debate and linking social, economic, scientific and cultural thinking.
Other appointments include Nigel Webb as Honorary Treasurer, with Dr Peter Mayer, a former Lunar Society Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer, Deirdre LaBassiere and Dr Peter Borg-Bartolo all joining the Executive Committee.
