David Isaac
David Isaac CBE | |
|---|---|
| Provost of Worcester College, Oxford | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Professor Kate Tunstall |
| Chair of the Court of Governors of University of the Arts London | |
| Assumed office 2018 | |
| Chair of the Henry Moore Foundation | |
| Assumed office December 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Nigel Carrington |
| Personal details | |
| Alma mater | Trinity Hall, Cambridge Wolfson College, Oxford |
| Awards | Honorary Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge |
David Isaac, CBE is a British solicitor and Provost of Worcester College, Oxford, where he took office in July 2021.[1] He chairs the Court of Governors of University of the Arts London (2018–present)[2] and the Henry Moore Foundation (2024–present).[3] He is also a trustee of Cumberland Lodge.[4]
Isaac was previously a partner at law firm Pinsent Masons. He was appointed as the chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2016,[5] serving in that capacity until August 2020. Isaac was chair of the LGBTQ rights charity Stonewall from 2003 to 2012[6] and chaired the contemporary art gallery Modern Art Oxford for almost two decades.[3] He was also a director of the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund (2005–2014), the Big Lottery Fund (2014–2018)[7] and Black Mountains College (2019–20), and was a trustee of 14-18 NOW (2016–2019).[8]
Isaac was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours list for services to equality and diversity[9] and was ranked 36th in the Financial Times' OUTstanding Top 100 LGBT+ executives in October 2018.[10] He was made an Honorary Fellow of St Catharine's College, Cambridge in May 2024.[11]
Early life
Isaac was born in Wales and attended King Henry VIII Grammar School in Abergavenny. He went on to study law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge and socio-legal studies at Wolfson College, Oxford. He attended the College of Law in Guildford to pass the Solicitors Final Examination (1979–80).
Pinsent Masons
Isaac was a partner at Pinsent Masons law firm from 2000 to 2021. He was Head of the firm's advanced manufacturing and technology sector from 2014 – 2019 and Chair of the Pinsent Masons' Diversity and Inclusion group.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Isaac was appointed as Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2016.[12] He said that the Commission would use its legal powers more,[13] do more for disability rights[14] and make sure that human rights were protected during Brexit.[15] His tenure came to an end in August 2020, and his initial replacement was interim chair Caroline Waters (previously deputy chair).[16][17][18]
In 2021 Isaac claimed that the Equality and Human Rights Commission was "being undermined by political pressure" by the Second Johnson ministry.[19]
Stonewall
During his time as chair of Stonewall, the charity lobbied to secure legislative change, such as the abolition of Section 28 and the introduction of Civil Partnerships.[20]
References
- ^ "Welcome to our Provost David Isaac CBE". Worcester College, Oxford. 1 July 2021.
- ^ UAL (8 January 2019). "David Isaac CBE named new Chair of Governors". UAL. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Our trustees". Henry Moore Foundation. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ "David Isaac CBE". Cumberland Lodge. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ "EHRC appointments". GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Government nominates former Stonewall chair to head equality commission". PinkNews. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Three Big Lottery Fund board members appointed". GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Team and Board". 14-18 NOW. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Birthday Honours 2011: CSV - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "The OUTstanding lists 2018: LGBT+ leaders and allies". Financial Times. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "New Honorary Fellowships awarded | St Catharine's College, Cambridge". www.caths.cam.ac.uk. Retrieved 28 January 2025.
- ^ Sawer, Patrick (19 March 2016). "New equalities head would be biased against Christians, claim campaigners". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "EHRC has become 'more muscular' on Equality Act enforcement, says chair". Disability News Service. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ Bowcott, Owen (6 July 2016). "David Isaac: 'Disabled people face huge barriers'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ Doward, Jamie (13 January 2018). "Brexit bill leaves a hole in UK human rights". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
- ^ "Recruitment starts for new EHRC Chair and board members". GOV.UK. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ Kotecha, Sima (28 July 2020). "Government 'failing to prioritise tackling racism', says watchdog boss". BBC News. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ Ng, Kate (9 August 2020). "'Toxic' debate around transgender rights harms the UK, says human rights expert". The Independent. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
- ^ "EHRC undermined by pressure to support No 10 agenda, says ex-chair". The Guardian. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
- ^ Sawer, Patrick (19 March 2016). "New equalities head would be biased against Christians, claim campaigners". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
