David Isaac, CBE is a British solicitor and Provost of Worcester College, Oxford, where he took office in July 2021.[1] He was previously a partner at Pinsent Masons. He was appointed as the chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2016,[2] serving in that capacity until August 2020. He is also chair of the Court of Governors at University of the Arts London (2018–present).[3] He was previously chair of Stonewall from 2003 to 2012.[4] He was a director of the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund (2005–2014), the Big Lottery Fund (2014–2018),[5] Black Mountains College (2019–20) and a trustee of 14-18 NOW (2016–2019).[6]

Isaac was appointed a CBE in the 2011 Queen's Birthday Honours list for services to equality and diversity[7] and was ranked 36th in the OUTstanding top 100 LGBT executives in October 2018.[8]

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.[9] He said that the Commission would use its legal powers more,[10] do more for disability rights[11] and make sure that human rights were protected during Brexit.[12]

His tenure came to an end in August 2020, and his initial replacement was interim chair Caroline Waters (previously deputy chair).[13][14][15]

In 2021 Isaac claimed that the Equality and Human Rights Commission was "being undermined by political pressure" by the Second Johnson ministry.[16]

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.[17]

References

  1. ^ "Welcome to our Provost David Isaac CBE". Worcester College, Oxford. 1 July 2021.
  2. ^ "EHRC appointments". GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  3. ^ UAL (8 January 2019). "David Isaac CBE named new Chair of Governors". UAL. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  4. ^ "Government nominates former Stonewall chair to head equality commission". PinkNews. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Three Big Lottery Fund board members appointed". GOV.UK. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Team and Board". 14-18 NOW. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Birthday Honours 2011: CSV - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 July 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  8. ^ "The OUTstanding lists 2018: LGBT+ leaders and allies". Financial Times. 25 October 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  9. ^ Sawer, Patrick (19 March 2016). "New equalities head would be biased against Christians, claim campaigners". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  10. ^ "EHRC has become 'more muscular' on Equality Act enforcement, says chair". Disability News Service. 6 June 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  11. ^ Bowcott, Owen (6 July 2016). "David Isaac: 'Disabled people face huge barriers'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  12. ^ Doward, Jamie (13 January 2018). "Brexit bill leaves a hole in UK human rights". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Recruitment starts for new EHRC Chair and board members". GOV.UK. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  14. ^ Kotecha, Sima (28 July 2020). "Government 'failing to prioritise tackling racism', says watchdog boss". BBC News. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  15. ^ Ng, Kate (9 August 2020). "'Toxic' debate around transgender rights harms the UK, says human rights expert". The Independent. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  16. ^ "EHRC undermined by pressure to support No 10 agenda, says ex-chair". The Guardian. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  17. ^ Sawer, Patrick (19 March 2016). "New equalities head would be biased against Christians, claim campaigners". ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 16 December 2019.
Academic offices Preceded byKate Tunstall Provost of Worcester College, Oxford 2021–present Succeeded byIncumbent
Categories