Professor Dame Carol Black GBE extended as Chair of the British Library
The Secretary of State has extended Professor Dame Carol Black as Chair of the British Library for one year, from 1 September 2026 to 31 August 2027.
Professor Dame Carol Black
Professor Dame Carol Black GBE FRCP FMed Sci is currently Chair of the British Library, the Centre for Ageing Better, and the Centre for Homelessness Impact. She is a member of the Boards of the Institute for Employment Studies and advises RAND Europe on health and work.
She has been the Independent Adviser to the UK government on combating the misuse of drugs since 2022. In 2019 she completed a seven-year term as Principal of Newnham College in Cambridge University, where she was a Deputy Vice-Chancellor.
Dame Carol has completed four independent reviews for the UK government: the health of the working-age population in 2008, sickness absence in Britain in 2011 as co-chair; employment outcomes of addiction to drugs or alcohol, or obesity, in 2016; and illicit drugs, demand, supply and treatment (Part 1 published in February 2020; Part 2 published on 8 July 2021).
Dame Carol is a past-President of the Royal College of Physicians, of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, and past-Chair of the Nuffield Trust for health policy. The Centre she established at the Royal Free Hospital in London is internationally renowned for research and treatment of connective tissue diseases such as scleroderma. She has been a Trustee of the National Portrait Gallery.
Remuneration and Governance Code
The Chair of the British Library is remunerated at £35,180 per annum.
This extension has been made in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. Under the Code, any significant political activity undertaken by an appointee in the last five years must be declared. This is defined as including holding office, public speaking, making a recordable donation, or candidature for election.
Professor Dame Carol Black has declared no such political activity.
Notes to Editors
DCMS has around 400 regulated Public Appointment roles across 42 Public Bodies including Arts Council England, Theatres Trust, the National Gallery, UK Sport and the Gambling Commission. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. To find out more about Public Appointments or to apply visit the HM Government Public Appointments Website.