The Rt Hon Baroness Stowell of Beeston MBE

Biography

Baroness Tina Stowell was Chair of the Charity Commission as Chair from February 2018 to February 2021.

She joined the House of Lords as a backbencher in January 2011 and was promoted to the government front bench in September the same year. She was Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal from July 2014 until July 2016.

Education

She was educated at Chilwell Comprehensive School and Broxtowe College of Further Education. In December 2016 she received an Honorary Doctorate from Nottingham University.

Political career

After entering the House of Lords in January 2011, Baroness Stowell was promoted to the front bench as a government whip in September 2011.

As a junior minister she led the landmark Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act through the House of Lords and was also Minister for Communities. She co-chaired the Joint Select Committee of both Houses whose recommendations for the major programme of restoration and repair works to the Palace of Westminster were accepted by Parliament in February 2018.

Career before Parliament

Baroness Stowell was a civil servant between 1986 and 1996, including at the Ministry of Defence, the British Embassy in Washington and 10 Downing Street. After leaving the civil service she worked in the private sector for a couple of years, mainly in the media sector. She also served as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Conservative Party between 1998 and 2001. After working for the Conservative Party, she moved to the BBC and spent time in various roles, including as Head of Corporate Affairs between 2008 and 2010.

Personal life

Baroness Stowell was awarded her MBE for services to the Prime Minister’s Office in 1996. She is currently a member of the House of Lords Communications Select Committee and sits on the boards of ABTA Ltd and Impellam Group plc.

Previous roles in government