Anita Bhalla OBE
Anita Bhalla is currently Chair of B:Music, the charity that runs Symphony Hall and Town Hall Birmingham, Chair Designate Birmingham City University, Chair of Iniva, Interim Chair of Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership), Governor of the RSC, and Chair of WMCA Leadership Commission.
Anita’s media career has been extensive of which she spent over 25 years working with the BBC; from setting up the BBC Asian Network to a News Correspondent, Documentary maker (for which she received several awards) to being Head of Political and Community Affairs in England, then UK Head and Editor of the BBC’s Public Space Broadcasting and President of Circom (a European wide group of public service broadcasters).
Anita has a strong commitment to public services and her portfolio in this area ranges from being a past Trustee of the Children’s University, Vice-Chair of Council at the University of Warwick, Commissioner on the Chancellor’s Commission (Warwick University), member of Birmingham’s Social Inclusion Commission to being a past Chair of mac (Midlands Arts Centre), non-Executive Director of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s Hospitals NHS Trust, a previous Chair of a Junior and Infant School and member of the governing body of Birmingham City University.
In 2009 Anita was awarded an OBE for services to Broadcasting and Communities.
In 2012 Anita was the High Sheriff for the West Midlands. Anita has been awarded Honorary Degrees from Wolverhampton University, Birmingham City University and Warwick University. She is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. Anita was named ‘Brummie of the Year’ in 2019!
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