Meet the Chancellor

Lord Puttnam in chancellor's robes

40 years of learning

Chancellor Lord David Puttnam looks to the future in The Open University 40th anniversary lecture.

Related programme

Leaning into the Light: OU 40th anniversary lecture

We meet Open University Chancellor Lord David Puttnam

David Puttnam enjoyed a successful career in film production, working on a number of critically acclaimed films, notablly Chariots of Fire. He was awarded a CBE in 1982, received a knighthood in 1995 and was appointed to the House of Lords in 1997.

After retiring from film production in 1998, Lord Puttnam became an acknowledged authority in the field of widening educational participation in a number of posts, including president of UNICEF UK, chairman of the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) and inaugural chair of the General Teaching Council for England in 2001.

After enjoying a fruitful decade as Chancellor of the University of Sunderland, Lord Puttnam was appointed as Chancellor of The Open University in 2007.

Content last updated: 18/06/2009