Loretta Minghella has been elected as the new master of Clare. She will succeed Baron Anthony Grabiner in October 2021.

A Clare alumna - completing her BA in law in1984 and receiving the title of Alumnus of the Year in 2018 - Minghella will be the first woman to hold the position.

Upon her appointment Mighella recalled falling “in love with Clare the first time I crossed the bridge in 1980, a state-school girl with big dreams and small hopes. Three years at Clare gave me a great group of friends, the education and the confidence to tackle many different challenges over what has been a really varied career.”

Regarding her appointment she said in a statement on the Clare website “It is an enormous privilege to be returning as Clare’s first woman Master to lead this special community of students, alumni, staff and Fellows. Together, we will ensure Clare continues to provide an exceptional environment for teaching, learning and research and offers, to every one of its members, the warmest of welcomes.”

Dr Fred Parker, Senior Fellow of Clare, said that “Among many strong candidates, she stood out not only for her distinguished career, but for the strength of her commitment to fostering the whole community life of the college. Her combination of high-level organisational acumen with remarkable personal engagement has impressed Fellows, staff and students alike.”

Minghella was Chief Executive of Christian Aid between 2010-2017 and since 2017 she has been First Church Estates Commissioner, responsible for the strategic management of the Church Commissioners’ investment portfolio.

Mighella was also the first Head of Enforcement Law, Policy and International Cooperation for the Financial Services Authority, later being promoted to Chief Executive of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme in 2004. This role was of “critical ethical and political importance” after the 2007/8 financial crisis as she “oversaw the payment of over £21 billion to vitims of bank and other financial failures.”

Her tenure at the College will coincide with the 50th anniversary of the admission of women undergraduates in 2022 and the College’s 700th Anniversary in 2026.