Mary Hockaday has been elected the new Master of Trinity Hall, the College announced today (31/5). Hockaday is the first woman to be elected as Master in the College’s history. 

The role has been vacant since the previous Master, Revd Canon Dr. Jeremy Morris resigned in August last year following allegations of the mishandling of a sexual misconduct complaint.

Hockaday worked at the BBC from 1986 to 2021, taking on several roles including Director of the BBC World Service News and Head of the BBC Newsroom, amongst other positions. 

Born in Oxford, Hockaday studied English at Trinity Hall as an undergraduate and has since been made an Honorary Fellow. She also has an MA in Journalism from New York University.

Dr Daniel Tyler, the Vice-Master, is optimistic about the new appointment. He said she “brings a wealth of leadership experience from her distinguished career at the BBC and a passion and vision for the life of the College”, continuing that “this outstanding appointment begins an exciting new chapter in the history of Trinity Hall”.

Hockaday described Trinity Hall as an “ancient college with forward-looking ambition”, saying “it will be a joy to be part of such a welcoming community”. She also said she looks “forward to working with every part of this wonderful community, students, Fellows, staff and alumni”.

She will take up the post later this October. Perhaps by coincidence, the announcement comes on Hockaday’s birthday.