Mike O’Connor, CBE
Vice Chair
Mike held CEO posts in public and voluntary bodies since 1989 until he stood down from full time work in 2018. Former roles include CEO at: StepChange Debt Charity – the UK’s largest debt advice body debt; Consumer Focus, the statutory body which worked with governments and companies to help consumers get a fair deal; the Olympic Lottery Distributor and the Millennium Commission where he was responsible for an investment programme totalling more than £4,000 million covering major public infrastructure projects. He has worked at a senior level in Government with posts in the Department of Health, HM Treasury and Cabinet Office.
Mike has degrees in natural and social science and has sat on the boards of a number of voluntary organisations including the Mental Health Foundation and Ash. He is currently a Trustee of Asthma + Lung UK and a member of the Advertising Standards Authority Adverting Advisory Committee and the Council of Fellows of Keele University. Mike was awarded a CBE in 2000.
