Sonita Alleyne is the Founder and Director of The Yes Programme – a solution to the lack of career information at the school stage. Born in Barbados and brought up in East London, Sonita completed her MA in Philosophy from the University of Cambridge. Now, the Master of Jesus College Cambridge- the first female one at that, Sonita is available to speak at a wide range of events on how to increase inclusion and representation.
Sonita spent a large part of her career as a Non-Executive Director of the British Board of Film Classification. She currently serves as the Chair of the Committee of Management of the BBFC and Director of The Cultural Capital Fund. In her capacity as Governor of the Museum of London, Sonita is helping primary school students connect what they learn in the classroom with jobs in the real world, through their online services. She is also a Board Member and Chair of the Regeneration and Communities Committee at the London Legacy Development Corporation.
In 1991, Sonita became the Co-Founder and CEO of Somethin’ Else - a cross-platform production company. She then served as a non-executive Director at the Department of Culture, Media and Sport - a role she handled for eight years. She has also been Chair of Radio Sector Skills, Governor of the University of Arts London, and Trustee at the BBC Trust. Leading an illustrious career and life, Sonita was honoured with an OBE for her services to the broadcasting field. She was also given the Carlton Multicultural Achievement Award for TV and Radio in 2002.
Sonita, the first Black female master of any Oxbridge college, was awarded an Honorary Fellowship from Fitzwilliam College at the University of Cambridge, her alma mater. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Radio Academy, Sonita is a respected member of her community. She is driven to provide students of tomorrow with equal and inclusive opportunities that do not discriminate against them based on who they are and where they come from. A leader in every respect, Sonita Alleyne can now be hired as a speaker for your next event. Go ahead and book her now!
