Centenary Lecture Series
October 29, 2009 at 5pm
The complexities of trying to change the world
Dame Barbara Stocking
Chief Executive of Oxfam GB
It feels that the next few years will be one of history's turning points. The global economic crisis, climate change and resource scarcity have made us all wonder what values are operating in our global world, the purposes for which our Governments work, and controls for the common good in out trading and financial sectors.
In all these issues the poorest people in the world are being affected the most. How do we build global systems that meet their needs, and deliver a more equal world? As human beings as well as researchers and teachers what can we all do?
About Dame Barbara Stocking
Barbara Stocking joined Oxfam GB as Chief Executive in May 2001. Oxfam is a humanitarian, development and campaigning agency, whose purpose is to work with others to overcome poverty and suffering.
During the last six years, Barbara has led Oxfam’s response to humanitarian crises in Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, for the Tsunami and the Pakistan Earthquake. She has strengthened Oxfam’s campaigning (e.g. Make Trade Fair, Education) and pushed for Oxfam’s scale up of development work e.g. on Livelihoods and HIV/Aids. Most recently Oxfam has began campaigning on climate change because of its impact on poor people.
Previously a member of the top management team of the National Health Service, in her eight years with the NHS, Barbara worked as regional director and then as Director of the NHS Modernisation Agency. Barbara has a Masters degree in physiology, and has broad experience of healthcare systems, policy and practice, including periods at the National Academy of Sciences in the USA and with the World Health Organisation in West Africa.
Barbara is married and has two sons. She was awarded a DBE in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours List.