Alastair Balls
Encyclopedia
Alastair Balls CB
is a former senior economic adviser to the U.K. HM Treasury
and Director, Northern Region, Departments of Environment and Transport, and is Chairman of the International Centre for Life.
in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
, Scotland, from which he went on to read economics at the University of St Andrews
and the University of Manchester
. From 1966-73 he worked as an economist in the post of assistant Secretary to the Treasury of the Government of Tanzania
; thereafter as an economist with the U.K. Government’s Department of Transport, 1969-73. Alastair Balls served as secretary to the U.K. government's Channel Tunnel
advisory committee of experts (the Cairncross Committee of 1974-75) chaired by another Scottish economist Sir Alexander Cairncross, also a former pupil of Hamilton Academy
. In further Whitehall
appointments, in 1976 Balls was appointed Senior Economic Advisor to HM Treasury
; in 1979 appointed assistant Secretary at the U.K.’s Department of Environment
; and in 1983 promoted to under-Secretary and Director, Northern Region of the Transport and Environment departments, regional development programmes being among his responsibilities, and an interest that was to be developed in subsequent appointments.
, a post he was to hold until the corporation was dissolved in 1998. Serving (from 1998-2003) as a member of the board of the Independent Television Commission
, and as vice-Chairman of the Council of the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Alastair Balls had also been appointed (2002) a non-executive director of Northumbrian Water
. This was followed by his appointment as Chairman (2004-07) of the NewcastleGateshead
Initiative.
In January 2006, Alastair Balls took up the post as Chairman of the Northern Rock Foundation and in December of that year was also appointed to the board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England
. In 2007, Alastair Balls became Chairman of the Alzheimer's Society
.
In 1997, Alastair Balls was appointed Chief Executive of the founding organisation of the International Centre for Life, the £70 million independent experimental science village, developed in conjunction with the University of Newcastle
and University of Durham, majoring in genetics and life sciences that has been in the forefront of developments in embryonic human stem cell cultivation and transfer. In 2007 Alastair Balls stood down as Chief Excecutive of the Centre for Life, to become Chairman of its board of Trustees.
(CB) for “services to regeneration in the north east of England.”
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
is a former senior economic adviser to the U.K. HM Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
and Director, Northern Region, Departments of Environment and Transport, and is Chairman of the International Centre for Life.
Education and Whitehall career
Alastair Gordon Balls was born on 18 March 1944 and educated at Hamilton AcademyHamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
, Scotland, from which he went on to read economics at the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
and the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
. From 1966-73 he worked as an economist in the post of assistant Secretary to the Treasury of the Government of Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
; thereafter as an economist with the U.K. Government’s Department of Transport, 1969-73. Alastair Balls served as secretary to the U.K. government's Channel Tunnel
Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel is a undersea rail tunnel linking Folkestone, Kent in the United Kingdom with Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais near Calais in northern France beneath the English Channel at the Strait of Dover. At its lowest point, it is deep...
advisory committee of experts (the Cairncross Committee of 1974-75) chaired by another Scottish economist Sir Alexander Cairncross, also a former pupil of Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
. In further Whitehall
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
appointments, in 1976 Balls was appointed Senior Economic Advisor to HM Treasury
HM Treasury
HM Treasury, in full Her Majesty's Treasury, informally The Treasury, is the United Kingdom government department responsible for developing and executing the British government's public finance policy and economic policy...
; in 1979 appointed assistant Secretary at the U.K.’s Department of Environment
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is the government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities in the United Kingdom...
; and in 1983 promoted to under-Secretary and Director, Northern Region of the Transport and Environment departments, regional development programmes being among his responsibilities, and an interest that was to be developed in subsequent appointments.
Later career and appointments
In 1987, Alastair Balls took up the appointment as Chief Executive of the newly established Tyne and Wear Development CorporationTyne and Wear Development Corporation
The Tyne and Wear Development Corporation was established in 1987 to develop land on the banks of the River Tyne and the River Wear in England. Its flagship developments included the regeneration of the East Quayside in Newcastle, Royal Quays in North Tyneside and St Peter's in Sunderland. During...
, a post he was to hold until the corporation was dissolved in 1998. Serving (from 1998-2003) as a member of the board of the Independent Television Commission
Independent Television Commission
The Independent Television Commission licensed and regulated commercial television services in the United Kingdom between 1 January 1991 and 28 December 2003....
, and as vice-Chairman of the Council of the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Alastair Balls had also been appointed (2002) a non-executive director of Northumbrian Water
Northumbrian Water
Northumbrian Water Group plc is the holding company for several companies in the water supply, sewerage and waste water industries. NWG's largest subsidiary is Northumbrian Water Limited , which is one of ten companies in England and Wales that are regulated water supply and sewerage utilities...
. This was followed by his appointment as Chairman (2004-07) of the NewcastleGateshead
NewcastleGateshead
NewcastleGateshead is a brand-name associated with the joint promotion of culture, business and tourism within the conurbation formed by Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead. With the use of printed matter and a web-site, the organisation produces, assembles activities and information into effective...
Initiative.
In January 2006, Alastair Balls took up the post as Chairman of the Northern Rock Foundation and in December of that year was also appointed to the board of the Higher Education Funding Council for England
Higher Education Funding Council for England
The Higher Education Funding Council for England is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the United Kingdom, which has been responsible for the distribution of funding to Universities and Colleges of Higher and Further Education in England since...
. In 2007, Alastair Balls became Chairman of the Alzheimer's Society
Alzheimer's Society
Alzheimer’s Society is a United Kingdom care and research charity for people with dementia and their carers.It is a membership organisation, which works to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
.
The International Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England
University of Newcastle
University of Newcastle can refer to:* Newcastle University, a university in the United Kingdom* University of Newcastle, Australia, a university in New South Wales...
and University of Durham, majoring in genetics and life sciences that has been in the forefront of developments in embryonic human stem cell cultivation and transfer. In 2007 Alastair Balls stood down as Chief Excecutive of the Centre for Life, to become Chairman of its board of Trustees.
Awards and honours
In the New Year Honours of 1994, Alastair Balls was appointed a Companion of the Order of the BathOrder of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(CB) for “services to regeneration in the north east of England.”