Rt Hon Baroness (Tina) Stowell MBE

Tina Stowell is a former Leader of the House of Lords and Cabinet Minister, and is one of the UK’s most experienced figures at the intersection of politics, regulation and trust. Over a forty-year career spanning government and various national institutions, she has built a reputation for getting difficult things done by understanding people, bridging divides, and earning trust where it is hardest to win.

From a working-class background in Nottinghamshire, Tina went to college and joined the Ministry of Defence as a secretary. From there she went on to work in the British Embassy in Washington, and as a press officer at Number 10. After a period as then-Conservative Party leader William Hague’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Tina moved to the BBC, becoming Head of Communications and Head of Corporate Affairs. Returning to politics, she was appointed to the House of Lords and joined the new Coalition government. She led several complex pieces of legislation through Parliament, most notably stewarding the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act through the House of Lords. Against expectations, the legislation passed with a larger majority in the Lords than in the Commons. Her approach involved acknowledging passionately held doubts rather than dismissing them, and turning a highly polarising issue into one where peers across the House felt able to support change. Her efforts earned acclaim and recognition across the political and social spectrum.

As Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal, Tina was responsible for managing government business in the Upper House, negotiating across parties, and delivering results in an environment defined by scrutiny, competing interests and low tolerance for failure. After her role as Leader, she became Chair of the Charity Commission, appointed at a time when public trust in charities was at an historic low, she reshaped the regulator’s approach to accountability and public confidence. Then, as Chair of the Lords Communications and Digital Committee, she led cross-party work on technology, media, artificial intelligence and the future of the creative industries.

Tina works with leaders and organisations facing low trust, high scrutiny and disruptive change. Drawing on her experience, she helps leaders understand why trust has broken down, why it matters, and how it can be rebuilt, particularly in an age when technology, regulation, and social and cultural change feel imposed rather than agreed. Straight-talking, grounded and practical, Tina helps leaders to bridge divides, share values, bring people with them, and deliver results when the odds are against them.