Sir Michael Lyons is the Chairman of the BBC Trust. He is also Chairman of the English Cities Fund and recently completed the Lyons Inquiry into the functions and funding of local government (published March 2007).

Michael Lyons is a former Deputy Chairman and Acting Chairman of the Audit Commission (2003 to 2006) and was Professor of Public Policy at Birmingham University (2001 to 2006). He was knighted in 2000 for services to local government after serving as the Chief Executive of three major local authorities: Birmingham City Council (1994-2001); Nottinghamshire County Council (1990-1994) and Wolverhampton Borough Council (1985-1990). He has also chaired or been a member of a number of public sector bodies and working groups.

Michael Lyons is Chairman of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and a Governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company. He is a former non-executive director of Central Television Ltd (2003 to 2006), and a former Chairman of the Regional Advisory Council for ITV. He is a non-executive director of MouchelParkman plc, Wragge & Co and SQW Ltd.

Michael Lyons' early career was as an economist working in the public sector, and this followed lecturing economics at the University of Nottingham and Wallbrook College London. He was an elected member (Labour) of Birmingham City Council from 1980 to 1983. Whilst completing his formal education, he worked for two years as a part-time street trader at Bell St Market in London.

Michael Lyons was educated at Stratford Grammar School (London), Middlesex University, and at Queen Mary College University of London. He is 57, married, with three grown-up children.

Source: BBC Press Office