Rotha Johnston, Trustee for Northern Ireland

"The richness and diversity of BBC output mean that it can offer something for everyone.

"Many people I meet as Trustee for Northern Ireland tell me that the BBC plays an important part in their social network, that they value high quality, distinctive programmes across a range of genres and that there is a continued appetite for more culturally representative programmes.

"The privilege of the licence fee brings with it a great responsibility for the BBC to provide value for money to those that it serves. As the market moves towards a digital future, it's crucial that we maintain the independence, impartiality and creativity of the BBC while pushing ahead with new technologies to ensure that all licence fee payers have access to the content they have paid for by whatever means suit them best."

About Rotha

Following a degree in modern languages during which she spent some time teaching in Florence, Rotha worked in the US and then returned to Northern Ireland to build her career in business. She worked in both the public and the private sectors, completing an MBA before joining her husband in their food services business in 1995.

Going into business allowed Rotha to deal with the challenge faced by many businesswomen, how to combine a burgeoning career with bringing up a family.

After ten years, during which time they had grown the business across Ireland and invested in a UK business, the Johnstons sold the company and both are now commercial investors.

In addition to her own interests, Rotha combines various non-executive directorships with her role as Trustee and stepped down as Deputy Chair of Invest Northern Ireland (the Economic Development Agency for Northern Ireland) in March 2009. Rotha lives in Belfast with her husband and four children and was awarded the CBE in 2005 for services to business.