Trustees - Susannah Simons

Susannah Simons is Head of Public Affairs and Outreach BBC Audio and Music. In this capacity she is responsible for policy issues affecting BBC Radio and Music as well as the education and audience development work of all of the BBC’s Performing Groups.

A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, she began her career as a studio manager in BBC radio in before becoming a presenter. She presented the Radio 4 PM programme for ten years, before leaving in 1987 to present Channel 4’s Business Daily. In 1992 she became the presenter of Answering Back on Channel 4 and at the same time became one of the founder members of the team that set up Classic FM.

Whilst at Classic FM she presented Masters of their Art, as well as initiating the Music Teacher of the Year competition, Classic FM Families and the Yamaha Classic FM Music School, all initiatives designed to increase and broaden the audience for classical music. She was also Director of Communications of Classic FM’s parent company GWR until December 2002 when she returned to the BBC.

Susannah is a trustee of Youth Dance England, on the board of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and is on the London advisory boards of Arts and Business and of Artis, a new company bringing performing artists into primary Schools. She has previously served as Chairman of the National Youth Dance Company, as a Governor of More House School and was on the advisory board of the Royal Ballet between 1998 and 2000.