Sonita Alleyne

Sonita Alleyne OBE has forged a successful career as a decorated private and public sector executive, famed for becoming the first Black female Master of Jesus College since its foundation back in 1496, and the first Black Master of any Oxbridge College. Alongside her work at Jesus College Cambridge, Sonita is also committed to acting as the Chair of the Committee of Management of the British Board of Film Classification. Throughout the duration of her career, Sonita has applied creative business acumen, which has fostered her reputation as a powerful keynote speaker. Passionate about improving representation and inclusion, hire Sonita Alleyne OBE today to learn how education is the answer to creating an equitable future. 

Back in 1991, Sonita began her illustrious career as the Co-Founder and CEO of Somethin’ Else, revered for developing one of the UK's major independent production companies over the course of two decades. Developing a reputation as a respected authority in the media sector, Sonita became the Non-Executive Director of the Department of Culture, Media, and Sport in 2000, before becoming the Chair for Radio Sector Skills in 2008. In 2009, Sonita took a step back from her duties as the CEO, becoming the Non-Executive Director of Somethin’ Else. Gaining increased respect in the media industry, Sonita was also appointed as the Governor of the University of the Arts London and a Trustee for the BBC Trust. Having recognised a lack of career information in early education, Sonita was inspired to make a change, becoming the Founder and Director of The Yes Programme in 2011.

Continuing her work as the Director of The Yes Programme, Sonita is also committed to her work as the Director of The Cultural Capital Find. With such dedication to implementing positive change in education and throughout society, Sonita was appointed as the Chair of the Committee of Management of the BBFC and the Master of Jesus College Cambridge in 2019, two roles in which she works tirelessly to achieve her goal of a more equitable future. In addition to these roles, Sonita has also been a Governor of the Museum of London since 2017, and a Patron of the Red Hen Project - a charity committed to helping children to thrive, a testament to Sonita's passion for creating societal change. 

Having made a substantial impact across the private and public sectors, Sonita Alleyne OBE is now highly sought-after as a global keynote speaker for corporate events. A Fellow of The Royal Society of the Arts, Sonita has been highly rewarded throughout her career for her commitments - such as when she was awarded the Carlton Multicultural Achievement Award for TV and Radio and when she was appointed OBE for Services to Broadcasting. Having also been elected as an Honorary Fellow of Fitzwilliam College, Sonita is highly sought after to share her inspirational career history at events across the globe. Committed to creating an inclusive, diverse and equitable future, Sonita is hired to share her expertise on how education will shape future generations and equal opportunities. When looking for an inspirational advocate for societal change to speak at your next event, don't hesitate in hiring the first Black female Master of Jesus College Cambridge, Sonita Alleyne OBE.