In Conversation with…Javed Khan OBE

Javed Khan is a leading figure in the UK public and voluntary sectors, having developed a track record of successfully leading change through key high-profile leadership roles. He is currently a non-executive director on a range of public and private sector boards.

In his 37 year executive career Javed was Chief Executive of Barnardo’s for 8 years- the UK’s largest national children’s charity, and before that Victim Support. He has worked in the Civil Service, in local government (Director of Education), and spent 1 5 years in frontline education in schools and colleges. In June 2022 he published an Independent Review into tobacco control for the government. He is an Honorary Professor at the School of Business and Law at Roehampton University and a Fellow of the University of Birmingham Leadership Institute, and in the past has served on the Law Family Commission on Civil Society, the government’s Grenfell Fire Taskforce, the Sentencing Council for England and Wales and the Children’s Commissioner Advisory Board. Javed’s career achievements have been recognised in the award of an OBE for services to young people and education and Honorary Doctorates from the University of Salford and Birmingham City University.

Javed’s parents, immigrating to the UK from Azad Kashmir, could neither read nor write. Growing up in the backstreets of inner-city Birmingham, his comprehensive education led to a Mathematics degree and then teacher training. He is a family man, with four children and two grandsons. He took on the Managing Director role at Equi in February 2024.

Siraj Datoo

Siraj Datoo is deputy digital editor at the Guardian. He previously worked at Bloomberg and Buzzfeed. He is an EC member of SICM