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Raised in South Wales, Lord Williams aspired to an international career from an early age. He studied at University College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies in London where he gained his Ph.D. and M.Sc. before starting his career with Amnesty International. In 1984 he joined the ±«Óãtv World Service as an editor, where he formed a lifelong bond with the corporation – its people and its ethos.

Following his time at the World Service, he moved to the United Nations where he was based in Cambodia as Deputy Director for Human Rights; in former Yugoslavia as Director for Information; Geneva as Adviser to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and New York as Director, Office for Children and Armed Conflict. Between 2000 and 2005 he was Special Adviser to two Foreign Secretaries: Robin Cook, and then Jack Straw. During that time he also continued his contribution to the ±«Óãtv as a board member of the ±«Óãtv World Service Trust.

More recently he has worked once again for the United Nations and returned from Beirut in 2011 after three years as Under-Secretary General, UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon.

He was appointed to the House of Lords in October 2010 and joined the ±«Óãtv Trust in December 2011.

"As someone whose career has been driven by news, I think the ±«Óãtv is the best news provider in the contemporary world. It has a reach that few others can match. I've come across political leaders throughout the world who rely on and have great respect for the ±«Óãtv.

"The challenges facing the ±«Óãtv are many and some quite formidable. Firstly, the difficult economic circumstances, not just for the ±«Óãtv but for the global economy. A second challenge is the increasingly competitive market. I think the ±«Óãtv will be able to meet these challenges, and in some ways will be able to define itself more strongly against its rivals, most of whom respect the ±«Óãtv a great deal."