Dame Barbara Stocking

Dame Barbara Stocking has been the President of Murray Edwards College at the University of Cambridge since July 2013. Previously, she served as the Chief Executive of Oxfam GB from May 2001 until February 2013. During her tenure, the organisation worked in over 60 countries, delivering development and humanitarian efforts. She managed an annual income exceeding £300m and led a workforce of over 4,500 employees worldwide, demonstrating significant leadership within Oxfam and the broader Oxfam International confederation.

In her role at Oxfam GB, Stocking oversaw major humanitarian responses to international crises including the Horn of Africa and West Africa food crises, the Haiti earthquake, Pakistan floods, and the Tsunami. She also championed Oxfam’s involvement in the "Make Poverty History" campaign and the "Grow" campaign, which focused on climate change and food justice. Her leadership extended to engaging with the private sector to explore its role in alleviating global poverty and she regularly attended and spoke at high-level meetings with entities such as the UN in New York and Rome, the World Economic Forum in Davos, and leaders of the G8, IMF/World Bank.

Before her extensive work with Oxfam, Stocking had a significant career in the National Health Service as regional director for the South East of England and as the founding Director of the NHS Modernisation Agency. She holds a Master's degree in physiology, which underpins her strong foundation in healthcare systems, policy, and practice. Recognized for her contributions, she was appointed a non-executive board member by the Cabinet Office in December 2010, awarded a CBE for health services in 2000, and later a Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE) for humanitarian services in 2008.