Loretta Minghella

Loretta Caroline Rose Minghella (born 4 March 1962) is a British academic administrator and former charity executive. Since 2021, she has served as Master of Clare College, Cambridge, her alma mater. Previously, she was the Chief Executive Officer of Christian Aid (April 2010 to 2017), and served as the First Church Estates Commissioner (November 2017 to October 2021), one of the most senior lay people in the Church of England.

Early life and education Minghella was born on 4 March 1962 on the Isle of Wight, England, to Edward Minghella and Gloria Alberta Minghella. Her family ran a local café until the 1980s and an eponymous business making and selling Italian-style ice cream since the 1950s. She was one of five children, a brother being director Anthony Minghella, whose son Max is an actor. Minghella was educated at Medina High School, a state school in Newport, Isle of Wight. She studied law at Clare College, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1984. She continued her studies at the College of Law.

Career From 1985 to 1987, Minghella was an articled clerk at London law firm Kingsley Napley. From 1993 to 1998, she was head of enforcement law and policy at the SIB.

In April 2010, Minghella was appointed director (later chief executive) of Christian Aid. As CEO of Christian Aid, she was paid £119,123 in 2011 in the 2011/12 financial year and £126,072 in 2012/2013.

On 28 June 2017, it was announced that Minghella would be the next First Church Estates Commissioner, one of the most senior lay people in the Church of England, in succession to Sir Andreas Whittam Smith. As the First Church Estates Commissioner, she was a member of the Church Commissioners' Board of Governors, the General Synod of the Church of England, and the Archbishops' Council. She stepped down in 2021.

In November 2020, it was announced that she would become the next Master of Clare College, Cambridge in succession to Tony Grabiner: she took up the appointment in October 2021.

Personal life In 1992, Minghella married Christopher Parsons.

Honours In the 2010 New Year Honours, Minghella was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) "for services to the Financial Services Industry". In October 2016, she was made a Sarum Canon of Salisbury Cathedral, "recognising the contribution she has made to the national and worldwide Church".