Patricia Hodgson

Dame Patricia Anne Hodgson (born 19 January 1947) is a British broadcasting executive, competition regulator, and academic administrator.

A former board member of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation and the UK AI Council, she served as Chair of Ofcom from 2014 to 2017. A Trustee of the Policy Exchange and Chair of the School Teachers' Review Body, from 2006 to 2012 she served as Principal of Newnham College, Cambridge.

Personal life Born in 1947, she was educated at Brentwood High School for Girls, a grammar school in Brentwood, Essex, before going up to Newnham College, Cambridge, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree, proceeding Master of Arts (MA Cantab). She also studied at the Royal Academy of Music, completing a Licentiate of the Royal Academy of Music (LRAM) in drama in 1968.

In 1979, Hodgson married George Donaldson. They have one son.

Hodgson's non-executive roles include Director of GCapMedia plc (2004–06), member of the BBC Trust (2006–2011), Chair of the Higher Education Regulation Review Group (2004–06), Member of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (2005–2011), Member of The Wellcome Trust (2004–08), Member of the Committee on Standards in Public Life (2004–08) and of the Statistics Commission (2000–06). Upon leaving Newnham in 2012, she became Chair of Ofcom and Chair of the School Teachers’ Review Body.

She has been a non-executive departmental director of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) since July 2023, a non-executive director of the Competition and Markets Authority, for which she holds a board position, since February 2024,

Hodgson was responsible for Charter and Licence negotiations in 1995 and 2000 and also led the team which planned the launch of digital and online UK services between 1995 and 2000.

Honours Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1995, she was promoted Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2004. Dame Patricia was elected an Honorary Fellow of Newnham College, Cambridge in 2012, and holds honorary doctorates from City University, London, and the University of Essex.