8 Once a Caian...
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ntelligence is the ability to adapt seeking to rebuild that, very much trying to sometimes called a lobby group, but Carolyn to change.’ These words from our support the skill-building of our economy. And doesn’t see it that way: ‘I see us as working own Stephen Hawking (1965), writ we are great fans of our university system.’ in partnership with government to forge a large on the wall, welcome visitors An issue beside which the shenanigans of business environment that enables us to to the Cannon Place HQ of the Brexit pale into insignificance is the climate create good jobs, spread prosperity and Confederation of British Industry (CBI). emergency. If the worldwide environmental change lives. That's what attracted me to Intelligence is the most striking catastrophe unfolds as many scientists the role. We’re quite small – but we punch characteristic of the CBI’s Director-General, foretell, it won’t matter whether the UK is in quite big.’ Dame Carolyn Fairbairn (1980), an Honorary the EU or not. The CBI has taken a strongly The CBI campaigned strongly for Remain, Fellow of Caius and the first Caian to proactive position on the proposal, supported but since the Referendum they have focussed become a Dame (in the 2019 Queen’s by Theresa May’s government, to reduce the on getting the best possible deal. Carolyn Birthday Honours). At a time of ‘post-truth UK’s net carbon emissions to zero by 2050. doesn’t believe it is the CBI’s role to argue populism’, when many have lost faith in ‘We’ve played already a very, significant for a second Referendum, ‘but if there is one, political leaders and institutions, there is an role. We strongly support the net zero target. we will participate and inform it. Our job is urgent need for intelligent, informed opinion, Indeed, we were one of the first to propose it. to make sure the politicians of our age have calmly and rationally expressed. In the We wrote to the Prime Minister, prior to her the best possible information, to make current maelstrom of British politics, announcement, in support of the 2050 goal, decisions in the best interests of the country. Carolyn’s cool intelligence shines like a with many of our members signing up to this. It’s also about the relationship of trust that beacon in the fog. The challenge now is how we deliver it, business has with society. We take that very On the way to a double First in because net zero by 2050 is an aggressive seriously. All institutions have, I think, faced Economics, her incisive analytical skills were objective. We are calling for a cross-party, something of a crisis of trust. We’ve been honed by her Director of Studies, Iain cross business-and-government commission, Macpherson (1959). now, to work out the milestones and the ‘The real difference about the supervision delivery path, to be able to get there.’ system is that you are writing your essay in The course has been set. Now, careful the knowledge that you are going to be navigation is needed: ‘One of the great debating it face to face strengths we have in the with somebody who is UK is that we are such going to be challenging, innovators, because we critical and usually have such a strong constructive, but not university base. So, if I always. It means you look at what UK business produce a different kind is doing in terms of of work. You have to make renewables, in terms of it lively and original. If you battery technology for know you’re going to read electric cars, we are world Dame Carolyn Fairbairn (1980), Director-General of the Confederation of British Industry it aloud, you write it in leaders. Our ambition at quite a different way. the CBI is that the UK ‘If ever I produced isn't just world-leading something ho-hum, Iain in terms of the would say “How long did transformation we have you spend on this, in our country, but we’re Carolyn?” and I had that also helping to lead the feeling of somebody you transformation globally respect saying, “Actually, through our innovation.’ you can do better than Carolyn comes from this.” That is very, very a family of can-do, high interesting training, achievers. Her because a lot of what grandfather, Lord I’ve had to do in my (Charles) Hill, was Chair career has been about of the BBC when she was communicating at Caius. Her father, persuasively, interestingly David Fairbairn (1954) and concisely, and I was President of the learned that at Cambridge Union and Cambridge. I really did.’ took his young family to Carolyn joined the New York to set up the CBI as its first female first American distribution Director-General in 2015. centre for Guinness. Her The CBI is by far the sister, Heather Kleeman biggest business (1984) and Heather’s son, organisation in the UK, Sam Kleeman (2012) with a staff of 250, continued the family speaking for 190,000 tradition. businesses. It is Carolyn spent her first
Crisis, What Crisis? by Mick Le Moignan (2004)
