Advisory Committee for England

About Ofcom Structure and leadership
Published: 2 July 2010
Last updated: 8 August 2024

The Advisory Committee for England advises Ofcom about the interests and opinions, in relation to communications and postal matters, of persons living in England.

The Committee usually meets four times a year. The Committee’s minutes are provided to the Ofcom Board.

The remit of the Advisory Committee is to:

  • seek to identify issues affecting the communications and postal sectors in England, both collectively as a Committee and individually for Members, with particular reference to the sectors where they have particular knowledge or expertise
  • to provide advice to Ofcom about general and specific issues concerning the communications and postal sectors arising within England
  • to provide advice and comment as required on matters brought to the Committee by Ofcom
  • to offer comment as appropriate on consultations undertaken by Ofcom
  • where requested by the Content Board, to provide specific advice to that Board on matters relating to television, radio and other content on services regulated by Ofcom
  • when so requested by the Ofcom Board, to provide advice to the Communications Consumer Panel on matters affecting consumers in England in the communications sector.
  • to produce an annual report reflecting issues within the communications and postal sectors in England

29 February
6 June
3 October
28 November

Paula Carter (Chair)

Paula Carter has more than 30 years’ experience in the broadcasting sector, most recently as Director of Planning and Board Secretary at Channel 4. Previously she held senior policy and management roles at the BBC and ITV. She is a magistrate on the South East London Bench, and was appointed to the Board of the Rugby Football Union to represent Surrey in August 2020. She is a member of the British Transport Police Authority.

Paula joined the ACE on 1 June 2019. Her appointment runs until 31 May 2025.

Aaqil Ahmed

Aaqil Ahmed is a media consultant and former Head of Religion and Ethics at both the BBC and Channel 4. He is a Non-Executive Director of the Advertising Standards Authority and a council member of the Higher Education Funding council for Wales. Aaqil is co-founder and Board member of Princes Trust youth mentoring organisation Mosaic, sits on the Rugby League Diversity board and is a board member of The Bradford Literature Festival. Aaqil is also a Professor of Media at the University of Bolton and teaches at a number of universities in the UK. He is managing director of Amplify Consulting Ltd a company that specialises in media, broadcasting and communications.

Aaqil joined the ACE on 1 June 2019. His appointment runs until 31 May 2025.

Caroline Gardner

Caroline Gardner has been a teacher for the last 18 years at a large, North West based FE college with a Sixth Form Centre. Caroline has taught across a range of Media related courses, exclusively teaching A Level Film Studies and Media Studies for the last 10 years in a small, but successful team. Alongside her teaching roles, she is also an Assistant Curriculum Manager for Creative Arts and Business A Levels, a busy department with a cross section of learners for a variety of backgrounds. Caroline has previously worked in a moderating role for an examination board. Before teaching, Caroline worked as a Production Assistant at Granada Sky Broadcasting including Shop! and MUTV having studied Media and Sociology at Leeds Trinity.

Caroline joined the ACE on 1 March 2023. Her appointment runs until 28 February 2026.

Grant Davis

Grant Davis is the Founder and Director of SELIGR Ltd, which provides consultancy services on telecommunications and project management. He has over 35 years’ experience in the telecommunications sector including a diverse range of roles in BT and Openreach, where he developed, managed and delivered large-scale product development and business transformation programmes.

Grant joined the ACE on 1 February 2024. His appointment runs until 31 January 2027.

Edleen John

Edleen John is a Diversity, ESG, Corporate Affairs and Communications Consultant working across multiple sectors and supporting companies across the globe. She is the Vice Chair of the Governing Body at a community special school for young people with disabilities, a Director of Tech Talent Charter, an International Trustee for Restless Development, and the Senior Independent Director of The Amateur Football Alliance.

Edleen joined the ACE on 1 February 2024. Her appointment runs until 31 January 2027.

Mauro Mortali

Mauro Mortali has over 25 years of experience working in leadership and governance positions in the corporate, education and charity sectors. He spent much of his career at BT, working in strategy, innovation and portfolio management roles. Mauro now works as a senior partner for Cambridge Management Consulting, heading up its Strategy Practice. He is an Associate Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation, and is a trustee with the national charity, Relate.

Mauro joined the ACE on 1 February 2024. His appointment runs until 31 January 2027.

As well as the appointed Members of the Advisory Committee, the Content Board Member, and the Communications Consumer Panel Member for the respective Nations are invited to attend Advisory Committee Meetings.

In England this is:

  • Richard Spencer – Communications Consumer Panel
  • Dekan Apajee – Content Board

In addition, Ofcom Board Member Angela Dean attends meetings of the Advisory Committee.

Ofcom 
Riverside House
2A Southwark Bridge Road
London
SE1 9HA

T: 020 7981 3000

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Terms of reference for the National Advisory Committees • PDF • 124.94 KB • 5 October 2023
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Code of Conduct for the National Advisory Committees • PDF • 253.62 KB • 5 October 2023

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Ofcom's Board provides strategic direction for the organisation.

Register of disclosable interests

Members are required to disclose interests (including shareholdings, directorships and employments) they, their partners or minor children have in companies whose core business activities (and hence share price) could be affected by Ofcom's decisions.

Senior Management Team (SMT)

The Senior Management Team are Ofcom's most senior leaders. They lead groups at Ofcom and form the core of our Policy and Management Board.

Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland

The Advisory Committee for Northern Ireland advises Ofcom about the interests and opinions, in relation to communications matters, of persons living in Northern Ireland.

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