Sir David Bell was appointed Chief Executive of the Financial Times in 1993 and became Chairman in 1996.

In July 1998 he was also appointed Pearson's Director for People with responsibility for the recruitment, motivation, development and reward of employees across the Pearson Group. In June 2003 he became Chairman of Pearson Inc in New York. He retired as a director of Pearson plc earlier this year after thirteen years on the Board.

In addition to this he is Chair of Council, Roehampton University, Chairman of Crisis, Chairman of Common Purpose, Chairman of the Transformation Trust and Chair of The Institute of War & Peace Reporting Europe. He is also a member of the International Youth Foundation Board, a member of Plan UK's Board, a trustee of the Centre for the Study of Financial Innovation (CSFI), a member of the Honorary Council of the Royal National Theatre and a non executive director of the Economist.

David received his knighthood for services to industry, the arts and charity.

Rab Bennetts is a founder Director of the architectural practice Bennetts Associates. The firm has been responsible for award winning projects such as the Gateway Centre in Loch Lomond, Hampstead Theatre and Brighton & Hove Central Library. Current commissions include The Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon and the New Street Square development in the City of London.

Rab was formerly the Chairman of the Movement for Innovation's Sustainability Working Group, and an advisor to the Department of Trade and Industry. He presently sits on the RIBA Competitions Committee and the construction industry's Olympic Task Force.

Rab was awarded the OBE for services to architecture in 2003.

Marco Compagnoni is a partner in the leading international law firm, Weil Gotshal & Manges, based in the firm's London office. His work is in the area of corporate law and mergers and acquisitions.

Until recently, Marco was a Trustee of the Royal Opera House, Governor of the Royal Ballet Company and Chairman of the Friends of Covent Garden. He remains a member of the Friends of Covent Garden's Advisory Council. He is also currently a Trustee of the Serpentine Gallery and is involved in a range of public art and related programmes and initiatives. He is a founding supporter of Morphoses, the Christopher Wheeldon Company.

Joachim Fleury is a partner at Clifford Chance, the leading international law firm, at which he heads the global telecommunications, media and technology practice. He was born and raised in Amsterdam, where his mother designed and made theatre costumes, his sister makes performance theatre and his brother is a well-known maker of documentary films - sufficient basis for a life-long interest in performing arts.

Joachim has been living in London since 2001 and has been a regular promoter of beginning and established artists, through investment, sponsorship and advice. He sits on the development committees of several other theatres, as well as on the advisory council of several small companies.

Harry MacAuslan is the Vice Chairman of Leo Burnett, the international advertising agency. He is a Director of Octopus Investments, an investment company in the city and he is also a Director of Perfect Pizza, a national pizza delivery company. He is a Trustee of the Mental Health Foundation.

He is extremely proud to have been involved with Sadler's Wells for the past 14 years.

Robin has recently retired from BT as President of European Affairs. Robin joined BT as Group Communications Director in November 1999 from the Financial Times, where he was managing editor. He was BT's race champion and a member of the Group Equality and Diversity Forum. He is a former chair of the BT Ethnic Minority Network and is a member of Business in the Community's Race for Opportunity Board.

Robin is a Corporate Trustee of the Tate museums. He is also a member of the Board of Mezz2, a charity encouraging social entrepreneurship. He is a former Trustee of the National Aids Trust and is now an Ambassador for HIV/AIDS issues in the UK and internationally.

Arlene Phillips is a world-renowned choreographer with her work seen in widely in theatre, feature films, concert arenas, television, music videos and commercials.

Arlene appeared as a judge on BBC1's hugely popular Strictly Come Dancing. She first came to the attention of the British public when she created the dance group Hot Gossip. Arlene appeared on Strictly Dance Fever and she collaborated with Bruno Tonioli to create DanceX and Dance War. She recently created a new musical drama Britannia High and is currently creating her own dance show, the first to embrace every style of dance. Arlene will soon come back to our screens in a new series of So You Think You Can Dance for the BBC.

Tony sits on various committees including the Bank of England Small Business Panel advising on Asian businesses and is Chairman of the Asian Business Association (part of the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry). He is also a Council Member of the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry and has recently become non Executive Chairman of 4D, an asset management business focused on the commercial property sector.

Tony has previously been a member of the Government's 'New Deal' ethnic minority advisory committee, a member of the Metropolitan Police mentoring scheme, a Board member of the Central London Partnership (representing the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and a trustee of the Asian Music Circuit (registered Arts charity). He has recently been appointed a business Ambassador for London's 2012 Olympic bid and a trustee of a newly formed charity, 'Safer London'.

In July 2005 Tony won the Business and Commerce Award at the Lloyds TSB Asian Jewel Awards in London. He is also featured in the 'Asian Power 100' list which was published in Sept 2005.

As Valerie Pitts, Lady Solti enjoyed a high-flying television career in the 1960's. Her work ranged from presenting Playschool to arts reporting for the BBC. In 1967 she married the legendary Hungarian conductor Sir Georg Solti, and gave up her career to support the maestro all around the world and to raise their two daughters.

Since her husband's death in 1997, Lady Solti continues his work in many areas and is particularly committed to the support of young musicians. Lady Solti was particularly supportive of the capital campaign which fundraised to rebuild and re-open Sadler's Wells in 1998.

Sandi graduated with a degree in Music History from Skidmore College in New York. After graduating she focused her career on fundraising and development in America and worked for a number of arts organisations including The American Symphony Orchestra League, The Richmond Symphony Orchestra, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and The Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Sandi's primary objective has been to combine her knowledge of classical music, opera and contemporary dance with her fundraising skills to benefit arts organisations.

Sandi joined the Board of Governors at Sadler's Wells in 2000 and was appointed a Director in 2007.