Anne Longfield CBE is a passionate champion for children, influencing and shaping the national debate and policy agenda for children and their families. She has spent the last three decades working to improve the life chances of children, particularly the most vulnerable.  

Anne previously established and chaired the Commission on YoungLives, an independent commission to develop proposals for a new national system to prevent crisis in vulnerable young people and support them to succeed in life. The Commission put forward ambitious and eye catching proposals to politicians and system leaders, several of which have been adopted.

FromMarch 2015 to February 2021, she was Children’s Commissioner for England. As Children’s Commissioner, Anne spent six years championing the rights and interests of children with those in power who make decisions about children’s lives, acting as children’s ‘eyes and ears’ in the corridors of power in Whitehall and Westminster. As Children’s Commissioner, she was a vocal advocate for children during the pandemic

She previously led a national children’s charity and has also worked on the delivery of the Sure Start programme in the No 10 Strategy Unit. She spent many years campaigning for better childcare, often at a time when many saw the issue as obscure or niche.

Anne is the Independent Chair of the NHS Children and Young People Learning Disability and Autism Board, a non-executive director of the Bradford Children and Family Trust and board member of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership.  She was previously a member of the Times Education Commission.

Anne regularly authors articles and her new book, Young Lives, Big Ambitions is published in April 2024. Anne has honorary doctorates from Newcastle Upon Tyne and Sheffield Hallam Universities.