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Michael Stevenson Biography
Michael Stevenson was appointed Director of Strategy and Communications at the Department for Education and Skills in April 2003. He is a member of the DFES Board. He was recently appointed to a new Board position, as Director of Technology, with effect from August 2005.
Until joining the Civil Service, Michael, a Classics graduate from Christ Church, Oxford, had spent his professional life in broadcasting.
In April 2000 he was appointed Joint Director, Factual and Learning, with responsibility for Education, and became a member of the BBC Executive Committee. Over a three year period he conceived and led the development of an online curriculum for every child in the UK. The service received Government consent in January 2003, and will launch as a significant contribution to Curriculum Online. He also laid interactive learning services behind all the BBC's mainstream channels, on television and radio.
From October 1996 he was Deputy Director of National and Regional Broadcasting, leading BBC Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and the English Regions through a period of significant political change. Responsible for policy, strategy, marketing and communications, and new services, Michael was responsible for the launch of digital television in the nations.
As acting Director of Nations and Regions October-December 1999, he led the department through a high profile period, focused on devolution and the public debate over the Six O'clock News in Scotland and Wales.
As Secretary of the BBC between 1992 and 1996, Michael developed a new BBC accountability framework to facilitate the successful 1996 Charter renewal and worked closely with the Director General, the Chairman and with the then Department for National Heritage. He joined the BBC in 1983 as a trainee in Radio Sport, moving on to produce major documentary series for Radios 3 and 4, including The Jesuits and Last Colony in Africa.
He was a producer on the launch team for BBC One's On the Record in 1988. Two years later he joined Policy and Planning as Chief Assistant, supporting Patricia Hodgson and John Birt when Deputy Director General. Michael rejoined On the Record in 1991 as Deputy Editor during the Thatcher-Major transition before being appointed Secretary of the BBC.
Michael, 42, is married with three children.