Simon Ward is Chief Operating Officer of the British Fashion Council. Formerly Head Boy of Portsmouth Grammar School and a Graduate of Goldsmiths College, London, he started out in the menswear department of Selfridges before joining the British Clothing Industry Association in 1981 working on industrial relations and corporatewear. In 1986 he moved to the newly created British Fashion Council, with particular responsibility for the London Fashion Week catwalk shows including show scheduling. Simon was part of the team that created the British Fashion Awards in 1989 and set up the BFC Colleges Council in 1990 to develop an interface between colleges and the industry. He oversaw the establishment and development of the BFC’s New Generation and Fashion Forward sponsorship schemes, establishing the BFC’s Business Support programme and developing the first British menswear showcase for designers, London Collections: Men. Today, he is responsible for the day to day management and finances of the BFC including support from governmental agencies. Simon is a director of the Fashion Arts Foundation which establishes links between fashion designers and other creative industries, is a Trustee of the BFC Education Foundation, awarding fashion degree scholarships, and is currently overseeing the development of the BFC’s Education Pillar, which will help those aspiring to enter the world of fashion to find their way. In 2013, Simon published his first book, Riding the Tide, which explores, through 15 Psalms, how faith works out practically in the workplace. Married with two adult children, Simon’s interests include music, film, cycling and gardening.