After Dinner Speakers: Kate Barker, Robert Ballard, Roy Walker

Kate Barker was appointed as an external member of the Monetary Policy Committee with effect from 1 June 2001. The MPC is responsible for setting interest rates to meet the Government's inflation target of 2.5 percent. From 1994-2001 Ms Barker was Chief Economic Adviser at the CBI. She was previously Chief European Economist at the Ford Motor Company (1985-1994), and before that a Research Officer at the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (1981-1985). Other previous appointments include membership of Chancellor Clarke's Panel of Independent Economic Advisers 1996-97; and she was a non-executive Director of the Yorkshire Building Society (1999-April 2001). Kate Barker took a BA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at St Hilda's College, Oxford in 1979. An articulate and interesting business personality.