Jan Younghusband, our new chair

It’s a big day at BYO HQ as we announce that Jan Younghusband will be taking over as chair of our board of trustees.

23 July 2025

Jan brings a huge amount of experience with her – she was head of music and events television at the BBC for 14 years and head of arts at Channel 4 for a decade before that. She’s also no stranger to opera, having started her career at Glyndebourne and later worked with Sir Peter Hall at Bayreuth. Jan left the BBC in 2021 and is now a freelance producer creating films for cinema, streamers and TV. Her film Andrea Bocelli: Because I Believe is in cinemas from 21 September 2025.

‘Jan’s appointment marks BYO’s move into new territory’ says our chief executive, Anna Patalong, ’her dedication to sharing cultural stories in relevant ways makes her the perfect individual to lead our board of trustees as an accessible, youth-driven training organisation.’

Jan adds, ‘I have had the great joy and honour to work in opera all my career on stage and screen. I have always been a passionate supporter of our arts sector and I am delighted to be able to support this brilliant organisation which trains and supports the next generation across our industry both in the UK and internationally. The kinds of opportunities that gave me my start in the arts – and specifically in opera – just don’t exist any more, which makes BYO’s mission to widen access to those careers so crucial.’

Jan will formally take over from BYO’s chair of more than a decade, Sir Richard Greenhalgh, on 28 July.