Alexander Slade

Benjamin Rory Slade, born in 1976, began his career in broadcasting as a presenter on the BBC children's program "Why Don't You?" during the late 1980s and early 1990s. He became the longest-serving presenter on the show, working with writer Russell T. Davies, and appeared in various regional teams. His early television work is noted as Davies' first foray into television drama writing.

Following his broadcasting career, Slade pursued a path in education. He earned a first-class honours degree from Cardiff Metropolitan University and went on to become the youngest state secondary school Headteacher in the UK in 2007. He later held executive headteacher roles with the independent school group Cognita. Slade has also contributed to media discussions on education and appeared in television and radio productions. He served as chief executive of the military ethos education charity SkillForce, which aimed to inspire young people through mentors, many of whom were military veterans. The charity faced funding challenges and closed in 2019. Slade was also instrumental in developing The Prince William Award, a character and resilience program for younger children.

Benjamin Rory Slade began his public career as a presenter on the BBC children's television program "Why Don't You?" starting in 1988. He was a member of the Cardiff presenting team and became the show's longest-serving presenter. During this period, the program's audience significantly increased, surpassing rival shows. His involvement with the series coincided with writer Russell T. Davies' early career, with Davies incorporating dramatic storylines into the show. Slade later joined other regional "gangs" on the show, including a stint with Ant McPartlin and Alexandra Fletcher. These early writing efforts by Davies, featuring Slade as a young inventor, are considered his initial steps into television drama and contributed to his subsequent successful writing career. Slade concluded his time on the show before transitioning to arts education.

After graduating with a first-class honours degree from Cardiff Metropolitan University, Slade embarked on a career in education. He achieved the distinction of becoming the United Kingdom's youngest state secondary school Headteacher in 2007, at the age of 30, after only eight years in teaching. He later took on executive headteacher responsibilities with Cognita, a large independent school group, overseeing multiple schools and contributing to improvements in academic results and student enrollment. Slade has been a public voice on educational matters, participating in print and broadcast media. He was involved in educational television pilots and contributed to documentaries, including a BBC Radio Wales program with Russell T. Davies and Tim Vincent.

In 2015, Slade was appointed chief executive of SkillForce, a charity focused on education with a military ethos. The organization aimed to recruit military veterans to mentor students, particularly those facing challenges, to foster confidence and life skills. The charity had notable patrons, including The Duke of Cambridge, and ambassadors such as Bella Ramsey. SkillForce experienced a significant decline in corporate funding, partly attributed to the impact of Brexit, leading to its closure in 2019. Slade was also the originator of The Prince William Award, a character and resilience education program for children aged 6 to 14, which was developed in partnership with educational professionals and launched in 2017.