Founder’s Day - The 2026 Sion College Lecture

Democracy: It's not a spectator sport

Speaker: Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston

Thursday 19th November

The Dutch Church, 7 Austin Friars, London EC2N 2HA

Evening Prayer at 5:30pm

Members may apply to bring a guest to this event

Gislea Stuart - Baroness Stuart of Edgbaston became the First Civil Service Commissioner in March 2022. She is the independent Civil Service Regulator, appointed by HM the King for a five-year term. She and her fellow Commissioners ensure that entry into the civil service is based on merit, following open and fair competition. They also advise on Business Appointment Rules for those leaving the civil service and are the final appeal body for complaints under the Civil Service Code.

Gisela was the Member of Parliament for Birmingham Edgbaston for 20 years. She served as a Health Minister in the first Blair administration as well as serving on the Defence, Foreign Affairs and  Intelligence and Security Committees. She was the chair of Vote Leave and joined the House of Lords as a non-affiliated Crossbencher in 2020.

Gisela will speak about the challenge faced by those who seek elected office. They have to strike a balance between being popular without being populist and she will reflect that voters have to take their share of responsibility for democracy to work.

Entry to the Dutch Church will be from 5:15pm, with Evening Prayer at 5:30pm. After this there will be a drinks reception downstairs, followed by the lecture in the Church at 6:30pm and a buffet dinner at 7:45pm. The evening will finish with departure by 9:30pm.

Fellows and members are invited to apply for places for guests (maximum one guest each). However, please note that guest applications can only be accepted if there is space after applications from fellows and members.

If you have not yet registered for online payment you will be asked to do this and your registration will need to be validated by the Administrator before you can use the facility. You will only need to register once, and for any applications for subsequent events you will need only to log in. Payment is taken by PayPal, but you do not need a PayPal account. 

Please note

• Successful applicants (Fellows/ Members) will be notified by Wednesday 4^th November, 2026
• Cancellations notified after Tuesday 10^th November, 2026 will not be refunded
• Applicants will be notified if they have been given a guest place by Wednesday 11^th November
• Attendees will be expected to honour any food choices submitted in advance
• It is Sion College policy that no events are recorded

Sion events are often over-subscribed and each place is generously subsidised. If you are offered a place but are unable to attend for any reason, please let the office know so that your place may be offered to another applicant. In the event of failure to attend without notice after being reserved a place, the Court will require a refund of the subsidy.  Application for a place at any Sion event constitutes acceptance of this proviso.

Event Details