Former Tory chief to head relationships think tank

Michael Trend, formerly MP for Windsor, has been appointed as Executive Director of the Cambridge-based policy think-tank Relationships Foundation, with effect from 1 September 2008.

The Relationships Foundation is a think-tank based on the belief that a good society is built on good relationships, from family and community to public service and business.  The Foundation works with a wide range of leaders in politics, public services, business, and academia to propose and analyse policy initiatives and to implement relational approaches to problem-solving.

“We are delighted with this appointment” commented Dr Michael Schluter, founder of the Relationships Foundation. “As an experienced manager and communicator, and with his detailed understanding of the political process, Michael is excellently qualified to lead the Relationships Foundation at a time of growing awareness that public policy impacts on every aspect of peoples well-being.”  Dr Schluter will move to a new role focusing on the Foundations growing international work.

Michael Trend is 56 and married with three children aged 14 to 20.  Following a degree in Modern History from Oxford University, he initially worked at the university settlement Toynbee Hall in the East End of London.  He went into journalism holding senior posts in the Times Literary Supplement, History Today, the Parliamentary House magazine and the Spectator.  He then became the Chief Leader Writer of the Daily Telegraph.  In 1992 Michael was elected as Member of Parliament for Windsor and Maidenhead and, following a boundary change, from 1997 until the 2005 general election he was MP for Windsor.  During his time in Parliament, Michael served as Deputy Chairman and Director General (Chief Executive) of the Conservative Party and subsequently as Chairman of the Conservative Party International Office.  He has a strong interest in foreign affairs and human rights and was Vice-Chairman of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, advising Governments and political parties throughout the world.  In recent years, he has continued to undertake freelance work to provide training and support for democratic institutions in the former Soviet Union and Africa.

Michael is an enthusiastic amateur musician and is the author of a book about English composers.  For some years he was the organist of his local church.