Clare to Share

In this episode, I speak to Charlotte Bond, who is Communications Officer at the Centre for Local Economies, an independent think tank that focusses on building fairer and stronger local economies through research, advocacy, and community wealth building. Charlotte matriculated at Clare in 2020 and completed a degree in Human, Social, and Political Sciences, during which she also undertook internships at the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and developed her skills in research and data analysis. Since graduating, Charlotte has continued to combine her interests in policy, communications, and public service. In May 2025, she was elected as Councillor for Great Sankey North and Whittle Hall Ward in Warrington. A commitment to advocacy and accessibility has underpinned her work, beginning during her time at Clare, where she served as Access and Outreach Officer for the Union of Clare Students and supported prospective students from disadvantaged backgrounds who were applying to study at Cambridge.

This episode’s guest is Loretta Minghella OBE, who matriculated in 1981 and studied English and Law. She began her career in legal services before going on to work in the fields of public service, financial regulation, international development, charity asset management, and higher education. Loretta was Chief Executive of Christian Aid and later First Church Estates Commissioner, where she oversaw the Church of England’s investment portfolio, having served in the Church’s Ethical Investment Advisory Group. Earlier in her career, she held senior positions at the Financial Services Authority and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Her work has included managing issues ranging from poverty and international development to ethical investment and responsible governance. In 2021, Loretta was elected to her current role as Master of Clare College. The early years of her leadership saw the rebuilding of college life after the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening of the college community, and the major restoration of Clare’s historic Old Court. More recently, Loretta oversaw the planning of the college’s 700th anniversary celebrated this year and the upcoming 700th anniversary campaign.