Baroness (Sally) Morgan of Huyton has been Master of Fitzwilliam College since October 2019.

Sally grew up in Liverpool and was educated at Belvedere School for Girls and at Durham University, from where she graduated in 1980 with a BA in geography. After taking a Postgraduate Certificate in Education at King's College London in 1981, she worked as a secondary school teacher in London. She later received an MA in Education from the Institute of Education, London. 

In 1985, Sally left teaching and began working for the Labour Party under Leaders Neil Kinnock and John Smith, becoming Director of Campaigns and Elections in 1992. She moved to head Tony Blair’s political team when he became Leader and entered 10 Downing Street as Political Secretary in 1997. 

Sally was made a life peer in 2001 and served as Minister of State for Women and Equalities in the Cabinet Office where she advanced the government’s policy on Civil Partnerships and  developed legislation to permit all-women shortlists. She then re-joined 10 Downing Street as Director of Government and Political Relations.

Since leaving No 10 in 2005, Sally has served on House of Lords Select Committees and has held a range of leadership and director roles in the public, third and private sectors. She was a member of the board of the Olympic Delivery Authority from 2006-2012 which developed all the venues and sites for the 2012 London Games; and she is currently Chair of the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Hospitals.

Sally’s passion for education has been a constant throughout her working life, and she has always been heavily engaged in work to reduce educational disadvantage and increase social mobility. She is a former Chair of Ofsted and Vice-Chair at King’s College London. She has also been Chair, trustee or advisor to many educational charities, including ARK, Future Leaders, Ambition Institute, Frontline and the Educational Policy Institute.

Sally joined Fitzwilliam in October 2019 where she has worked with colleagues to enhance the College’s commitment to widening participation, both through a robust admissions process and by offering enhanced pastoral and academic support to Fitz students during their degrees.  

Sally is a member of the Cambridge University Council and Audit Committee and the Colleges Standing Committee.  She serves on the board of the Bennett Institute of Public Policy, the PTI (Professional Teaching Institute) and the advisory board of the Centre for Science and Policy. 

Sally is married to barrister John Lyons, and they have two sons.