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Ofcom appoints Alison Marsden as director of content standards
MUMBAI: Ofcom has appointed Alison Marsden as director of content standards, licensing and enforcement.
Alison will be leading the team with responsibility for setting and enforcing content standards for television, radio and on-demand services and Ofcom’s broadcast licensing programme.
She will also sit on Ofcom’s content board, a committee of the main Ofcom board, which has advisory responsibility for a wide range of content issues.
Alison joined Ofcom in 2007 as a broadcasting standards specialist. Since 2016 she has worked as director of the standards and audience protection team, responsible for setting and enforcing Ofcom’s broadcasting code.
Before joining Ofcom, Alison worked in television production, firstly at the BBC producing and directing specialist factual and factual programmes, and later for various independent production companies.
Alison Marsden said: “I’m thrilled to be taking on this role. I look forward to helping Ofcom maintain high levels of protection for broadcast and on-demand audiences, and ensuring that we license broadcasters in a way that’s effective but also reflects the challenges the industry faces.”
Ofcom’s content group director Kevin Bakhurst said: “I am delighted that Alison Marsden will be taking on this critical position for Ofcom. Ali brings a wealth of editorial experience and judgement to the role, along with a strong commitment to the protection of audiences and to the broadcasting and on-demand sector.”
Tim Suter, chair of Ofcom’s content board, said: “Alison will do an excellent job as our new director of content standards, licensing and enforcement. I’m also delighted the Ofcom Board accepted my recommendation that she be appointed as a member of the content board. I have the highest regard for her judgment and editorially sure-footed approach, and she will bring wisdom and weight to the board’s work in this area.”
Alison takes up her new roles with immediate effect.
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NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
