Sir Ciarán Devane

Ciarán Devane is not your typical biochemical engineer. After a succession of brilliant engineering and managerial positions across the business world in the 1980s and 90s, he gained major recognition in his work as chief executive of Macmillan Cancer Support. Transforming the charity, he widened its role and ability from a clinical care provider to a force for whole-person support, as well as making Macmillan one of the leading voices in the research on and treatment of cancer. Educated in Dublin, in his native Ireland, and the USA, he became chief executive of the British Council in 2015, with the same eye for growth, achievement and social concern that characterised his leadership of Macmillan.

1. What was your biggest career break?

Choosing my parents well! Because of them it never occurred to me that I was not going to study at university, get an interesting job and try my best at whatever I ended up doing. More importantly it was the perspective that you had a duty to take the opportunities life offered, because others are not so lucky. In other words, getting a break helps, but being prepared to make opportunistic choices without knowing where it will take you leads you to places beyond anything you could imagine.

2. Have you had a notable mentor – and if so what was it about them that was so inspiring?

Tina Elder, my boss for only a few months in the late '90s. I was heading a short analytical project for what was then Gemini Consulting.

She did several things for me; she showed me that if someone believes in you, you will achieve more than you imagined possible, she spent time showing me small tricks she had, which helped communicate complex things simply, and which could turn something good into something great. And she showed me that being impactful was not (only) about being right, but how you dealt with people and built their needs into your work made all the difference.

Ultimately she was the first person who helped me understand I could do good things by just being the person I was.

3. What one piece of advice would you give to the 20-year-old you?

Think for yourself. It took me another ten years to realise there was no right career plan, no intrinsic value to that particular promotion or getting that particular job. Better to have fun, learn on the way and be open to those random opportunities. It is continuing to learn which will help your career grow, not specific events or who you are when you're 20 years old.

4. What qualities to do you look for in new recruits?

Values first, potential second, experience third. Very much in that order. Ultimately, experience can be gained, and having unusual experience adds to the organisation. By contrast, disruptive values (or lack of) is damaging and not fun to work with.

5. Who do you admire and why?

Anyone who gave of themselves for a just cause and for others. Martin Luther King jr, Mandela, John Hume in Northern Ireland.

And, to be honest, politicians. Up close, you see them working hard, caring hugely, and taking the decisions which we as individuals don't want to take.

6. What does the future of your industry look like?

The British Council is in the business of building knowledge and understanding between the UK and the well over a hundred countries where we work. By making a positive contribution - the right contribution - to those countries, we also improve the security, prosperity and influence of the UK. In the world we live in at the moment, the interchange of ideas, values and opportunities between countries is needed more than ever. Hard power can suppress violence, but it is diplomatic excellence, soft power and what the British Council calls cultural relations, which foster understanding and, ultimately, peace.

7. If you weren't in the role you are in today, what would you have been?

Who knows! I knew it was time to move on from my previous job as chief exec of Macmillan Cancer Support. I had done what I could there so it was time to give space to the organisation to find the right person to take it to the next level. So if the British Council had not come up, I was going to move on.

Being me it would have been something new, outside the charity sector and probably outside health. I am intrigued by using data well, so some job making use of Big Data to drive insight or policy would be fun. Next time perhaps.

8. What is your biggest extravagance?

Books. I can never resist buying one recommended from a friend, a well-reviewed book in a paper, an interesting one in a book shop. Sadly, I buy faster than I read so finding space is now becoming a issue and another bookshelf has to be squeezed in.

9. Who would you invite to your dream dinner party and why?

It would have to be all about the conversation - Jon Snow, the passionate and thoughtful Channel 4 journalist; Angela Merkel, I like the clarity of her leadership style; and I would not be true to myself if I did not say Kylie! I like the way she reinvented herself and, with my 'cancer hat' on, how she handled herself with grace.

10. What do you do to relax away from work?

You will have guessed books play a part. Sitting reading with a glass of Puligny-Montrachet would do nicely. So would going away for a week's hiking. Last year I had a week in Iceland which was heaven. It clears the head beautifully.

11. If you could change one thing about Britain today, what would it be?

Traditionally Britain has been an outward-looking nation trading goods and trading ideas. I would never like us to lose that. So I would want us to do more about building the range of languages we learn as a nation, do more to have people from across the world experience Britain and more people from Britain experience the world. And I would do more to have as many of us as possible participate in the conversations which are happening now which will shape the world for the next generation.

12. What would your last meal be?

Swordfish carpaccio to start. Monkfish steamed in lemon as a main but must be line-caught. Rhubarb tart for dessert - with custard, not cream! All with Puligny-Montrachet of course.