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Lord Chris Smith announced as Patron of leading HIV rights charity
- National AIDS Trust, the UK’s HIV rights charity, today announces the appointment of Lord Chris Smith of Finsbury as its Patron.
- The late Diana, Princess of Wales, remains National AIDS Trust’s Founding Patron.
Lord Chris Smith made history as the first MP in the UK to voluntarily come out as gay, and in 2005 became the first MP openly to declare his HIV‑positive status. He has remained a prominent and vocal advocate for HIV rights and for tackling stigma and discrimination.
Lord Smith was elected Chancellor of the University of Cambridge in July 2025, having previously served as Master of Pembroke College, Cambridge. A former MP and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, he led major cultural reforms including the restoration of free entry to national museums. Since leaving the House of Commons, he has held a wide range of senior leadership roles across the cultural, environmental and regulatory sectors, including Chair of the Environment Agency and Chair of the Art Fund.
Commenting on the appointment, Lord Chris Smith said:
“I’m honoured to have been invited to become Patron of National AIDS Trust. The advocacy and policy work the charity does in helping to shape the UK’s response to HIV is exceptionally important, and I look forward to working with the Trust to make further progress.”
Robbie Currie, Chief Executive, National AIDS Trust, said:
“We are delighted that Lord Chris Smith will become National AIDS Trust’s Patron. His longstanding commitment and advocacy to challenging HIV-related stigma, strongly align with our mission to ensure everyone affected by HIV lives with dignity, respect and free of stigma.
Our Board and all the staff at National AIDS Trust look forward to working with him, as the charity prepares to deliver its new five‑year plan.”
Matthew Weait, Chair of the Board, National AIDS Trust, said:
“Since joining National AIDS Trust last year I have been continually impressed with the drive and passion displayed in the charity. I first met Chris forty years ago and his longstanding advocacy will be an enormous support as National AIDS Trust continues its fight to challenge and eliminate all forms of stigma and discrimination.
Together with the Trustees, I look forward to working with Chris in championing the rights of everyone living with and affected by HIV.”
The late Diana, Princess of Wales, remains National AIDS Trust’s Founding Patron. Diana made a significant contribution to National AIDS Trust in her role as patron of the charity from 1991 to 1997. It is one of only six charities she formally supported at the time of her death.
Diana’s patronage showed an ongoing commitment to understanding HIV. Her compassion and courage, including in opening the UK’s first dedicated HIV/AIDS ward at London’s Middlesex Hospital, helped transform public perception of HIV.