Arts for the 21st Century

Alan Smith

Alan Smith

Alan Smith has been First Church Estates Commissioner of the Church Commissioners for England since October 1, 2021. Prior to that, he had a 27-year career in international banking. Born in the Bahamas, Alan grew up in Barbados, attended Harrison College, the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, and represented Barbados at the Under-19 Level in Cricket. In 2015 Alan co-authored the book Dreaming a Nation, which was shortlisted for the Frank Collymore Literary Award. The book charted the story of Barbados’s journey to Independence.

Accounting for Our Past—How a Responsible Investor Interrogated Its Historic Links with Transatlantic Chattel Enslavement

Many shook their heads in disbelief when the Church Commissioners’ investigation into its (the Church of England’s) involvement in transatlantic chattel enslavement made headlines in January 2023. And many were downright livid when they learned that, in response, the Church Commissioners’ board approved a £100 million seed investment in a new fund dedicated to fostering a “better, fairer future”. It also committed to using its influence to encourage others to co-invest to raise at least £1 billion.
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