Mr Devane is the Executive Director of the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations at Coventry University and Chair of Clore Social Leadership. He was formerly Chief Executive of the British Council, a £1.2b public body. He was a member of a Board of NHS England from 2012 -2015 and was also Chief Executive of the UK health charity, Macmillan Cancer Support. He was knighted for his services to cancer patients and was awarded the Freedom of the City of London.