Tim Hames is Head of Communications and Public Affairs for the British Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (BVCA). Before joining BVCA, he was a columnist and Chief Leader Writer at The Times. He occasionally writes travel pieces. He also wrote for The Tablet and the Charleston Mercury. Before joining the Times in 1999, he was a lecturer in politics at Oxford University. He attended Oriel College, Oxford. He has a doctorate in philosophy (DPhil) from the University of Oxford.