Former Children's Commissioner for England.

Sir Al started his career in medicine in London then trained in paediatric endocrinology in University hospitals in Oxford and Switzerland.

He was Clinical and then University Lecturer in Paediatrics and Fellow of Green College in Oxford, James Spence Professor of Child Health and also Head of the School of Clinical Medical Sciences at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, and Nuffield Professor of Child Health and Board level Executive Director for Clinical R&D at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children and the Institute of Child Health in London

Sir Al has been involved in the political arena of Children’s Services since 2000. He was Chair of the first NHS Children’s Task Force , the first National Clinical Director for Children in government before becoming the first Children’s Commissioner for England in 2005, stepping down after his five years of tenure in 2010. He is now Professor Emeritus of Child Health, University College London, Honorary Fellow of UNICEF and Oriel College, Oxford, and Director, Aynsley-Green Consulting. He was knighted for his services to children and young people by HM the Queen in 2006.