David Pollock (humanist)

David Pollock (born 3 February 1942) is a British Humanist, and former President of the European Humanist Federation (EHF).

Life and career

He became involved in 1961 with the humanist group at Oxford University, where he studied Classics. He later worked in management in the National Coal Board, before becoming Director of Action on Smoking and Health between 1991-1995, and then of the Continence Foundation, between 1996-2001. His research while at ASH led to his writing "Denial & Delay: The Political History of Smoking and Health, 1951-1964" (ASH, 1999 - ISBN 1 872428 44 4).

He was a trustee of the British Humanist Association (BHA) between 1965 and 1975, and again since 1997; Chair of the BHA in 1970-72; and Chair of its Parliamentary Working Group. He is also a director (since 1979) and has been Chair of the Rationalist Association, publisher of New Humanist magazine.

He was President of the European Humanist Federation between 2006 and 2012, where he campaigned for secularism, human rights and equality within European and international institutions. He now represents the International Humanist and Ethical Union at the Council of Europe. He received the Distinguished Service to Humanism Award from the International Humanist and Ethical Union in 2011.