Lord David Puttnam of Queensgate was installed in 2007 as the Chancellor of The Open University. Although perhaps best known as a film director, he has also had four other careers: in publishing, advertising, the charitable sector and government. But his success was not built on early academic achievements and he therefore strongly identifies with the sometimes lonely, difficult and brave decisions that OU students make in choosing to study and improve their chances in life. In an impassioned speech he stresses that education, which leads to knowledge and understanding, is ultimately the only key to a sustainable future for the planet and mankind.