“I concentrate on the things I know and care about. By doing that I come to problems with the ability to add experience and skills to the wealth I am giving as a philanthropist.”

“Most philanthropists are aiming for visible results, but not in the sense of ‘I paid for this building, there it is’ but what it actually achieves... Visible, tangible and hopefully numerous results.”

“The target I have at the moment is a very big one – to determine the causes of autism by 2012... It is reasonable and I would expect to achieve it... Once you have a mission it makes it much easier.”

“After 31 years in business, I look for business-like approaches; I look for management, strategic direction, efficiency, effectiveness. A charity, however worthy it is, that is just doing what it did last year is in some kind of stasis. It’s not something I would support. I support causes that are moving ahead, working in alliances. I look at diversity, in particular, how do women fit in, or people from different cultures.”

“I’m pretty idealistic. It seems to me that charities spending public money have to be as good as they possibly can be.”

“If women are caring, we are also careful. It is not true that women support women’s issues, some do some don’t. What does seem partly true is that men might move into the philanthropic world because they feel that it is what is expected of them, whereas women are perhaps more private about their giving.”

“I have given over £55 million now. But I have also given leadership to a sector, and I’ve given ideas and my energy and enthusiasm as much as my wealth.”

“Most giving is better done in partnership with an existing partner, but if like me you have a vision and a significant sum to put behind that vision, it’s very satisfactory (to set up your own foundation). It makes it easy to give in a tax-efficient and legalistic way.”

“The motivation came early for me because as a child I was helped by charities. It was almost a given that when I was established I’d give something back.”

“I have a wonderful life. I wake up every morning with things to look forward to, something to do that I’m good at. I get an enormous sense of fulfilment and that is simply from being able to give, and giving.”

“The more I give, the richer my life seems to become.”