Pia Sinha, Director Prison Reform Trust

Pia Sinha is the Director of the Prison Reform Trust and a former prison governor. She was awarded the St Martin’s Award for Prison Governance for her role in turning around HMP Liverpool, which was widely described as Britain’s worst jail in 2018, following a highly critical report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons.

Pia was born in north India and she and her family came to the UK when she was 14. After studying economics and psychology at university, she pursued a career as a psychologist, and her work took into prisons. Whilst she was training, she also ran a London pub with her first husband.

After many years working as a psychologist in male and female prisons she was encouraged to apply for the Senior Prison Manager Programme aimed at training governors of the future. In 2013 she became the governor of HMP Thorn Cross, and was the first Asian woman to a run a prison in England and Wales.

Earlier this year she joined the Prison Reform Trust as its Director.

DISC ONE: Kathy’s Song - Simon & Garfunkel

DISC TWO: Ek Ladki Ko Dekha - Kumar Sanu

DISC THREE: Back to Life - Soul II Soul

DISC FOUR: Melt - Leftfield

DISC FIVE: Andmoreagain - Love

DISC SIX: Black (featuring Norah Jones) - Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi

DISC SEVEN: The Power of Love - Frankie Goes to Hollywood

DISC EIGHT: Hometown Glory - Adele

BOOK CHOICE: A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry

LUXURY ITEM: Chilli sauce

CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Kathy’s Song - Simon & Garfunkel

Presenter Lauren Laverne

Producer Sarah Taylor