Charles Ashburner FFI

I've been interested in flags and immersed in vexillology (the study of flags) since childhood. A commercial flagmaker since 1989 and member of the UK's national flag charity since 1992, I've been engaged with the Flag Institute at an operational level since 2007 and have led the organisation since 2010, overseeing its transition to charitable status between 2012 and 2013.

In 2011 I wrote the draft of what in 2012 became England's current flag planning regulations (The Town and Country Planning (Control of Advertisements) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2012). In 2013 I was recognised as a Fellow of the Flag Institute and was elected unanimously to serve as CEO until 2016.

I am a vexillographer (using Adobe Illustrator), a vexillologist (with a particular interest in modern, regional, and political flags), a flag consultant (specialising in predicting public reaction to flags and flag-use) and a campaigner for the democratisation and liberalisation of flag use in the UK.

I am advisor to the APPG Flags and Heraldry Committee, and Co Presiding Officer of the international Joint Commission on Vexillography. I own the ubiquitous retail flag brand MrFlag (and all associated trademarks).

I provide flag-related content to a range of media outlets, and am a regular contributor on radio (both live and recorded) and in print. Expert witness on cases related to flags.