With the end of 2017 fast approaching, we asked the UK's top civil servants to look back at the year, outline their goals for 2018 – and tell us what they cannot do Christmas without.
What are you most proud of achieving in 2017?
I am lucky enough to be leading an extraordinary department dealing with an extraordinary challenge. From a standing start in 2016, DExEU is now close to 600 strong, a talented and highly professional team. The volume and complexity of work transacted over the course of 2017 has been huge.
Working very closely with teams right the way across Whitehall, DExEU has led the work to deliver on ministers’ Brexit priorities, from the introduction of the Withdrawal Bill through to the detailed planning for all possible exit scenarios, the preparation and handling of negotiations in Brussels, and much more.
What was your most difficult decision in 2017?
It’s tough to isolate one particular decision in the complexity of issues we have faced, both on the policy front and in terms of managing the rapid growth of a new department at the centre of government. Quite a lot of difficult ones, needless to say, but we hope we get most of them right!
What are your department’s top priorities in the year ahead?
Next year will be interesting, no doubt. Our overall priorities will remain as this year – supporting ministers in achieving a smooth and successful exit from the EU. There will be many dimensions to our work, but basically we will see an intensification of much of what we have done this year.
There will be an increased focus on what our future partnership with the EU will be and how it will be negotiated. Through all of this, we will aim to maintain our close collaboration with other Whitehall departments, with the devolved administrations and with our many contacts in the business community and beyond. I doubt there will be a dull moment.
For you, no Christmas holiday is complete without…
A bit of rest – I suspect we’ll all need it.