What was your highlight of 2024?
As 2024 comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year filled with both professional milestones and personal celebrations. One of the standout moments of my career was being offered the role of CEO at Crown Commercial Service. This marked a significant opportunity step to drive value across the public sector. Leading an organisation with such dedicated and talented civil servants is a privilege and it is a role that I embrace with enthusiasm and commitment. On a personal note, 2024 was a year of celebration as I reached a milestone birthday. Surrounded by loved ones, I celebrated with the people who mean the most to me – something I cherish deeply.
What was the hardest part of being a leader in 2024?
One of the hardest parts of leadership is navigating through ambiguity and change and we’ve certainly experienced lots of change within government during 2024. Ensuring that people feel supported and reassured during uncertain times requires empathy, resilience and clear communication.
A personal challenge I often face as a leader is the desire to get everything right. However, I have learned to accept that I won’t always have all of the answers or make perfect decisions. Leadership is about learning, adapting and continuously striving to do better while remaining focused on supporting those you lead.
What are the main challenges facing your organisation in the coming year – and how are you planning to meet them?
Our collective challenges are rooted in the outcomes we aim to achieve: improving public services for citizens. The fiscal position of the UK is incredibly tight, and with the added pressure of managing public finances effectively, it is more important than ever to lead and work differently, ensuring we achieve more with less.
The vision for the civil service is clear – working collectively as one behind shared missions. Using a mixture of core skills, we can ensure successful delivery while staying true to the values that define the civil service. This collaborative approach will enable us to create outcomes that work across the entire public sector, driving impactful and sustainable change for the future.
What was the best Christmas present you’ve ever given or received? And the worst?
For me, the real joy of gift-giving comes from watching others open and receive presents. The excitement of keeping the surprise a secret until the big day is always a fun challenge! Some of the best presents to give and receive are concert tickets – there’s something special about the experiences and memories they create. Those memories are something I look back on with great fondness.
The worst present was when I asked for a surprise as I normally have a list and I changed and went for a surprise Christmas present which wasn't exactly the surprise I had wished for.