Permanent secretary, Department for International Development
In a year of political and economic change, what was your highlight of 2010?
Without doubt, it was the commitment to increase the amount the government spends on aid, which was made during the spending review. That the UK is sticking to its promises to the world’s poorest people in the current financial climate is something which makes me feel immensely proud. When Bill and Melinda Gates visited this year, they called it a “noble” promise. As our secretary of state has made clear, aid is not just morally right, but is also in our national interest.
We will be able to do much more: save more lives, educate more children, create more jobs, and provide health care to more people in the poorest countries.
What is the biggest opportunity that coalition policies have created for the civil service?
The increasing aid budget is not just a promise of more money; it is also a greater commitment to deliver value for money.
We are reviewing all of DfID’s bilateral and multilateral spend, to ensure we are spending our money in the most effective ways – in the places where it has the most impact – in order to deliver the maximum results for the world’s poorest.
What is the most challenging management task facing the civil service now?
Ensuring we are an organisation that can deliver more and better aid alongside a 30 per cent cut to our administration budget.
We are making many of the same economies as other departments: finding efficiencies in our corporate work; reducing space, travel and consultancy costs; and automating services where we can. This isn’t simply about ensuring efficiency at a time of austerity. At DfID, we feel we have a double duty to make these efficiencies.
And what’s the key to succeeding in that task?
Our biggest asset is the dedication, professionalism and creativity of our staff. They are widely respected and admired across the world – and for good reason:their skills will ensure that DfID will rise to this challenge. They will come up with great new ideas to get more children to complete school, or new financial instruments to help small businesses. They will also be the ones to find creative ways to save money. I look forward to being impressed.
What was the best Christmas present that you’ve ever given or received? And the worst?
My favourites are always framed photos of my kids; my husband makes them for me every year.
The worst was a very badly-stuffed fox given to me by a group of students I once taught. Never a fan of taxidermy, I seem to have lost it…