By Civil Service World

02 Jan 2020

Senior figures from across government reflect on their highlights and challenges of 2019, look ahead to the next 12 months and share their favourite festive memories


John Manzoni on a year of 'maintaining normal service at a time of extraordinary political complexity'

Scottish government chief Leslie Evans on climate change and un-cancelling Christmas

Welsh government perm sec Dame Shan Morgan on adapting to the 'new normal'

NICS head David Sterling on driving diversity and another year without ministers

BEIS perm sec Alex Chisholm on the net-zero challenge, thinking long term and the first job he ever lost

Louise Smyth on changing how people see the Companies House Register and being 'adaptable, bold and curious'

Gerri Clement & Kate Lalor on the social mobility network's momentum and turning insights into action

Defra chief Tamara Finkelstein on pink brocade, rainbow lanyards and a year of green action

Ofqual chief Sally Collier on delivering new qualifications and unexpected sprouts

HMRC chief exec Jim Harra on transforming tax, reforming behaviour and sabotaging Santa

‘2020 is a year of global opportunities’ – chief medical officer Chris Whitty looks ahead

Helen Stephenson on competitive baking and making the Charity Commission a more effective regulator

NS&I chief exec Ian Ackerley on inspiring a stronger savings culture and ERNIE's quantum leap

Ofsted chief inspector Amanda Spielman reflects on introducing a new inspection framework in 2019

Infrastructure and Projects Authority chief Nick Smallwood on learning lessons, the 'Three Ps', and net-zero challenges

Government finance function head Mike Driver on getting the basics right and telling stories with data

Jonathan Jones reflects on an 'extraordinary year for legal and constitutional happenings'

Gareth Rhys Williams on 'an exciting year for the commercial function', and the Yellowhammer response

GIAA chief Elizabeth Honer reflects on 'encouraging' year for leadership and values

Bernadette Kelly on wellbeing, DfT at 100 and making major projects go to plan

Sue Reeves and Darren Cryer, co and vice chairs of The Civil Service Disability Network, on staying relevant, accessibility and leaving grades at the door

Kate Hughes on the creation of a 'more resilient team' in the LGBT+ Network

Sir Stephen Lovegrove on the MoD's year of empowerment and dealing with 'constant contest'

FCO chief Sir Simon McDonald on making a success of Brexit and the joke that's stuck with him since childhood

PHE chief Duncan Selbie on new regional directors and the link between health and wealth

Jaimie Newman & Julia Vanoli on a 'year of challenges and new beginnings' for the government women's network

Gareth Davies on his first year leading the NAO and balancing responsive work and longer-term priorities

Alex Aiken reflects on the Government Communication Service’s cross-government milestones

DExEU perm sec Clare Moriarty on taking time to recharge, reset, reflect

Met Office chief executive Penelope Endersby on international collaboration, climate research and carols

Prof Sir Ian Diamond on becoming national statistician and driving data across government

Antonia Romeo on competing in global trade and board games

Charles Roxburgh on scaling up for Brexit, refreshing the Treasury's values, and the Apollo 8 launch

Emma Howard Boyd on the Environment Agency's response to flooding, and net-zero targets

Max Hill QC on the year in CPS, their new chief executive and the evolving nature of crime

Emma Howard Boyd on the Environment Agency's response to flooding, and net-zero targets

DVLA chief Julie Lennard on the department's 50th birthday, and the future of transport technology

Peter Lawrence of the Civil Service Commission on government's drive to become 'the nation's most inclusive employer'

Sir Philip Rutnam on resilience and wellbeing, listening to people and a delivery gone wrong

Government's chief people officer Rupert McNeil reflects on 'an important year for the people agenda'

Emily Miles on building upon the Food Standards Agency's legacy of science, evidence and data

Peter Schofield on empathy, good judgement and overhauling how DWP teams work together

DfID perm sec Matthew Rycroft on preparing for a decade of delivery and hunting for treasure

Alison Pritchard on GDS's 'wild' year and hiring 'The Big G'

Jonathan Slater on how DfE is living the values it promotes for others

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