Latest civil service & public affairs moves – December 23

Appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs in the last week, via Dods People

UK government

  • Prime Minister's Office – Lord Evans of Weardale appointed as chairman of the Crown Nominations Commission for Canterbury
  • Department for Business and Trade: DBT Board – Paul Drechsler appointed as lead non-executive director; Professor John Latham appointed as chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee and non-executive director; Iain Anderson, Katharine Braddick, Mike Clancy, Nita Clarke, Dr Roni Savage and David Sayer appointed as non-executive directors. See CSW story here 
  • Cabinet Office – Andrew Hamilton re-appointed as expert adviser on the Restoration and Renewal of Parliament Programme until June 2026
  • Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Gambling Commission – Charles Counsell appointed as interim chair for nine months from 1 February 2025
  • Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Joint Nature Conservation Committee – Tom Meagher appointed as interim chair from 1 January 2025 until 30 June 2025
  • Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Peter Mandelson appointed as His Majesty's ambassador to United States of America. Angus McKee appointed as His Majesty’s ambassador to the Republic of Mali from January 2025, succeeding Katharine Ransome. Rebecca Terzeon appointed as British high commissioner to the Republic of Zambia from January 2025, succeeding Nicholas Woolley. Independent Commission for Aid Impact – Jillian Popkins appointed as chief commissioner. 
  • Home Office: Migration Advisory Committee – Professor Brian Bell appointed as chair on a full-time basis; Dr Madeleine Sumption appointed as deputy chair
  • Ministry of Justice: Independent Monitoring Authority – Nicole Lappin appointed as chair for four years from 1 January 2025 until 31 December 2028
  • Law Officers – Anthony Rogers announced as the government’s preferred candidate for the role of His Majesty’s chief inspector, subject to a pre-appointment hearing by the Justice Select Committee on 28 January 2025
  • Northern Ireland Office – David Johnstone appointed as Northern Ireland veterans commissioner from 1 January 2025 until 31 August 2026
  • Department for Transport: HS2 Ltd – Sir Jon Thompson to stand down in spring 2025
  • HM Treasury – Geoffrey Spence appointed as independent adviser to the Treasury on project finance for one year from January 2025
  • Department for Work and Pensions – Baroness Sherlock promoted to minister of state; previously she was parliamentary under-secretary of state
  • UK Export Finance – Edward Prince appointed as director of large corporates and international.

Non-ministerial Departments

  • Government Actuary’s Department – Liz Thornhill appointed as non-executive director
  • HM Revenue and Customs – John-Paul (JP) Marks appointed as permanent secretary and chief executive from April 2025.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

  • Foreign Affairs Committee – Alex Ballinger and Phil Brickell added; Claire Hazelgrove and Matthew Patrick discharged
  • International Development Committee – James Naish added; Gordon McKee discharged
  • Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy – Matt Western appointed as chair
  • Northern Ireland Affairs Committee – Simon Hoare added; Jerome Mayhew discharged
  • Public Accounts Commission – Phil Brickell, John Glen, Tom Hayes, Sarah Olney, Chris Vince and Michelle Welsh added; Sharon Hodgson discharged
  • Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee – John Lamont added
  • Speaker's Conference – Lee Anderson, Clive Betts, Kirsty Blackman, Samantha Dixon, Zöe Franklin, Rupa Huq, Leigh Ingham, Jessica Morden, Ben Obese-Jecty, Rebecca Paul, John Slinger, Mark Tami, Sammy Wilson and Jeremy Wright added
  • Welsh Affairs Committee – Aphra Brandreth added
  • Work and Pensions Committee – Frank McNally added; Neil Coyle discharged.

House of Lords

  • Baroness Quin (Labour) retired from the House on 19 December
  • Baroness Cohen of Pimlico (Labour) retired from the House on 19 December
  • Baroness Cumberlege (Conservative) retired from the House on 20 December
  • Lord Haselhurst (Conservative) retired from the House on 20 December
  • Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament – Lord Beamish appointed as chair; Baroness Brown of Cambridge and Lord West of Spithead appointed as members
  • Lord Speaker's Advisory Panel on Works of Art – Baroness Pitkeathley and Lord True added.
  • Sue Gray and others to be given life peerage

Devolved Administrations

Northern Ireland Executive

  • Council for Catholic Maintained Schools – Nuala Toman re-appointed as member
  • Derry Diocesan Education Committee – Sean Mullan, John Paul O’Doherty and Briege O Neill re-appointed as members
  • Ulster Supported Employment Ltd – Ellen Finlay appointed as Board member until 30 November 2028; Damian Duffy and Sarah Wakfer re-appointed as Board members until 30 November 2028.

Local Authorities

  • Lambeth Council – Ian Davis be appointed as chief executive, subject to the approval of Full Council in January 2025
  • Mansfield District Council – James Biddlestone appointed as chief executive from 3 February 2025
  • Salford City Council – Melissa Caslake appointed as interim chief executive.

Moves will be on pause over the Christmas recess and will return on 17 January 2025

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