Latest civil service & public affairs moves – January 27

UK government

• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: Victoria and Albert Museum – Baroness Shafik appointed as chair until 31 December 2028. Visitor Economy Advisory Council – Chris Bryant MP and Karin Sheppard appointed as co-chairs; Joss Croft, Sean Doyle, Fiona Eastwood, Paul Flaum, Jody Ford, Dr Sarah Green, Sir Loyd Grossman, Andy Harmer, Dame Irene Hays, Andrew Leveson, Fiona MacConnacher, Kate Nicholls, Ken O’Toole, Richard Parker, Neil Rami, Jeremy Rees, Kate Shane, Karin Sheppard, Julia Simpson, Shaon Talukder and Patricia Yates appointed as members.
• Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Great British Energy – Kate Gilmartin, Frank Mitchell, Frances O’Grady, Dr Nina Skorupska and Valerie Todd appointed as non-executive directors to the board.
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Joint Nature Conservation Committee – Daniel Ebanks, Rachael Garrett and Marsha Ramroop appointed as board members for three years from 1 February until 31 January 2028.
• Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Daniel Shepherd appointed as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea from April, succeeding John Marshall who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. FCDO and Department for Culture, Media and Sport
• Soft Power Council – David Lammy MP and Lisa Nandy appointed as co-chairs; Sir Peter Bazalgette, Gen Sir Nick Carter, Richard Deverell, Dame Linda Dobbs, Dame Katherine Grainger, Baroness Grey-Thompson, Dr Comfort Ero, Tom Fussell, Peter Gowers, Francesca Hegyi, Debbie Hewitt, Dr Tristram Hunt, Dr Parag Khanna, Tom Kiehl, Mark Leonard, Prof Helen McCarthy, Scott McDonald, Lord Mendoza, Dr Sara Pantuliano, Vivienne Stern, Anthony Smith, Patrick Stevens, Dr Vijaya Ramachandran, Roland Rudd, Ewan Venters, Dr Linda Yueh appointed as members.
• Department of Health and Social Care: NHS Resolution – Sally Cheshire re-appointed as chair for three years from 18 September. Tom Spender appointed as non-executive director for three years from 17 January.
• Home Office – John Tuckett announced as the government's preferred candidate for Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, subject to pre-appointment scrutiny by the Home Affairs Select Committee. Disclosure and Barring Service – Mick Creedon appointed as independent monitor, succeeding Julia Wortley. Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority – Suzanne McCarthy re-appointed as board member for two years.
• Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: London Borough of Tower Hamlets – Kim Bromley-Derry CBE appointed as ministerial envoy; Shokat Lal and Pam Parkes appointed as assistant envoys.
• Ministry of Justice: Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board – Deborah Taylor’s term as chair extended by 12 months.

Houses of Parliament

House of Commons

• Finance Committee – Luke Akehurst added; Phil Brickell discharged.
• Committee of Selection – Charlie Maynard added; Tom Morrison discharged.
• House of Commons Members’ Fund – Sharon Hodgson and Mike Wood appointed as trustees; Sir Marcus Jones and Craig Whittaker discharged.

House of Lords

• Therese Coffey (Con) raised to the peerage as Baroness Coffey and David Evans (Lab) raised to the peerage as Lord Evans of Sealand on 17 January and introduced in the Lords on 21 January.
• Brendan Barber (Lab) raised to the peerage as Lord Barber of Ainsdale and Rev Russell Rook (Lab) raised to the peerage as Lord Rook on 20 January and introduced in the Lords on 23 January.
• Toby Young (Con) raised to the peerage as Lord Young of Acton and Nigel Biggar (Con) raised to the peerage as Lord Biggar on 21 January. They will be introduced in the Lords on 28 January.
• Alison Levitt (Lab) raised to the peerage as Baroness Levitt on 22 January and due to be introduced in the Lords on 30 January.
• Gerard Lemos (Lab) raised to the peerage as Lord Lemos on 22 January and due to be introduced in the Lords on 3 February.
• Lyn Brown (Lab) raised to the peerage as Baroness Brown of Silvertown and Carwyn Jones raised to the peerage as Lord Jones of Penybont on 23 January. They will be introduced in the Lords on 27 January.
• Restoration and Renewal Programme Board – Lord Mackinlay of Richborough added; Lord Greenhalgh discharged.

Devolved administrations

Scottish Parliament

• Education, Children and Young People Committee – Keith Brown added.
• Rural Affairs and Islands Committee – Colin Beattie added; Evelyn Tweed discharged.

Scottish Government

• Laura Paton appointed as police investigations and review commissioner for five years from 1 April.

Welsh Government

• Prof Isabel Oliver appointed as chief medical officer for Wales.

Northern Ireland Executive

• Northern Ireland Housing Executive – Aoife Finnegan, Stephen McIlveen and Deirdre Varsani appointed as board members.

Local authorities

• Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen County Borough Councils – Stephen Vickers appointed as joint chief executive.
• Bolsover Council – Steve Fritchley to retire as council leader.
• Essex County Council – Nicole Wood appointed as chief executive from February.
• Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council – James Binks appointed as chief executive.
• Salford City Council – Melissa Caslake appointed as interim chief executive from February.
• Stevenage Borough Council – Tom Pike appointed as chief executive.
• West Lindsay District Council – chief executive Ian Knowles to retire in June.